The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-25
CHAPTER XVIII
A uQrunTrr


He had loved her so patiently, and now
he felt that ne must have his answer Ii
was only fair to her and to himself, too.
that no should know exactly where he
stood I'm her affections. She had certainly
given him little signs here and there,
which had made him believe that she was
not Indifferent TO his admiration. Little
signs were all very well for short time,
but meanwhile the season was coming TO
an end. She had told him that she was
going back to her work at home, and
then perhaps he would lose her altogether
Il would not he safe now for him to delay
a single day longer. So the little postman
armed himself with courage.
Warlis brain was muddled that day.
He who prided himself upon knowing the
names OF all the guests I'm Petershof made
the most absurd mistakes about people
and letters, too, and received in acknowl-
tdgment Of his stupidity series OF scold-
ings which would have unneryed q strong
er person than tho little hunchback post
man,
In fact, he ceased to care how he gave
out the letters. All the envelopes seemed
TO have the Same name on them-Marie
Truog Every word which he tried to de-
cipher turned to that. So finally he tried
no more leaving the destination of the
letter TO be decided by the impulse OF the
moment. At last he arrived at that quar-.
ter Of the Kurhaus where Marie held sway.
He heard her singing In her pantry. Sud
denly she was summoned down stairs by
an impatient bell ringer and on her return
found Warli waiting In the passage.
what goose you arel" she cried,
throwing a letter at him. "You have left
the wrong letter at No. s2."
Then some one else rang, and Marie hur-
ried of again. She came back with anoth-
er letter in her hand and found Warli sit
ting in her pantry.
''The wrong letter left at No. 54," she
said, "and madame in a horrid temper in
consequence. What a nuisance you are
today, Warli! Can't you reads Here, give
the remaining letters to me. III sort
them"
Warli took of his little round hat and
wiped his forehead.
Il can't read today, Marie" ne said
something has gone wrong with me.
Every name / look at turns to Marie
Truog. i ought to have brought every one
of the letters TO you. But knew they
could not be all for you, though you have
so many admirers, for they would not be
likely to write at the same time to catch
the same post"
1T would be very dull II they did, I"
said Marie, who was polishing some water
bottles with more diligence than was usual
or even necessary.
but am the one who loves you, Ma
riechen," the little postman said. Il have
always loved you ever since can remen-
Der. am not much to look at, Mariechen
tho binding Of the book is not beautiful.
but the book itself Is not a bad book"
Marie went on polishing the water bot
ties. Then she held them up to the light
to admire their unwontcd cleanness.
II don't plead for myself" continued
Warli. IF you don't love me, that is tho
end of the matter. But II you do love me,
Mariechen, and will marry me, you won't
bc unhappy. Now have said all I"
Marie put down the water bottles and
turned to Wari.
''You have been long time in telling
me" she said poutingly. why didn't
You tell me three months agoi It's too
late now"
"Oh, Marechen," said the little post
man, seizing her hand and covering it
with kisses, you love some one clse-you
are already betrothed' And now it's too
late, and you love some one elsel''
II never said loved some one elsc,"
Marie replied. II only said it was too late
Why, it must be nearly O'Clock, and my
lamps are not yet ready. haven't mo-
ment to spare Dear me, and there is no
oil in the can. No, not one little dropl"
"The devil take the oil" exclaimed
Warli, snatching the can out of her hands
'What do i want to know about the oil
In the cam want to know about the
love I'm your heart. Oh, Mariechen, don't
keep me waiting like this! Just tell me
IL you love me and make me the merriest
soul in all Switzerland"
Must / tell the truth" she said in
most melancholy tone of voice 1.-THE
truth and nothing else' Well, warli, if
you must know how I grieye to
hurt you''--Warli's heart sank, the tears
came into his eyes-'but since it must be
the truth and nothing else" continued
the tortureri ''well, Fritz,
love you'll"
few minutes afterward the Disagreea-
bic Man, having failed to attract any ne
tice by ringing, descended to Maries pan
try TO fetch his lamp He discovered Warli
embracing his betrothed.
II am sorry To intrude, he said grimly,
and he retreated at once. But directly aft
erward he came back
"The matron has just come up stairs"
he said. And he hurried away.