Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1901-11-16

home fire burning here, and provided
for their three children as well as she
could while he was at the front. All
summer she had heard no word Of him.
and when, one autumn day Il man in
a military cloak rode to the door on a
white horse her heart beat quick
Does Ruth Fuller live here? he
says, holding a thick letter in his hand.
Yes, | am Ruth Fuller" and grand
mother reached eagerly for the letter,
for she saw the address in her hus-
bands handwriting
The postage is two shilIin's."
Grandnlother's countenance fell.
There wasn't SO much money in the
house.
Guess you don't know me-" remark
ed the man, opening his cape and tip
ping back his cooked hat, but still hold
ing the letter. She knew him then;
an enemy capable of a mean revenge.
"Ah, yes, you remember Tom Tur-
ner, and how he asked you to marry
him, and you give him No, thankee, ;
and took John Fuller. l wasn't good
enough to marry ye, but I'm good
enough now to bring We letters from
the man that did; and I'm good enough
to charge We steep price for goin' out
O. my way. SO hand over your two
shillln's and take your letter"
The poor woman told him she had no
money. To be held up in this heartless
and insulting way was a bitter hurt
to bear Her grief was deeper than
her resentment but she was too proud
to let the cruel fellow see her weep.
Il will get you a good dinner" she
said, land feed your horse, and give
you pair of nice long stockings"
1t was humiliation to plead with
Tom Turner, but she could do no less.
Money or nothin'," he says. And he
put the letter In his pocket and rode
away.
Grandmother went into the house
and sat down and cried and her chill
dren, clinging about her, cried, too.
During her long months OF waiting, at
odd hours she had spun, and woven
cloth, and sewed garments, and knit
ted wooden stockings for Johns win
ter comfort, trusting to find some way
to send them to him. Now tine messen-
ger had come and gone who could at
least have carried word, and he had
refused even to give her her hus-
bands letter.
MA, God knows what the bad man
did" sobbed one Of the little ones. He
knows what nice things you've made
for pa, and He'll send good man next
time"
The baby's thought relieved the
mothers despair, and the three lonely
hearts prayed and waited. anxiously
for the next time;" and. sure enough.
before winter came they saw the same
white horse sallnpina toward the
house. He's brought the letter backw
they all cried out together, for they
believed the rider to be the same man.
Grandmother rushed from the door
with all her children. The horseman
held out the same letter, and as he
SfdNely put IL Iuto Hel MINUS she
glanced up to his face and screamed for
JOY.
John! 1t Is your
1t did not take her husband long to
tell the rest of the story. Tom Turner
had returned to headquarters, and one
night, made laxative by an extra ra-
ton of rum, he had Dragged how he
'got even" with an old sweetheart who
lifted him. His exploit reached the
ears of his commanding officer, who
took away his commission and put my
grandfather In his place. The new
post rider had brought his own letter
to his wife. 1t was the first rural free
delivery In Mansfield town.-Youth's
Companion.