Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-02-13


brought the good
sIcighing OF the preceding weeks TO
an uutimely end. and the gray clouds
seemed 10 be weeping over the calam-
fly, thereby augmenting its dolorous-
ness, as undue liquid lamentation has
way OF doing. The old green and
yellow stage body" had been trans
ferrcd from the runners on which IL
had glided 80 gayly over the smooth
white road 10 the summer running
gear" with broad-tired chOcolate-col-
orcd wheels that laborcd along with
subdued rattle and asthmatic
creaks, throwing such profuse
splotchcs and streaks OF mud over
the dingy panels and cracked win
dows that even the steady downpour
was unequal 20 washing them.
By the way. the unusual bulgincss OF
the old mail bag may have had some
thing 90 do with certain pleasant
twinkle Ia the old stage drivers gray
eyes, and the frequent whistled
snatchcs OF Kathleen Mavourneen"
and "Black-Eycd Susan" with which
he shortened the tedious way and
helped himself 20 ignore the small
but persistent rivulet that was trick
ling down his back through the aper-
ture in the rear OF his tarpaulin's
brim.
cannot say that the state OF the
mail bag was not responsible also for
the pathetically hilarious flourish
with which Romulus and Remus (fa-
miliarly known as Rom" and
"Reem'). the why veterans who had
drawn the old stage for IA years, took
the sharp ascent from the main road
and drew up before the implanted
building that was village store and
post Office combined.
Caleb Skipp. selec'man, storekeeper
and postmaster, came out in the lat
ter capacity with friendly salute.
keep yer settin', Elb' I'll take out
the mail. Git home an intew dry
buds quick az ye ken. Sairy1l be on
pins an needles till We dew! Sho,
now" Qifting the mail bag); "heayy,
amt it?"
"Thank'ee. Gale. Heavy? OF
coursel Thirteenth o. Febewary, We
know Young folks will be young
folks-human natur' about the same
as twas 40 year ago"
"Jes' so! Dorry's been talkin'
val'ntines all day"
Guess she won't be disapp'ntid,
whoever else Is" responded the old
stage driver, with n gallant touch of
his tarpaulin in the direction of Dor
ry Skipp, whose rosy face just then
appeared In the doorway. "G'lang,
Roml Git, Reeml" aud with pro-
digious splash aud clatter the stage
disappeared around wilkins Bend"
A goodly number Of the village
young folk, well protected with wa
terproofs, rubber coats and rubber
boots. were already Waiting for their
mail around the rusty box stove
Owing 20 the one delivery a day,
Meigs valentines always arrive on the |
afternoon of the 18th; for il would,
of course, be too much to expect that |
the Meigs boys and girls could wait |
until the last part of the day itself.
Az last amid much laughter and
good-natured teasing, the merry |
group dispersed and no reinforce
ments appeared, nor would they until |
later in the evening; for the Meigs |
supper hour had come. and of course
the postmaster and his family wished
to spend il undisturbed, as well as
other people. Mrs. Skipp was distrib-
uting the remnant of mail; and Dick
and Derry, "thf Skipp twins" occu-
pied the long wooden settee and
talked alternately about skating and
Observation-Disclosures in general and
in particular.
wall, nowr suddenly calculated
Mr.. Skipp from behind the tiers OF
post Office boxes. "Ef here amt q
letter fer old Miss Jerushy Dunlopi !