The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-07-21

Me down at Peck's place." she calle
to the big man on her left
Live there?" lie asked. "Wha
number?"
| Seventeen" she answered, in grea
Irelief.
"All right. Boys, turn off at Peck
place. No. IT," The big man lin
gercd when the others had hastene,
back to the main street Seventeen
Peck's place" he pondered "Peck
place" Then he took from his YES
pocket little soft covered book an,
turned its leaves. "Here it's" b.
said, "Peck's place. Do you know
Mrs. Maggie kimber living at thi
place."
"Thatis my name" futtered Mothe,
Maggie.
"No! is it? Well, well!' There
was pause. Wonder and surprise
kept both the big man and the little
woman silent.
why did you never-what are yor
I -well!' The big man seemed to be
unable to express himself 1t was the
little woman who straightened him.
'Who are you?" she asked.
"Why, you know. Pm one Of the
board. I'm president Of the board for
the home for the blind. Why did you
not reply to the letter of the secre-
tary?"
Maggie gasped and fell back against
the wall of the passageway. Il never
got the letter. never had anv let
ter" she said. "Was there vacap-
cy?"
"1es, there was a vacancy" The big
man actually trembled as he realized
what it meant to this helpless little
woman. He longed to say something
comforting, but there was nothing to
say.
Il don't know who is to blame" he
was saying, When the sound of the
carriers whistle nearly drowned his
words, and in moment the postman
was at the door.
"Here!" demanded the big man.
"Do you know about letter directed
to Mrs. Maggie Kimber?"
The postman dropped his whistle at
the sudden attack. "Why, yes, do.
And delivered it, too l remembered
1t because it was new name. had
never had any mail for that party be-
fore. Let me see; it must have been
three weeks ago."
"Oh." groaned Maggie. "Was it in
the morning?"
The postman thought a moment.
"les, it was, l believe yes"
'And no one was here to watch for
it and someone IN the house has kept
it!''
The little black chair fell over ON
its face in the midst of the three.
The big man looked the postman
over tierce'y. "That's great wav
to do business" he said, sternly.
"What was 1 to do? The woman
who took it said her name was Kim
ber, and gave her the letter.
The vlxen!' said the big man.
"Oh, oh! don't say that Perhaps
there is another Kimber here. But.
tell me, is the vacancy tilledy' cried
Maggie.
The big man was looking up at the
oanisters where the bristling heads
istened for the postman to call.
"No wonder" he muttered. "a
'ough-looking lot-no wonder"
whats the damage?" said the
oostman. 'Tll do what can to make
,ood my mistake"
81 suppose it's filled by this time.
rs In the hands of the committee
III find ont and let you know. I'll
ome myself and tell You. Now, which
me Of those heads did it? Which took
he letter."
"She isn't there this sort of people
lever stays long in place. The
1oman has gone away by this time"
he postman called out two names.
nd the big man departed.
Maggie climbed the stairs. The old
hair Jumped noisily along as she
lowly iourneyed upward.
Mercy heard her and flew to meet
er. g,
81 didn't 60, NUM- wanted to,
ut I didn't. l stayed to watch for the ,
stter. fought I'd put it in the :
read furkin if it coined, but it didn't. :
othing come but the p'rade." she :,
aid.
Two days afterward the big man s
.opped at the movable Office.
''It's all right" he said to Maggie.
They had found q teacher, but she
as resigned. She is going to be
arried"
He called cab and put the little !,
ind woman in it and rode away. y
aving the little black chair alone on Il
le pavement. The movable office was
eserted. The next time the big man 8
'ssed the place bootblack had !,
owed in. But the bootblack never y
lew what the low chair knew. nor
Nv it and the grand parade had .
,lped to usher in good times for "
nm Maggie and for little Mercy. 9
licago Record. +