The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-02-01
A1 PQsIMAl|sTER's WIFE.

,5A1 PQSIMASTER'S WIFE. }
When the government first ordered
postoffice established at Sloan, new
townon the upper Mississippi, the nat
1fel selection Of the inhabitants for
master was Jacob Berybud. Berry
had served with distinction in the
,16DnA. Minnesota at Gettysburg, was
q ;,staunch Republican and a public
spirited citizen. II 1t was his nature
never to talk of himself nor his fam
lily, nor their affairs past or present,
the -gossip-loving country community
regarded with pride the ability OF one
of its members to hold his tongue.
No one In Sloan knew whether he
was happily married or not, what his
income was, what his religious atti-
tude was, how he was with his family
in private, or how he regarded his
neighbors. His wife was always hand
somely dressed, his children looked AS
we'll as any in the community. Berry
bud meyer contracted debt and the
externals of his home were bright and
orderly. II, until he became postmas-
ter. he ever had a confidant, no one
knew 1t, and that he had one, after he
became a government official, only two
or three in time learned. He accepted
the postof1lce, gave his bonds, and
proved to be satisfactory official.
Postofice inspectors who came and
disappeared found his accounts in ex-
cellent shape, and perhaps were not as
vigilant in his Office as they were IN
others.
It should be said that at least one
Of the inspectors did not relax his Wig
ilance-not because he suspected Berry
bud, but because long experience as
= government detective had worked
Tito his nature the on idea that rigid
inspection was necessity everywhere.
( This inspector was short, fat man.
. jokemaker. and in that often de-
reiying to unwary postmasters whose
accounts we're not just what they
should be when he appeared. He would
laugh and quip with them until the
slast minute, and then in the twink
ling of an eye become the personifi-
cation of the government, an iron
vyilled master demanding strict ac-
counting.
Jacob sberybud took fancy to this
. Inspector the first time they met, and
It Sxs; not long before the two were
sen. good terms. They did not meet
, otter enough to grow tired of each
other, and the inspector came always
I6 unexpectedly that. his appearance
.wS4 Q surprise, and the accounts being
!. .vtf3lght, q pleasant one. The years
passed and the friendship continued
Z between the postmaster and the in
spector. Siloam invardly congratulat-
"a Berybud on having "an intimate" Il
!; thought. too. that the postotfice was a
J very gobd thing for Jacob, since II
sgave employment not only to'him, but
.oR ,his children, and his wife frequent
slys came and assisted. Prosperity ap-
: pearedr to- be- with the family.
The Inspector was making one Of his
Unexpected calls ione' day and checking
On. when. he suddenly called to Berry.
bud to- come to him. The postmaster
walked over to hear him say:
:. rYour cash is 5000 short"
I ltirssMy," said Berybud, never flinching
.rst forgot about that. Our safe here IL
b poor one, and have taken to carry
Ing any large sum on hand in the safe
d. my real estate Office. You can ge
: pfar there any time and check it."
The inspector said nothing, but wen'
-ppwith @tts work. At noon he tool
~ lnhcN atthe hotel, and later walkei
over to Berybud's private office, san
the big safe there and found the $500
Intact. He left that night for another
. point, but long after he was gone Jaco'
Berybud stood at the back door OF hi
home looking up to the sky. He dit
not answer when his wife called him
but when she angrily came to the doc
I'd SID; sAre you going to moo1
AltAtH all nfght?" he sighed and cam
In when she told him that she wa
s.sgeiRg. to ST. Paul the next day will
y sN3e Vf the children for shopping tril
.sAe made.nn. comment He had alway
sss1lccepteds her actions and assertions q
xsy1eht.; II he, thought some Of then
: sNfonE he.never said SO. His views 0
ssnatfilnnY had been summed up on
= day 1Itlesf esfAspector. in this sentence
II You get bit when you marry sta,
s BIT alt,asi5etter for the children an
|. sxaryhody Ase.. sr4s 80 s'sts-,s
ssrhinK - .iffyou want TO-" retorte
Z the inspector with . laugh. Il prefe
!. spSidotess for bites" "s..s s -. ,.s
~ Mrs. Berybud departed the mex
to return In two days lade
8 xith bQldies of finery and many trim
ssketss Mhich perhaps the income Of he
liusband, sJustided her in buying an
It did not : His real estat
& b. 1870 - payin6, a}fdV&h n
&3n4 M th8 but himself, and hi
family was expensive. He held nun
Der OF mortgages on worthless LIANT
and IN truth. was financially pinehe'