The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-11-28
IN A COUNTRY POST OFFICE
The Postmistress Draws differences aud
Arrives at Conclusions.

the worst OF the rain had passed over,
.swho is postmistress in one Of the
prettiest little hamlets in western New
York. A beautiful town it is, tell you,
nestled amid vineclad hills and bold
scenery. 1t is an ideal place for n sun
mer's vacation, as it stands at the foot
of n pretty lake, whose waters stretcn
away Tor miles, and upon whose waves
many a moonlight ride can be enjoyed
The men who were gathered in the
oflice appauded the beauty of express
zion into which their friend had fallen
in his poetic fervor for the place OF hls
aunt's nativity. 1t MAS declared by one
that to have an aunt who lived III such
Il town was better far than to wear Il
crown. whether OF gold or silver.
"Yes," replied the eulogist, ut is
great joy. To have an aunt serenelF
abiding in such lovely place is more
than falls to the lot of any of you or
binary mortals. But to have an aunt
who is postmistress as well as resident
that is perfectly enhancing. | have
been down to see her lately, and spent
one or two mornings with her behind
the little boxes into which the mail
of the inhabitants is placed. or course
she knows everyone, and almost all of
them have word of greeting for her,
"'You must get quite an insight into
the affairs of this neighborhood,' l said
to her one day. handling so much of
its correspondence
ayes she said. Il know good deal
that is going on. cannot help it, Man,
Of the letters which go through my
hands tell their own story without
opening them. It is all stamped on the
outside. l get very familiar with the
handwriting of these people about ME,
and this fact often reveals 10 me some
plots and schemes which the writer's
fancy are profoundly secret.
"'You interest me greatly, | said.
"'Lawyers. doctors, newspaper men
and business men have their secrets,
she went on, and post Office officials
have theirs also. think, however, ours
are guarded the best. because the law
eompeis us to keep our mouths closed.
"'There comes a girl now she eX-
claimed. as she looked out of the win
dow down the street. Now, just waton
Ter when she comes in. She will carry
{. very anxious look on her face until
she sees there is letter in her box.
then Just notice how her expression
changes. She will go and peek at the
letter first. and when she sees 1t IS from
him-from the young man-she will
give one little suhdued exclamation OF
10Y. md ask me for il with face
wreathed with smiles. See if have nor
described her actions correctly
"Of course l was deeply interested,
and secured a point of view where l
could observe the young woman closely.
True enough. she came in with most
preoccupied look on her face. as il she
were debating whether she dared 70
hope for a letter; she went directly to
the box which interested her. and when
she saw the letter it contained little
smile rippled over her face, which
made me feel both guilty and envious
as 1 watched her from behind the
scenes. Then she raised herself on her
tiptoes, screened her face with he's
hands and carefully examined the di-
rections on the envelope. When her
heel touched the floor again a look of
such ecstasy swept over her counter
ance that was for going out and con-
graduating her on the spot. A man
feels like throwing up his hat in the
air and shouting hurrah when girl
beams like that. no matter if the lucky
man is miles away. But the postmis-
tress frantically motioned for me TO
keep quiet, as she went to the de-
livery window to wait on the young
miss. Up walked the girl as big as life,
her face radiant. her eyes full of laugh
ter which told the entire story, and
her whole bearing that OF very sat-
sfied girl.
THE postmistress handed the letter
to her demurely enough, but it was
pouneed upon as if it were the rarest
treasure on top of the earth. 1t Went
into her pocket after she had given it
one loving glance, and then the girl dis
appeared down the street, walking as if
she was as happy as queen.
she gets a letter about every dai ;
explained the postmistress. and she
seems as anxious for every one of them
as II it were the first III years. And
when she expects communication
from that youth and il does not come.
her face is a study. Every particle OF
10Y seems to leave it. You noticed
how triumphantly she staggered dow n
tie street Just now. presume.
at you could see her on one of the
DAYS when the coveted epistle does
not reach her. you would hardly be
lieve it was the same girl. Slowly she
trays Herself along, her head DOWN
cast. her eyes almost in tears, and you
| fairly hear her exclaiming out of her
/ heart full of woe: "Oh. why didn't he
1 write? What is the magter?" Not 50
/ very strange. either. l used to fee
that way myself once upon a time.
! ThereNge lots of JOY and sorrow, many
hearthurns and little qusrrels. but
l after all it was very sweet TO me-thcse
/ years long ago when he was young
7 and I thought there was no one on tor
\ of the earth his equal. 1t couldn't last
| forever. could IL? lie turned out bad,
and has paid the debt, but"
"'See here" said one Of the party
the skies are clearing. and it IS time
We were all going. before YOU go ans
further in the affairs OF the postmis.
tgess. 1t is quite scandslous the was
| You are telling her secrets.