The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1906-12-27
1919 |:
4 AMOS BRADLEY'S II
CHANGE OF HEART. $l}
III" fy John B. Oxford.
4 Gg&e
~. -. Z.

The rural free delivery wagon stop
ped at the front gate, deposited the
morning mail in the tin box on the
fence, and went creaking down the
road through the sticky mud OF late
March thaw. But before IL had pro
ceeded hundred yards Amos Bradley
came shutting out of the house ana
made his way across the yard TO the
mail box, his heavy overshoes splash
ing the slush right and left, and his
faded old coat tapping in the wind
He opened the box, and perching n
pair of ancient stee-bowed spectacles
on his nose. proceeded leisurely 10 draw
out and examine the contents.
There were but two pieces OF mall
the county weekly paper and a thick
white envelope directed to his spinster
sister, who had kept house for him
since the death of his wife some ten
years ago
Amos closed the cover of the tin box
with bang and went shufiiing back
to the kitchen, where his sister, fully
fifteen years his junior, sat chopping
mlHCe-lHedl III great "oOuSh "N"'
Malls come Martha" Amos an
nounced, IAN here's a letter for ye.'
He passed her the thick white en-
velope and sat down in a nearby
chair, ENORMOUSLY eXpectant,
Martha wiped her hands on her apron
and taking IN the letter, examined the
superscription attentively.
you amt got any idea who It's
from, s'pose. have ye, Martha?"
Amos limited broadly.
mot the least" said SHE. Twas
mailed here in town, | see from the
postmarll. don't know who'd he
writin' to me-"
She inserted a long, thin foTeiinger
beneath the flap of the envelope and
tore 1t omen. Within was a second m
yelope with her name inscribed in a
bold hand across the face. Marthd
paused to read it. while Amos fidgeted.
"All envelope, amt it?' he asked
a little testify
mo, | guess not" she laughed.
"Tneys somethin' or other inside this
one"
She drew out the contents OF the Soc
ond envelope and opened its single
fold. A square of tissue paper fut'
tered out and went zigzagging to the
floor.
Amos leaned forward in his chair,
his keen old eyes peering eagerly over
the bows of his spectacles.
"Of course, OF course" said Martha,
scanning the heavily engraved lines.
81 might a known what It was. It's
the invitation 10 Ellie's wedding"
"Is IT," said Amos, leaning yet near
err
Yes, an | call it real neat. too"
Martha declared, with the air of one
whose opinions in such matters car
ried weight Mrs. Robert Bagley
Thorpe" she read, requests the
honor of your presence at the marriage
of her>daughter, Elinor-'"
Amos suddenly Strengthened himself
in his chair. Where do you fcger
mine is?" he interrupted the reading
to demand.
Yours! Your WHAT" said his sis
ter.
MY invitation" he explained.
Didn't you get one. too?'
mo, never" he said, aggrievedly.
"There want anythin' in the box but
the paper and that invitation of
yourn.".
Are you sure?"
Eyes. | am"
He sat for some time Illuminating
silently. his brows furrowed in per-
picked thought Surely they had not
omitted him Intentionally from the list
of guests
"Pr'aps that ones meant for both
of u.s." he at length suggested. hope
fully. Flows it directed, Martha?"
His sister picked UP the outer en-
velope, which had slipped to the floor,
and looked narrowly at the superscrip-
ton. Just Miss Martha B. Bradley"
she announced.
as it the same on. tother one?"
"Just the same" she said after an
examination of the inner envelope.
You're sure there's not a word
about me on either one OF EN-. Mar
thar" he demanded with evidently ris-
ing anxiety.
mot as | can see."
Don't say and family OF anything
like that, does it?' he persisted.
''Um.m, no. she admitted, reluct-
antly.
well, snum,'-his disappoint.
ment was apparent in every line Of
his face,-"they amt a-goin' to ask
me!"