The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-06
POSTE RESTANTE.
Trom the French Of Ernest Daudet, Trans
lated By 1leredyth Alywardl
coD,ri,.f 1921, by the United Press.

skies wrap themselves in veil of blue,
delicstely tinged, and of an unblended
purity. The warmth of the sun tempers
the cooIness Of the air, and dilates the per-
fumes with which it is laden.
In the midst Of the woods, which on all
sides surround il, rises the castle, standing
on the summit of Handicapped hill, with
It's stately front, its slated roofs, and its
fine shaTply-pOinted towers.
From the open easements joyous voices
fall on the fresh turf, around which the
croouas are walking four saddled horses,
Who champ and chafe impatently at the
bit.
one a man of about 20, but with an erect
fi0pre- a smiling but rather shreWd face,
~ which a red mustache whitening in
nleces gives a martial appearance; the other
Younger hut so like the first that you
might believe you were locking at his picture
They shake hands simultaneously, they
look up, and with a smile and gesture
thew bid an affectionate good morning" TO
an old lady who has just come TO lean from
one of the windows on the first floor.
She is the wife of one and grandmother OF
the other, this old lady, and she has come
there TO see them mount their horses. She
follows them with tender look IA they
walk to and fro, evidently awaiting some
body who Is to join them.
But there at another window is seen
very majestic dowager much made up be-
meath her gray hair, and in her morning
dress of red plush and white lace.
Suzanne is just ready, gentlemen" said
she ado not be inpatient"
AZ am coming" calls out from the back
of the room a fresh and ringing wonsn's
voice.
stands a beautiful young girl, pink and
white blonde, fitted like an Amazon in black
cloth, which outlines clear her supple figure
and superb bust. They exchange greetings
and handshakes. The horses are led to the
foot of the fight Of steps.
Aided by the younger OF her companions,
who is lavish in his attentions, Suzanne
springs into the saddle.
The gentlemen mount two Of the other
horses. The fourth is for the groom in
handsome livery, who follows at a distance.
Onr cavaliers move off at small trot,
after having saluted the old ladies who are
now standing side by side at the same case
ment gazing after them
And SO charming is the family picture
made by these happy, engaged people going
to ride under the care of the grandfather,
that the two dowagers sigh, much moved.
"How handsome they areW
SIT is easily seen that they are made for
each other"
The little troupe has passed the gate of
the park and taken the shady route which
leads to the village, an attractive group of
houses buried in verdure. very neat, with
their white walls along which climb trellises,
rosebushes and vines.
Just here one of the houses bears above
the entry postal and Telegraph Office" the
younger of the cavaliers turns toward it,
saying al have Just letter TO send"
The groom, who has heard, comes for
ward to receive his orders
But by gesture he Is put back. the
young man brings his horse close to the
wall where the grey-painted letter box pre-
sents its opening. he draws from his
pocket little letter and let's it drop into
the box, not without having cast a look at
the address. Then he rejoins his cons
panions.
The young girl bent toward him muir.
murs.
sit is to a woman that you writer
"How should you think thatgn he asks.
because you have wished to put thi
letter in the post-box yourself"
81 assure you, that's ALL
''Ol l am not jealous Of the past But
when shall bear your name, will have the
right to know"
"You will have every right" he answers
gayly.
and to look at his manly face, frightened
BY a sympathetic smile, one would affirm
that he tells only truth, and that LOYAL
heart beats in his breast.
At sound of the horses crushing the gravel
beneath their feet, the postInistress, who
was writing, seated before her desk, raised
her head and listened. She sees, moving
away, the brilliant Amazon and her escort
Mechanically she leaves her place and
comes to open the box, where, at this early
l. I,.A
that which has Just been dropped there
She takes this letter, a little letter with
an aristocratic air which smells sweetlv,
She turns it round and round an her fingers.
The long narrow envelope in heavy paper
is closed with a seal of red wax, represent.
ing fawn dancing and playing the flute.
The address is thus: "B. V. B., Post Res
tante Rue Montaigne, Paris"
A kindly but sarcastic smile passes over
the lips of the postmistress.
HE is incorrigible then, our young lord, ,
she thinks. Always his frolics, even on the
even of his marriage. 1t is then for 6
woman this perfumed missive Within
three weeks, that he has resided with hi
parents, it is the third that he sends to "B
". BIZ
Discreetly she closes tho box after HAVING
replaced the letter which is to remair
there until evening, waiting the hour of th,
messenger.
o, this hcurl How well it would be did
it never ring! How well it would be if tina
little letter remained there forgotten. for
ever, forever, forgottenl But it viii no
be forgotten. Blind instrument of a still
mysterious destiny it will be taken from
that box, its moment come; will traverse
the route that 1t is meant to traverse. AM
will arrive at the end it is meant to attain
The night is,come. On the rails whicl
glisten in the darkness a train rushes n
full speed. In the mail car, under the flick
ering flame of the lamps, two emplove
empty on table the leather sacks which
they have received all along the way a
the stations where the train has alread
stopped.
From these sacks letters fall in a hean
always letters.
They are there in all forms, with differen
writings; some delicate and fine. other
heavy and coarse. The employees pount
them one by one, with heavy ink stamp
They give themselves TO this work method
cally, without fastening; with an air q
fatigue and indifference, while the trai
rushes on noisily shaken by the jerks of til
wheels on the rails.
Suddenly there Is a sensation as of Roin
backward. under the action Of the power
full brakes; the speed of the train slacken
the wheels turn slower, the roar grows les
q jerk is felt; the train has stopped. Alon
the cars men run, calling out, lantern
hand. Outside the door of the mail car
seen the face Of an old man, wrinkled an
tanned, surmounted by a postman