The Republican., 1898-06-02
A LETTER TO POST.

On March /, at a. M, at the break
fast table overlooking the garden, she
said to him:
"There is just this advantage in your
going up to town. l can get my letters
posted one post earlier. Put thisfn your
pocket and be sure to post it the mo-
ment you arrive. There is a letter box
just outside the station, you KNOW"
At 1915, as he passed the letter box
Just outside the station, he said ve-
hemently to his friend with whom he
was disputing that for his part he
never had Put and probably never would
put the least faith in Lord Salisbury,
and it was useless to argue with him.
At II 80, in his own Office, in taking
paper from his overcoat pocket, he
brought out the letter which should
have been posted in the pillar box just
outside the station. He said to himself:
"This is pity, but as long as post
it now it will not much matter"
So he turned to ring the bell for the
office boy, but at that MON ent the Office
boy tapped at the door and entered, an
client in fur overcoat and on serious
business.
At p. IN. on the same day he was
helped into his overcoat preparatory to
his return home Feeling in the pock-
cts to make sure that his cigarette case
was there, without which in the course
of his journey he would have been seri-
ously inconvenienced, he discovered the
letter which was still unposted. He
was vexed about it, but reflected that if
he dropped it into the letter box just
outside the station it would still be
posted before o'clock, and that this
was probably all that his wife really
wanted.
At 6 80 o'clock, in the smoking COM
partment, as he drew out his cigarette
case and the unposted letter with it, he
decided that much the best course
would be to own up the unfortunate
omission to his wife and talk about the
pressure of business.
At p. m., as he sat down to dinner,
he forgot to own up to his wife.
A period of further oblivion follow
ed, during which, as the weather in
creased in warmth, he gave up wearing
his overcoat. After few days his wife
observed that it was rather extraordi-
nary that Mrs. Black Brunswick took
absolutely no notice of her letter about
the poodle. This remark on the part of
his wife suggested nothing whatever to
him.
j Some days later, for no reason what
ever, he suddenly remembered that
Mrs. Black Brunswick was the name
on the envelope. On his wife's again
referring to the matter he pointed out
that it did not always follow that be-
cause you posted letter it would arrive
at its destination. She said that she
would write again and inquire. She
posted this letter herself, {
/ On April IL, at a. m., having
awakened from no particular cause, he
suddenly remembered that that letter
was still in his overcoat pocket and
that anybody might find it at any time
/ ard use it as evidence against him.
! This so preyed Oh his mind that he re-
mained awake until 80, when he fell
asleep again, and in consequence hur-
ried his breakfast, missed his train, and
once more entirely forgot about that
, letter.
On the evening Of the same day, on
! his return home, his wife told him that
she never liked his overcoat, and that
it was already shabby, and that in con-
sequence she had given it away to the
poor man who drove the station cab
and had always seemed to her insult.
GENTLY provided for in the matter of
warm clothing. He said, in voice out
Of which be tried to keep the agony,
"Did you feel in the pockets first?''
She put her hand on her forehead and
/ exclaimed penitently that she had for
gotten about that. He sighed resignedly
and said that he supposed he should
now have to sec about it himself She
said that he need not trouble and that
she would send round in the morning.
He replied that the morning might be
too late. This sounded far more con-
elusive than it really was. Then he
went out to interview the poor man
who drove the station cab. The poor
man had parted with the coat to
cousin who lived thrco miles away.
They started off together he i'll the cab
and the driver on the box, to look for
that cousin.
At midnight, alone in his library, the
rest of the household being asleep, he
deposited in the flames q somewhat
worn, soiled, but unopened letter to
Mrs. Black Brunswick.
AT breakfast next morr:.re his wife
was still apologizir1ss because she had
forgotten to !.Jok in the pockets. He,
being magnanimous, said that it really
didn't matter.-Barry Pain in Black
and White.