Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-07
A DELAYED LETTER.


stamp poised on her tongue, which she
was about to affix to the envelope she
held in her hand.
But as she deliberately nipped it be-
tween finger and thumb by one corner,
at the same time tightly shutting both
eyes az though such performance In
some mysterious way facilitated the
operation, lady came along, accom-
panied by huge dog, which audacious-
ly waved its thick, bushy tail right
athwart the little maids face, causing
her to jump backward into the gutter
with surprised scream.
Her alarm was Immediately increased
to terror at missing the stamp, which
she next observed floating away attached
to the majestic caudal appendage.
She feebly started in pursuit, but as
she neared the formidable animal the
object of her quest became transferred
to the lady's jacket, and before she could
reach her side it had dropped on the
pavement, whence it was instantly car
ried away on the sole Of the boot OF a
passerby.
After long, hopeless stare the little
one turned round, nervously fumbling
the envelope, and retracing her steps till
she regained the corner Of side street
she sat down on doorstep and INDUCED
in good cry.
Her wailings speedily attracted
small group Of people about her, to
whom, after some persuasion, she Sob
bed out her misfortune, which was fatty
discredited by the majority, and those
who apparently believed her only mani
tested their sympathy in empty words.
After some time, however, phllan-
thropic old gentleman passed, who, on
learning the source Of the chlld's grief,
promptly bestowed couple Of pennies
upon her, with which she flew to the
postoffice, purchased another stamp, and
keeping a sharp lookout against the in
trusion of any more filibustering tails
secured it to the envelope, which she
carefully covered with both hands till
she dropped it into the box.
1t was now safe, and She visibly
frightened, alas! happily unconscious
that she had lost post and thereby be-
came inc involuntary dSChu VI WIZ hhN
desolation to two fond hearts.
"You are sure there is nothing for
me?" said young Cyril Stanley for the
third time as with pale face and agitat-
ed franc he breathlessly Intercepted
the rural letter carrier the next morn
ing.
"Quite certain, sir. You can look
them over if you like" returned her
majesty's subject genially, extending
his bundle.
"No, thanks he rejoined brusquely,
and turning on his heel, with clinched
hands and wild look in his eyes, he
started off at a fast pace through the
fields, crossing stiles, fioundering into
bitches and stepping right through the
roaring waters of shallow brook i'll the
most aimless and haphazard sort Of way.
"And this is my reward!' he mutter-
ed brokenly ''She does not love me,
after all. No. A penniless sutton is sell
dom acceptable. Ha, hal" and he laugh
ed bitterly, recklessly.
An hour later no sneaked through
the side door of stately mansion stand
ing in its own grounds, and after chang
ing his saturated boots and muddy
clothes proceeded to the library to be
in attendance on red faced, cholerid
looking old gentleman who was busily
writing letters.
"Oh, here you are at last, scape-
gracei" calculated the latter in n furi-
GUS tone as the young man entered.
"Where have you been? Always away
when / want you. Now, then. y
The young fellow meekly seated him
self at the table without answering and
began writing from the others dicta-
ton.
"Have you made up your mind"'
fiercoly interposed tho old gentleman
in the midst of an important letter
eyes, uncle"
Late in the afternoon the family car
riage conveyed both gentlemen into
town, where prodigious quantity of
baggage had preceded them.
Stopping in tho main street. the elder
Of the two alighted, and, motioning his
companion TO remain, darted up mar
row court He was not long away, and
rs he reseated himself he grutfly asked
do you know what l have been do:
ing?"
mo, uncle" answered the young
man in q subdued tone.
Deposited my will with the solicitor.
/ have made you my heir. But if you
had thwarted me and remained behind
I'd have cut you off with shilling,
by -" And he grew purple in the
face from suppressed rage.
They soon reached the railway sta.
ton, where they took first class tickets
to London and left by the evening ex-
press a few minutes later.
"Ah, dear follow, to sacrifice so much
for me-" murmured Miss Birch the
same evening, and she braided her silky
hair in front of the oval mirror on her
dressing table, her eyes riveted on an
open letter lying before her and her
face flushed with emotion as she read:
would then be virtually penniless
and have to depend upon my own exer-