The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-03-18


I3ll ll9IJ been delivered at the store
and pOstOfice.
John FairjOhn, the postmaster, had
opened the bag and counted the let
tcrs. There were, as he made out just
ten, and one was larger than the 9th
ers and had a red seal, ana then he
had found that he had left his glasses
OH the newspaper in the back room,
and without his glasses he could not
read a line, and so, OF course, be had
gone after them, returning 10 find two
persons in the store - Farmer Roper
and Squire McKibben, whose ances
tors had given name TO the place.
"Wet, amt itY' said MI. FairJohn,
noGding
wet or not, our folks amt going 10
do without their groceries, you see"
said the squire. Mails in, | see The
train came near running into my truck,
too. Wasn't noticing the flag. and
drove across just in time TO save my
self. Any letters for meW
"IIl see" said Mr. Fairjohn.
He turned 10 the little pile Of envcl-
bpes and told them over ia his hand
like a deck of cards.
"Wby, there's only nine" he said.
'J'm sure ] counted right. ] counted
ten, and j thought one had n red seal.
might as well give up the office if I'm
going to lose my senses like that.
There wasn't any one in here while !
was gone, was there, squireW
"Only Roper and ] ." said the squire,
"and Roper's son. But he didn't come
in did hep
No" said old Roper. 81 don't think
that Job came in at all lie just went
Off somewhere
well" said the postmaster, after
another search, "welI, ] must be mis-
taken. Yes, there Is n letter for you
your folks any way-and something
for you, Mr.. Roper. And you wouldn't
mind tossing that in at the Smiths az
you passT
- "Ob, no" said Farmer Roper. "Giyc
Il to me. That's from Smith, that's
clcrking ii in New York, | reckon.
Can't get any of 'cm TO stay and
farm"
.. Your son Job did" said the squire,
"Oh, my son job. He'd try the pa
tience OF his namcsake," said Farmer
Roper MY son Job, bah"
Just at that moment the door of the
store opened, and there entered at 1t
little woman dressed in a cheap calico,
and wrapped in thin and faded
shawl.
She looked timidly about the store
still more tmidly at the heap of let
tcrs, and then i'm an appealing voice,
like that Of a frightened child, said;
Mr.. Fairjohn rs there any letter
FOR me this timc|
The postmaster who was a little
deaf had turned his head away and
did not know that she had entered and
she came closer TO the counter and the
light upon il before she spoke again.
She was a faded little woman, and her
face had signs of grief written upon il,
but she was neither old nor ugly yet
and there was something in the damp
curls clustering under the faded calico
hood and In the little round, dimpled
chin absolutely childlike even yet
"ls there letter for me tins time,
Mr.. Fairjohu" she said again. and
now the postmaster looked up
mo, there amt AMI you're fool FOR
taking such walk 10 ask" said he,
with rough kindness. "Wouldnt |
have sent it If il had come. Mrs. Les.
tcrT
"Well, you see, | felt in hurry 10
get IT," said she You can't blame me
for being in hurry, it's SO long"
That's true" said the postmaster
'Well. better luck next time But why
don't you waltz Mr.. McKibben will
take you over when he goes. lie
passes your corner"
"Yes, wait, Mrs. Lester" cried Mr
McKibben, "In take ye and wei
come
But she had answered:
THANK you. ] don't mind walking
and was gone.
keeps it up, don't she?" asked the
postmaster.
ITS shame" said Mr. McKibbcn
'How many years is il since Lcstcr
went offr'
Ten said the postmaster. 81 know
for IL was the day ] came here. Sh,
was as pretty n woman as you'd wan
10 see then, wasn't shey'
well, yes" said Mr. MeKibben
SAILED in the Sphynx." said IN,
postmaster. And we all know tha
the Sphynx went down in that voyage
all hands along with her. The rest o
the women put on widows weeds
them that lost husbands-four in thi
to~n itself They took what the Al
mighty sent aud didn't rebel. She Sc
up that her husband wasn't dead, an,
would come back. She's kept IL M
ever since; comes for his letter regu
lar. and he was drowned along wit
The rest. OF course, ten years ago. Sh
must be thirty. Well, she's changed
good deal in that time"
Yes" said the old man but there
my son Job wild over her yet He's OF
fered himself TWICE He stands reod