News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1897-10-27

q young girl was perched upon a stool,
knitting her brows over a dogs cared
account book.
"Howdy, Lafe?" she said, getting
down to open the pouch.
"Purty toler'ble. Whar's you uns
pawr?"
81 don't know-down to Lukens', I
reckon"
She pulled the strap through the sta
pies and, dumping the mail on the
counter, began to call it off to the group
of expectant lOungers and townspeo-
pie, keeping up desultory conversation
with the mail carrier at the same time.
doc Parks, Many Collin, John Ire
vor-what-all news is there down at
Vigo, Lafe?"
"Nothin much, not as I heerd."
"You'd new hear anything, nohow-
JEFF Greer-Eph Sanders-here's let
ter for you-all Eph-hawss gone lame,
Lafe?''
"No. Why?'
"Thought you-all seemed sort Of
tired-Bud Gordon-Wiley Pryor.
LATE Strengthened up, and then
thought better Of it, resuming hiseloung
| ing position on the counter because it
brought him nearer to her. She went
on calling the names, and he watched
her dexterous fingers juggling the let
tiers and stole occasional glances under
the brim of his soft hat at her face. 1t
was face fer which the language pro-
vides no adjective Pretty" is too
trivial. "Bc autiful" is too fine 1t was
a face on W ich strength of character
was written very legibly and yet with
out marring its womanly attractiveness;
dark eyes that Knocked oftener than they
caressed; finely penciled brows; masses
of dark hair gathered back into a heavy
knot which was transfxed by a lead
pencil; nose that would have been
pert without the correcting suggestion
of firmness about the mouth and chin;
young woman who would rise to her
opportunities, one would say, adding the
saving clause that she would probably
never miss them if they should happen
to pass by on the other side.
When the last of the expectant ones
had gone, LATE asked, "Have you told
you uns pawr yet, Willie?"
"No-o. Seems like you're in a power
full hurry, LATE"
"Reckon I have to be, don't I?''
She twisted the ring on her finger and
smiled down upon him. There plenty
of time. " Then suddenly, where did
you-all get this-get this ring, Lafe?''
Bought hit of course Whar did you
low got hit?'
81 didn't know. was just thinkin
of John CorIy and Annie Hester. He
lowed to get her ring and says he
sent to Nashville for it. 1t new die
come, and now Annie she don't believe
he ever meant to get it, and she won't
so much as say 'Howdy? to him. Didn't
you all hear about it down at Graft.
ville?''
Lafe's lips said "No," but he looked
up into her eyes and changed it tc
eyes. Then some one came in, anG
there was no more said about JOIN
Corny or his ring.
The dew was still on the grass the
tOAAON ih5 4hOLhlhS NhOlI ILelo CdllCu az
Godfrey's store for the mail pouch. The
girl brought 1t out to him.
Lookout you all don't fall off the
hawss, " she said, hooking him. AnC
then, by wey of compensation, MAYBE
I'll tell paw before Friday"
81 wisht you would, Willie. Seems
like cayn't look him in the face nc
mo- till you do. He wouldn take nothir
from me, but he'll listen at you. "
: Maybe" was all she would say
} But she stood on the porch and watched
} him as long as he was in sight.
Granville was the first office ON the
} return route and when the carrier, went
in with the mail the postmaster was
busy. When he got around to the gov.
: ernment's business, he made show Of
} hurrying. He was relocking the pouch,
when farmer drove up and came il
with letter in his hand.
't'Hold up a minute, Mr. Johnson
got letter to go in thar, and reckon
it'll have to be registered "
"Cayn,t take it now nohow; malls
/ all ready to 60"