The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-02-19
: The POStmiStreSs
; of Circle City.
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D By Elizabeth Florence GRAY.
By Elizabeth Florence Gray.

n EFORE a table, upon which lay an
ID open letter, sat Eleanor Van Dyke,
her chin resting in her hand and her
eyes cleaning with amusement. Her
brow was slightly wrinkled, but the
light in her face indicated that the
problem to be solved was a humorous
one. Again her eyes sought the note.
MY dear Mr.. Van Dyke" it ran,
the photograph of Chief kadiSham
sent in care of the postmaster of Cir
Gle City has been received and delivered
to the Indian. The old fellow was
greatly pleased and grunted his salts
faction when | told him it came from
a gentleman living in San Francisco.
l have many snapshots of the chief,
but none of them represent him, as
does yours, periodically draped in the
stars and stripes in celebration of the
Fourth of July. / should therefore con-
slider it favor if you would send me
copy of the photograph to add to my
collection. Yours truly,
CAROL H. MORGAN"
With the envelope was card bear
ing the words, Miss Morgan, Circle
City, Alaska" Evidently the postmas-
ter of this northern town was wom-
an, and she had inclosed ten cents in
payment for the picture. Eleanor
gazed at the coin whimsically, and
wondered whether it would be better
to send it back or have it framed. She
rather inclined toward the latter, for
money which she had herself earned
would be curiosity to show her
friends. AS she turned the coin over
1t seemed to convey some thought, for
she dropped it with an amused laugh.
and exchanged the dainty monogram
paper for a plain sheet of larger di-
mansions, upon which she wrote in a
bold, angular hand:
MY Dear Miss Morgan:
Your letter at hand. Enclosed you
the old chief and several pictures of
the Klondike which l hope may be of
interest to you. l trust you will par
don me, however, if / return this coin
for l could not think of accepting
money from a lady, especially one
whose handwriting has taken so great
a hold upon my fancy. Some claim
that the soul is revealed in the face
others in the voice, but it seems to
me that yours has crept out through
your finger tips. May l not see more
of it?'
Hello, Sis, what are you doing?
asked youthful voice from the door
Il am playing the part of man
in a comedy" replied the girl, land
L" A merry laugh broke into he1
sentence.
Now, I'd advise you"
That's just like you. Harold, AL
ways ready to give advice. Perhaps
if you read these, your opinion will
have more weight" She handed hel
brother the two letters.
"Well, this is amusing" he said, as
he read the first note. What do yor
suppose made her think you were &
man? Your handwriting?"
mo, l don't believe it was my hand.
writing. l suppose few women visit
Circle City, and besides, l enclosed the
photograph in a business envelope OF
fathers, because mine were all tot
SMALL"
"A few more letters such as this ont
will open her eyes,, replied the girl:
brother, glancing over the reply sht
had written. "I'll bet a box of candy
to pair of gloves that the postmistres.
either doesn't answer your letter at al
or discovers you're girl before tn,
Yukon freezes"
Long before an answer could posi-
bly, be received, Eleanor began tt
watch for the reply She wondered i
the postmistress would be offended b,
her bold declaration, or if any wor,
or phrase had betrayed her sex. A
last the letter arrived, and her hear
gave a glad bound when sbl saw tina