Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-08-17
STOLEN LOVE
LETTERS,

The postmaster at Caelsea station
had a conscience, Of course. Every
ho6y has. The public servants into
Whose hands the governments postal
affairs are intrustei are not generally
credited with being tho possessors or
such an inconvenient article, but the
worthy official OF the above-mcnuoned
point was an exception to the rule.
An explanation of that statement
may be given by telling you that not
only was Sias Gardiner the distributor
of the mails, but a deacon in the Bap-
list Charch as well, so, although the
same conscience was composed or
many ingrelients that also are consti-
tuent parts of Indian rubber, and al
though It ofttimes became so elastic
as 10 allUsv OF his reading postal cards
aetters NOT securely sailed and so forth
we may be sure that never was he
guilty IL such an 1ffense without OK
periencing many severe twinges of
that troublesome monitor.
one Thursday there came an unus ual
NY strong temptation. The 4 oA9s ock
small came in, bringing letter that
ssent the blood surging in crimson
waves over Postmaster GARDENERS face
and made his Aeaft beat against its
prison like n tIiaD-haplmer.
1t was not Il very important booking
letter; just a small, square white en-
velope addressed In an even business
hand, but 1t was the Blme tfat pro-
rduced the T0stmSster's paro1 ysm of
curiosity. il was no remarkable thing
for Miss Niiilcent Darrell to he the re-
cipient of letters, but Ecver ts,fore had
che received onJ in the free, dashing
hand that eraceG the envelope that lay
before him. He we'll knew that, for
rot n miSslve for bliss Blrrell had
passed through the office that lie had
not examined fne writing closely
Through the long hours OK the even
ing while the 'neighbors haG congregat~
ed in tire little room there was a con-
flict in the postmister's mind. Like
the Danish prince, he WIS trying TO
solve The question: TO lie or not to
be-" mo DO or not to DO" BY SAC
the LITTLE room was deserd I'll Securely
fastening tine outer door and the one
communicating with the sitting-rOom
of his SISTERS family, the postmaster
removed the oil lamp from its accus-
toned place on tie bracket on the wall
to his desk in the corner and once
more took up Millicents letter.
He held st up to the Sht; he put st
back in box NO. 10; he took 1t IN and
IOOhGtl Ut IL dSilills llltll
broke the seal and removed the closely
written sheets from their covering
He hooked AT them a few minutes as
they lay there exposed to view as If
wondering how he dareC to be so bold
But the Rilbicon was crossed; there
was no Tetreating, and Ae pushed cour-
ageously forward and read Miss Mill
cents letter.
The postmastcr's life had always been
very prosaic Thee was one thing in
ms remembrance that mad ever shed
roseute glow over the commonplace.
monot0nous eXpanse OF years that he
had lived through, arfG that was an
unav0wcd affection for Millicent Oar
rell. He had worshipe6 her from afar
when they had gone toaechool together
Mt the little red brick house 1T the foot
of the hill Time had but served 10
strengthen this childish devotion
Through youth and the first years OF
manhood she had been his star Of Beth
leheIn, as it were, fully as unapproach-
able rs though she had in reality oc-
cupied III a world far beyond the sphere
wherein he dwelt
She may have been aware of the hon.
age that was hers. but had given no
encouragement to the admirer, who was
too faint-heartcd to giyeaeXpression to
his regard by word or nign, but who
hopelessly waited for some one else to
win the prize that he so much valued.
But for reasons best known TO herself
alone, Miss Darrell preferred n life Of
single blessednesS to one of double
wretchedness, and passed rcontentedly
and comfortably into a State of old
naidenhoOd, and the postmaster Get
tied down into a chronic l0velorn mel
ancholy, from which comatose condi-
finp hn nc tNtrtiolIy nd
then, by the thought that she might
yet change her mind and honor some
unfortunate being with her heart anti
hand
So that was the situation ySvhen Miss
Darrell went down TO the seashore one
summer 10 visit her brother. Sias
Gardeners heart was filled with mis-
givings during her absence, lest what
he had long feared should come to pass.
1t was about II week after her return
in the autumn, that the carrier brought
the letter, the very appearance Of which
was sufficient To produce such agitation
in his breast, and perusa[ Of which
confirmed his instructive belisf in some
cntangling afiiaucc That night, as he
read and reread the words that were
intended for Miss 8lillicent's eyes alone
his heart grew heavy, for every line
breathed forth an unmistakGDle dpvo-
ton, which. Judging by the frequent
illusions to future happiness, was not
unrequited
1t was near morning when Ehe COM
pleteel his deliberations over the letter
and carefully located ii in a seld0m-used
compartment Of his desk. The next
day Miss Darrell drove over to the d1-
flee with her niece and namesabe, who
had accompanied her on her return 10
Chelsea Station, and inquired for mail.
At the disappointment us THAI all?"
with which both ladies' received the con
tents of Box No. 10, q wave az re
Oentance rolled over the postmaster
soul and the letter seereted in hiS pri-
vate desk appeared before him. like an
accusing angel.
During the next few weeks letters
came for Miss Darrell on an average of
once n day-Ietters whose tsne ranged