The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1906-12-25


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 it had PRO
ceeded hundred yards Amos Bradley
came Shuifling out of the house and
mado mis- way across the yard to the
mail box. his heavy overshoes splash
Ing the slush right and left, and his
faded old coat Tapping i'm the wind.
He opened the box, and perching n
pair of ancient stcel-bowed spectacles
on his nose. proceeded leisurely to draw
out and examine the contents
There were but two pieces of mail
the county weekly paper and 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 a bang and went shunling back
to the kitchen, where his sister, fully
| fifteen years his junior, sat chopping
mince-meat in a great wooden bowl.
Mails come, Martha Amos an
nounced, AN here's letter for ye."
He passed her the thick white en-
velope and sat down in n 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 we, Martha?"
Amos limited broadly.
Not the least" said she. Twas
mailed here in town, | see from tho
postmark don't know who'd he
writin' TO me-"
She inserted a long. thin fo.efinger
beneath the flap Of the envelope and
tore it open. Within was second en-
velope with her name inscribed i'm
| bold hand across the face. Martha
paused TO read il. while Amos fidgeted.
"All envelope, amt it?" he asked
little testify.
mo. guess not" she laughed.
| "They's somcthin' 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 tie heavily engraved lines.
II might "a known what it was. It's
the invitation to Elle'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, shc read requests the
/ honor OF your presence az the marriage
of her daughter, Elinor--''
Amos suddenly Strengthened himself
in his chair. Where do you fgger
mine is?" he interrupted the reading
/ TO demand
Yours, Your what?" said his Sis
ter.
My invitation, he explained
! Didn't you set one too?"
| mo. / never" he said aggrievedly.
"There want anythin' in the box bHt
the paper and that invitation Of
yourn."
Are You sure"
YES. am"
He sat for some time Eliminating
silently. his brows furrowed in per
picked thought. Surely they had not
omitted him Intentionally from the list
Of guests
'P'r'aps that ones meant for both
] -
| fully "Hows il directed, Martha"
! His sister picked up the outer en-
Yelope, which had slipped to the floor.
and looked narrowly at the superscrip-
ton Just Miss Martha b. Bradley
she announced.
'Is &c the same on tothcr onc?"
Just the same" she said, after an
examination OF the inner envelope
You're sure there's not q word
about me on either one of EN-, Mar
thar" he demanded with evidently ris-
ing anxiety
Not as I can see
Don't say and family or anything
like that. does it?' he persisted
"Um.m. no. she admitted. reluct-
sntly
wen / cuNul MS ul6dpppluI-
mept was apparent IN every limo Of
his face, they amt a-gon' 10 ask
| me-"
ooh. I don't b1ieve-' she began
81 do, II YOU don't nc Interrupted
with some heat. They've left me out
| a-purposc Prob1y they think because
I'm nigh eighty an a little mite deaf
that I'm too old TO go to weddin's.
P'raps they're 'frald amt good
enough to meet all them folks that's
comm on: or maybe It worried EN-
for fear IA eat with my knife Ellic's
the last ono ! shd ever thought would
get stuck up." ne ended, plaintively.
His eyes fcll ON little table in one
corner OF The Kitchen, Uttered with
brass weights and small wooden
wheels and wcllwOru lcvers-the
works of an old hall clock he had been
repairing of late 10 famed his anger
into new and ferccr flame
can there's gran'p9ps old clocl,
I was asoin to give her. just because
she sets such store by old things"