The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1891-06-05
AN OUTLINE IN UMBBR.

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tents.
Joel shattuc himself, a midle aget
man with a square looking head, which
fitted into his body like plug of pine
stood lingering the metal clamps acros
the sacks upper edge, his heavy face ex
pressive of settled gloom.
"Ef this thing goes on, he said,
glancing toward a group of men in th,
space about the stove, 81 don't know
but I'll hev to give up my job" And a.
he spoke his eyes returned to the mail
sack.
81 wouldn't feel tibet ways, Uncle
Joel, moderately advised an elderly
man huddled on molasses barrel, his
booted legs crossed, his chin braced
from contact with blue cotton shirt by
lath ike section of stiff gray beard.
"oh, you wouldn't" demurred Mr..
Shattuc, suspiciously sat1ric quality in
his voice-"you wouldn't hunk. Well,
the thing of it is, Jake, l don't gen ally
regerlate myself on other mems notionts.
/ say agin, turn right Uneasy in my
stomach ev'y last time this var sack gifts
pitched out of number ten do for a
fack. I'm that plumb shore thar won't
be mare thing in it for the SWEETS folks
that / haln't skercely got the sand to
open the bag. feel like l want to leave
1t locked" He fetched the counter a
smart rap with his shut fist, and glow
cred upon the other men, who at once
assumed expressions indicating an intense
interest in the stove-a small red hot
affair glimpsing on its devotees through
three triangular openings, like a very
ugly idle with a trio of terrible ewes.
"Well, for me-" presently advanced
the man on the barrel, 81 don't look to
get no mail to-day; but still, Uncle
Joel, look like it's unly fair to the town
ez tibet sack ought to be undid. 81
say, feel right with you'ns bout Sa'
Jane SWEET. D'lawl I've knowed tibet
gyrl sence she wasn't no heftier than a
right stable terbaccer worm. But Wit l
don't reckon ez the worlds goin to quit
Jest cuz Sa' James sot her mind on man
tibet never showed her no special favor.
no more'n bein' sort uh smiley an sof'-
spoken, like he was to ev'y person"
He cleared his throat, and added
" faint right goyd Judgement to do US
cut'n the mail 'cuz Sa' JAMS beau-ef
You wart to call him thet-hev went
plumb back on her"
Mr.. Statutes eyes, which were gray
and had shifting movement under his
brows as of two steel shuttles, observed
the other man with an ominous aud I'M
usual steadiness. "Ef any man lows to
question my Judgement, he began, in a
tentative voice, shell find hisself
tacklin' the biggest contract"
B'iaU yes, broke-se-t the object OF
this, with a deprecatory burst of mirth,
which, while it spread his lean cheeks
in a wide smile, left his eyes free to OBJ
serve any tendency of the postmaster's
hand toward hip pocket. "Thet's so,
Uncle Joel. Yes, sir" turning to the
rest Of the men, who were taking in the
controversy with the abstraction of
countenance which indicates stern in
tention of neutrality-"I'yc always helt
tibet Uncle Joel Shattuc kin down any
man in the district for common boss
sense an MATCHED wit. | honor you,
Uncle Joel, for being slack about openin'
tibet var bag. got daughters my own
self, an I'd hate to see arr one of EN-
lool;in' like lightnin' rod thoo pinin'
to git word of some I'm r uther."
He drew up rather suddenly. The
door had opened with a warning click,
and woman stepped across the TIRES
hold, her slender young figure revealed
with an effect of intense fragility
against the oak-crowned knob behind
her A dwindling strand Of yellowish
hair strayed across one pale cheek, and
some loose short Jocks lay or her brows
above the sad intentness of wide, soft
eyes trimming with the pathetic violet
of autumn distances. A gaudy PLAID
shawl canopicd her head, and as she
drew near the counter and saw the mail
sack lying unopened upon it, her hands
gave nervous futter, and the shawl fell
over her shoulders.
"AIail not handed out YETI" she said,
with a piteous aTectation of carelessness.
'J'm sort of early. didn't keer much
about comm down to-day, but nav she
he'd sort of feelin' that maybe her folks
down in Russell County might have sent
word. "
She leaned against the counter with
an air of WEAKNESS, her slenderness, her
heavy yellow hair, and tiny, sharply
marked freckles giving her the look of
cowslip bending little on its long stem.
''Yes, yes, said Mr.. Shatiuc, diving
for key attached below the counter by
means of a long cham; ''Im late to-
day. look like these fellers git in hyar
and talk till am bout run DISTRACTED.
Set down, Sa' Jane III run thoo the
sack in half minute now. You Mart
Type, give Miss SWEET that var chair.
At this Mart Type, a lazy-looking
young man, with low brows matched in
black hair, and bronze throat grit in
scarlet handkerchief, tilted himself for
ward.
"Will you set, Miss SWEET" he ques.
tiioDed, without insistance.
The girl shook her head. az ruther /
stand up" she murmured, hungrily eye
ing the postmaster as he shuffied several 1
in Manila wrappers. There
were only two letters. These Mr.. Shat
tue avoided as if their whiteness sug-
gested leprosy to his mind He had a
definite idea that neither Of them was for
Sarah Jane Sweet, and he felt himself a
poltroon and coward when he thought /
Of turning up the Enclosures.
jest wait a minute he muttered; |
.'be back direckly."
He took a couple of strides, and dis
appeared through a door at his left.
When he came back his face wore a look
If defiant assurance, and some amberish
irops hung in his beard
q Mr. Rube Hughes, >" he announced,
n voice of challenge, picking up the
irst letter ''Hyar var, Rube Reckon
is from tibet gyrl O. yourn down in
Liberty" Then he took up the second
Envelope, and his hand yisibly shook.
This un's from your kin in Bracken,
Mart, " he said, ard cast the letter into
he black-browed youths hands.
The girl facing him did not move. One
light wrist lay along the dark wood,
md her brown fingers clutched at the
harm edge as il II were a miami, 70 which