The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-01
firmly convinced that that was as pret-
ty n dinDle as the law allowed

He saw the young woman almost ev-
cry day, and the days he didn't see her
seemed quite empty and wasted, for
good Mrs. Torrens seemed quite lOath
to let her go. And one morning car
rier 400 said to her as he shuffied over
his letters, "You don't seem to bother
the postmen to any fatiguing extent"
NO" she answered a little sadly,
''there is nobody to write. l am quite
alone in the world"
And if it needed any bond of sympa-
thy to draw carrier 400 TO this village
maiden here it was.
One day he boldly said to her. ''Have
you seen much of the city?'
No, she hadn't. She guessed she was
a little timid.
MAY l call for you Sunday morn
ing?' he asked with a nerve that he
felt was really Earalyzing. "and take
you for little trip on the suburban
carsY'
81 will ask Mrs. Torrens," she said
with happy smile. 81 would like to
| 60 ever so much"
So they went, as the weather was de-
| lightful, and carrier 400 knew where
| to order such a nice luncheon, and
| really, when they came back late in
| the afternoon the man of the party felt
that he had never spent quite such a
delightful day.
But, alas. there was a dark cloud in
the offing.
| AS the carrier looked over his letters
the next morning there was one for
Mrs. Tom Trimble." 1t was in the
care of Mrs. Torrens. and the address
was written in stiff, vertical hand.
| He read this address to the neat
| young woman at the door. and when
she heard it she hesitated a moment.
and then with merry laugh and a
| quick blush said, Yes, that's for me-"
| And Carrier George walked away
with a heavy heart, and the sky lost
it's color. and the grass seemed dull and
brown.
She had told him her name was Anna
Havens. And she looked so honest and
SO innocent.
He came and went as usual, but he
no longer had a smile and friendly
word for the false girl at the Torrens
door. He was all business now. New
ertheless his heart was bruised and
sore.
He couldn't help but notice that she
looked at him curiously. and almost
appeaIingly, and he even fancied she
was getting paler.
worrying about that brute of 9
husband, | suppose" thought Carrier
George. and he felt that the neglectfu
Trimble would do well to keep off thai
particular carriers route.
One morning she mustered up cour
age and said to him: 81 fear ! may
have unintentionally offended you
You-you''-she couldn't stop her voic,
from trembling a little-'have been 81
kind and so helpful to me that would
not for the world have you think tha
, am not truly grateful"
"Do not distress yourself, Mrs. Trim
ble," said Carrier George coldly. Il
isn't worth while"
"Mrs. Trimblew echoed the girl
"Mrs. Trimble! Why do you call MI
that? Oh, oh, did you think was real
, ly married?"
, Il had an idea," said Carrier Georg,
; little shakily, that when people ar
, married at all they are really married.
But I'm not married at all!' criet
the girl with a merry laugh. ''Tomm.
Trimble is only 9-year-old boy! IT.
all a joke. He belongs to a neighbo
i, family at home, and almost since h.
could talk he has claimed me as hi
sweetheart. 1t was just his boyish ful
putting that address on the envelope
O Wait! I'll show you his letter."
NO" said Carrier George huskily
"Tll-Pl see you again"
|, He walked away feeling he had ha'
!, a shock. At the same time he notices
the sky was quite blue again, and tn
q air fairly seethed with sunshine.
He knew just what he wanted t
say as he came up the street mex
q morning. What he did say was this
, and he said it very quickly:
Miss Havens, Anna, would you b
!, willing to change that address to Mrs
!, George Tolliver? VIII you jilt Tommi
:, Trimble for me?
"Poor Tommiev' said Anna very soft
ly as she put her little hand in til
carriers strong grasp.
And so it presently happened that
!, substitute was put on in the place G
carrier 400 and two happy Tolliver
went away for a brief wedding joul
. ney.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.