The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-05-19
FARMVILIE. VA. FRIDAY. MAY 10. 1899.

son went out Then she sat down in hs,
chair by the desk, but the smile wa
all gone.
I'm afraid there aren't many excur
sions for me this summer" She mnsed
somewhat ruefully. q presume Mr.
Blodgett would stay here that dav If
asked him, but know | couldn't afford
to go. Besides, l haven't any dress to
wear that's suitable l wish I could
earn more"
But there was no time for gloomy
thoughts, for the boy was back with a
mail bag, and people were beginning 10
drop in more and more frequently.
She plunged earnestly into the work
before her. which-as work will always
do-droye away the gloomy thoughts.
But she was not 10 be allowed 10 for
get the excursion, as several of her girl
friends who came to the office asked
her If she were going. She answered
them as she had answered Mrs. Allison.
and II made her little angry TO feel
that her face flushed each time; for
although none Of them said what her
first caller had said, she felt sure that
they all thought it. She was ashamed
of the feeling. but she could not helm
being disturbed.
Other reasons made her feel her lack
OF money much more than this excur-
sion. Mabel's father had died FIVE wears
before, leaving his family in poor cir
cumstances. Her mothers health was
not good, and there were two Younger
sisters and little brother who were
siill in school. She had been willing TO |
work hard and deny herself much 10
help keep them there. She knew that
she herself would never have been able |
10 stay in school so long as she did. had /
not her mother worked hard and denied /
herself.
When she had left school, and taken
up the first work which presented
itself, 1t had been with the determine
tion to keep her younger brother and
sisters in school as long as possible. To
this end she had given up even her mu.
sic, which she had cared for SO much. 1t
was no wonder, perhaps, that she
sighed as she thought how little of all
that she wanted to do she could hope 10
accomplish on the meager salary she
was receiving.
1t was q little after three o'clock on
the afternoon of this same day that a
stranger entered the Downingville post
office. Mabel was alone. She noticed.
as the man stepped up to the general
delivery that he was well dressed. and
perhaps between 25 and 30 years of age.
HIS face was not a pleasant one, al I
though 1t did not suggest a lack Of in
diligence lie came close TO the win S
low and said: I
us there a registered letter for NJ. 2. S
lorganstone here?"
Such a letter had come on the latest
nail, and Mabel had placed it in the l.
afe which stood in the corner She an t
wered him in the affirmative, when he X
ontinued: p
THAT is my name-M. F. Morgan
tone. Please let me have It," Fl
The rules require Identification in ol
he case Of registered letters. you ST
now," answered Mabel II
"Oh, yes; had forgotten. Well. l Ia
m a stranger here, but can show you al
no am all right" He searched his pa
ockets, taking out number of pa "
srs and old letters. Two of the latter ty
, pushed through the window. There III
~ see, miss,-'M. Z. Morganstone. pi
stertown.' Just give me the letter.
s very important for me to catch the inl
,train." be
But cant give out a registered let
r on such Identification. Mr.. M
odgett the postmaster, has in
-ucted me not to do So" tn
MabePs suspicious were beginning to-
be slightly aroused by one thing no
out the man. Twice since coming up
the window he had glanced over his ria
oulder at the door She knew. of avs
lrse, that 1t was her duty to deliver th'
: letter if he could fully convinee her for
1t it belonged 10 him; but she deter Ma
ned TO insist on Identification Of The vii
ictest kind, as q matter Of protection ]
herself and her employer. sit
Why, see here, I've got lots of reg cor
cred letters ON less Identification dor
n this, and at larger Offices" the bee
n said. you're going beyond the cap
es." the
No, I don't think am. A postmas- pea
is responsible for registered letters. awi
le delivers one TO the wrong person SON
rightful owner can hold him ac- hin
ntable. Mr. Blodgett is very par mig
lar. He has told Inc TO deliver no meC
lletters to strangers except on iden- beei
alton such as would be satisfac- fee
2 at bank. You must know that clue
'e you would have to be vouched for ofiio
some one known to the bank peo- flee
of {
can describe the letter." went on
man, ignoring what she had said. cfic
-ge, oblong envelope. From J. II. NOR
III, Riverside. Mailed this morn 81
Isn't that right?" mat
'es, but / can't let you have It with ing
proper Identification Mabel was a p!
ming more suspicious of the man wha
Y moment. His disappointment then
worry over the situation seemed TO the
ringing his true character 10 the be 4
ice, and his face and manner were IT
ily growing less gentlemanly. stan
'hy. never saw anything like this. You
on know / can make trouble for comi
with the department for holding that
my letter? You know nm tell take