Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-02-14
THURMONT Frederick County, MARYLAND, Thursday February A. 1885,

Lawson. Some think he wants to mar.
ry 'cose he's painted and fixed up his
place so, and 90, himself some decent
duds. He'll meyer marry me. 1t may
have come from Judson Sparks, and
there amt no one Id sooner send it
flying back to than him. He worried
his first wife into her grave. and he'd
never get the chance to worry me there
not if he'd get down on his bended
knees and begged me to have him.
John Gleeson may have sent it for-but
III just go and find out Of The post'nas.
who did send it. I'm just curious to
know
But there was something more than
mere curiosity in Miss Lucinda's lonely
heart as she W w.lked back to the post
Office. Not for the world would she
have admitted it, even to herself, but
there Was feeling Of pleasure as we'll
as of curiosity in ner breast now. She
could not dismiss the last line Of the
vease from her mind, but repeated it
while approaching and scorning herself
for her weakness in doing so,and saying
stoutly to herself:
THE man don't live that Id say yes
to; no, he don't. What a big goose l
am anyhow
She cached the postofice. .fhe post
master was alone in the neatly kept
little room.
He was short, stout, kindly looking
man of almost fifty years. He had
childish blue eyes and a round, honest
face, little inclined toward effeminacy
in some of its outlines.
The softness and sweetness of his
voice were surprising when one looked
at hls swelling chest and broad should
ers. Everybody knew and everybody
liked Moses Moss.
Lucinda Dyke had known him all Of
her life, and she had never called him
anything but Moses or Nose Now
she said quickly, eager to do her errand
before any one came in
See here, Moses, l want to ask favor
Of YOU
All right, 'Cindy, ask away
YOU know that some great goose had
no more sense than to send me yalen'
tne2
Moses's smooth, round checks Grim
soned.
v knew you got one while ago. he
said.
Think of It'll The idea Well, now
Moses, I want you to tell me whose
handwritln' that is,
She laid the envelope before him. He
looked at it and then at her, the WON :
ar ish blush deepening in his cheeks.
YOU know, don't you" asked Miss
Lucinda. v felt sure you would, you
being postmaster and seeing everybody {
handwriting so much. You know that
don't you?'
What do you want to know for
CindyY
Well, because I do she said, quite
sharply. Yf it come from the person
'pect it come from, he'll get it back il
short order.
Whom do you suspect, 'CindyT
v amt going to say
vt may be ag'in the Gov ment Post
Office laws for me to tell without writ
ten order from the Postoffice Gen raj I.
Stuff. Moses Moses, how's he going
to know anything about it? And, dc
You s'pose the Postoffice Gen raj and th'
President and his Cabinet is going tt
hang you if you should happen to tel
an old maid who sent her a silly valen
tine? You know better than that. DIG
JAS. Hoyr send it?'
No, he didn t.
vt ain Sile Lawson 8 handwriting!
Mo-
Nor Judson Sparks"
No. Cindy.'
,Did John Gleeson send it?'
vt amt his writing.
We'll who in creation did send it:
You'll get mad if tell YOU
We'll, won't get mad at you anyhow
Noses
Sure not, 'C,ndy|
He was leaning over little countel
now looking up in her face with an ca
ger pleading look.
>Ycu sure notT he asked again.
No. of course not. Why should l
I-I-why, Moses Moss she said.
She stepped back with wild fright
ened look Something in his look ane
manner startled her.
'Cindy,' he said.
why, I-wellT
II sent it, 'Cindy. I-wait momen
Cindy.'
She would have fed from the post