The Delta independent., 1900-07-06

MIR. MiddIerib paused with his coffee
cup raised half way 10 his lips. as his
wife tool, the letter from the servant.
She turncd il over once o. twice.
g..cd earnestly at the address. aAi
said:
II wonder who it can be FROM: She
looked at TIE stamp
Il cant make out the POSTWAR. Mrs.
Mi,id!erID said. carefully studying that
guide 10 the authorship Of letters. Ill
Isn't Icrrysville. II looks something Ike
Tona wau,,a. but don't know anybody
In Tonn wanda. wonder il it isn't in
tended for York? Cousin Ann jackson
used TO visit In York. Why don't they
make the postlaark palmer. ! wonder!
believe It's indianapolis. after all.
Then It's from Eleanor Mcpherson.
whose husband you met last summer
in Cannt;a. II isn't Indianapolis: it's
Lacon. That's where I.ilias Marsllah
lives. That isn't IN l.. either. No: It's
New Philadelphia. Ills can make
It out now. Don't yoa remember: Uncle
Abner Beasix went out there in the
g-indstonp business. ] wonder II any
thing Ea+-oh. nshnw. its-what Is ii!
It's Il; E-o-m-oh. now ! see-E-o-m-c.
Rome. Why. it must be froin--oh. dear
me. it isn't Rome. either. | can't make
IL out at all"
And she turned 1t over and looked
mournfUIly at the receiving stamp on
the back.
1T was received here at { o'clock
this morning." she said finally. Now.
where would letter have to come
from TO get here ut : O'Clock: II you
knew that. ve could tell where II came
from"
LET me look ct it, said Mr.. Middle
rib. who was beginning to Gcget with
impatiencc.
"No.'' replied the wife. turning back
to the postmnrk once more. Il can see
what 1t IL NV. It's Spartansburg. Ky.
Sarah Blanchard went there after she
married expect she wants to- II
Isn't Spartansburg. either: It's Gridley.
That's where Cousin jamie Buskirk
lives Her husband went out there and
bought grist mill wonder II she's
coming on this summer? I hope. III she
does. she wont bring the children. But
1t isn't from her. either. think that II
IL Mount Pieasa.it-oh. it's from Aunt
Harriet Murdoch. and I know they've
all been killed In that dreadful cyclone.
I can't open the letter. my hand trem-
bles so. DO you know the last thing
said to her when she moved out west ?
I said II isn't Mount Pleasant. ci-
ther There are only five letters In II.
I l,;p az IL
"Pcrhaps." said Mr. Middlerih. with
slight tinge OF sarcasm in his inhec-
,ion--..perhlps we'd better send after
the carrier who brought 1t. lie may
know"
"3ui IL is so tantaliZing." complained
Mrs. Midd!crib. ito receive a letter ana
then not he able 10 tell who or where II
Is fro;l.'
"Did you eyer try opening n letter to
ascertain these facisf" asked her hiis-
band.
The lady locked nj him with m cx.
preston cf speccllcss diS,lcln upon her
features and half whispered. III that
isn't Ike n man" ns thor-li any WON
an ever looked into q hitter Until she
hal guessed all round her circle Of
relatives and friends and clear through
the United States postal guide TO decide
whence and from whom II came.
This particular postuark. however.
was too -Llinl'' FOR the most ingenious
c1pcr, 10 dccipler. and at last. with
deep sigh ard little gesture o; despair.
Mrs. MiIdIcrib yielded 10 the inrvita-
bio and rcsignc,.Iy OPENED the letter.
pausing once or twice in the act. how
ever. to look ionginSiy back at the tan
iaiizing postmnrk.
"At last groaned her husband. who
10y this time was burning up with curl
osity.
Iut she laid the envelope down AMI
looked az II n little while before she
turned TO the unfoIded iciicr in her
hand. ...
Her h,iSi,and 10y 'Jcsp-rntr Effort
controlled bis rising w-~,l. and In a
voice hoar<c and strained. bcsouyht
her TO read flIr 'crf-r. a< II WAS iate
and he should have been down town
half an hour ago.
She. did not answer Sine opened the
letter. turned the first page to look for
tn. end of IT, went back TO the FIRST
page. Sctticd herself In an easy posi-
tion ard said: LtffI
We'll. viii ,.sclIrc. Then she read
e., la silence ar.l Mr.. uiIHlcrih ground
iI.s teeth. Presently she said:
Hen r-
Shr- road ri'rrr or four more lines
with en-nr. eyes and uoi~eicss lips. and
suddeli'y e-,fairh'-' -ti -ia.
3 y don't l,..ss.vs- IT,
Then k.,v rr~uurd her voiccless Pc
rusaI Of the document snd q moment
hter ssfoni~aed her busbasd By look
ing up ~ him spd asking:
II Oo01es u thnt = eT =.
~ N0lA1nrfb rpnal n anorAan~