The San Francisco call., 1905-03-10
THANKS TO THE POSTMAN
By TROY ALLISON
n ELISA chewed her penstaff in
pretended meditation and kept
one eve on DickY Johnston.

one eye on Dicky Johnston.
Dicky had shown signs of
wandering away from the fold and
must be brought back. 1t was de-
cldedly against Melissa's creed to al
low another girl to receive even an
iota of admiration from one of her
coterie.
There was girl belonging TO the
house party, blonde, Melissa
thought contemptuously, who had re-
cejved entirely too much attention
from Dicky.
Therefore he must be disciplined.
His lesson must be decided at once,
and TO the point. Having decided
upon this Melissa gave her pen Oats
conclusive nibble and commenced
writing hurriedly. AS there happened
10 be no one in the library at the time
except Dicky and herself his attention
was soon attracted by the aggressive
scratching Of her pen.
Why don't you stop and amuse u
fellow" he urged. What are you
writing?'
oh4-just writing, she replied.
a'rily, her tone insinuating that there
We're subjects beyond his comprehen-
SION.
ITO a man." he asked, sulkily.
"A very charming man.. she assured
him impressively. It's rather an inn
portant communication" she con-
tinued. L wish you would look over
this page and see if it is too stilted."
Dicky took ita up with relieved alac-
rity, but his face heightened visibly as
he read:
Il have decided that I will marry
you-I don't know why | hesitated.
II you can get away from town for a
day, take the Ederton local for Mrs.
Wimberly's country place and you can
tell me if-you are glad l didn't keep
you waiting any longer
Dicky handed it back and COM
nenced study of the library fire.
Il don't see how any one could pos
sibly call that stiltedy' he growled.
Melissa signed the note, sealed 1t
and directed it to DR.. John Hartly.
Considering the fact that DR.. Hartly
was only a very casual acquaintance
and had never asked Melissa to marry
him, nor had she ever dreamed of his
asking her to do so. this literary
achievement might be regarded as
rather theatrical
She gathered up her writing ma
terials, slipped the letter into her writ
ing pad and started for the door.
Stopping a minute to fluff up her
brown pompadour, she fixed a re-
proachful eve upon the object of her
vengeance.
Il never would have thought,
Dicky" there were volumes of sur
prise in her voice, that you would
have cared anything at all for
blondes" she went out and shut the
door rather decidedly.
AS she crossed the hall the letter
slipped out and fell to the floor, max
ing no sound OH the soft rug. She
went upstairs, unconscious of her loss,
smiling in anticipation of the inter-
view she would have with Dicky when
his repentance had reached a proper
depth. 1t was MeIissa's theory, gained
i'll her twenty years, that men needed
to be taught lessons occasionally.
When Dicky had learned his lesson
she would acknowledge that she had
not yet sent the letter, but was keep
ing il for further consideration.
The footman, coming for the letter
bag a few minutes later, was uncon-
scicus of the inner workings of Me-
lissa's mind. He picked up her letter
and posted IL with the others.
Two evenings later the maid
brought Melissa DR.. Hartiy's card. Il
took him to the library, miss. He
said>he could only stay a few minutes
and wanted to see you alone
Melissa went down stairs, her fore
head puckered into wondering
frown. She could not imagine why
DIR. Hartly had come to Ederton to
talk with her about anything.
He came forward to meet her, and
she felt a little constrained in her
greeting of this man of forty, who
seemed so different from Dicky and
the others.
Pm so glad you decided to marry
me-" he said cordially, his eyes twink
ling. Il hoped some woman would