The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1906-12-18

1
Tho rural free delivery wagon stop
ped at the front gate. deposited the
morning mail i'm 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 Shufiling out of the house and
made mis- way across the yard TO the
mail box, his heavy overshocs splash
Ing the slush right and left, and his
faded old coat tapping i'm the wind.
| He opened the box. and perching q
pair of ancient steel-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 shutting back
to the kitchen, where his sister, fully
fifteen years his junior, sat chopping
mince-meat in n great wooden bowl.
| Mails come. Martha" Amos an
nounced, AN here's letter for We"
| He passed her the thick white en-
velope and sat down in 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, I s'pOsc. have yc, Martha?"
Amos limited broadly.
Not the least" said sac. "'Twas
mailed here in town. see from the
postmark. | don't know who'd he
writln' to me-"
She inserted a long, thia forefnger
beneath the flap of the envelope and
tore 1t open. Within was a second en-
velope with her name inscribed i'm
bold hand across the face. Martha
paused TO read it. while Amos fdgeted,
Cali envelope, amt it?" he asked
a little testify.
'No. I guess not" she laughed.
''They's somethin' or other inside this
one"
She drew out the contents Of the sec
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
Il might a known what it was It's
the invitation to Ellie's wedding"
"Is ito" said Amos, leaning yet near
err
Yes, an I call 1t real neat too.
Martha declared. with the air of one
ried weight. Mrs. Robert Bagley
Thorpe, she read, requests tho
honor OF your presence at the marriage
of her daughter. Elinor--' 4"
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 get one. too?'
mo, | never" he said, aggrieyedly.
"There want anythin' in tho box bgt
the paper and that invitation of
yourn.'
Are you sure9
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,
ftT'r'opc thuf ,Do'r meant C,r both
Of US" he at length suggested. hope
fully. "How's 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 Il. Bradley, "
she announced.
els it the same on tother One?"
Just the same" she said, after an
examination of tho inner envelope
You're sure there's not q word
about me on either one of en- Mar
THAI ne demanded with evidently ris-
ing anxiety
Not as I can sec
Don't say and family or anything
like that, does it?' he persisted
"Um-m. no" she admitted. reluct
sntly
well. suum. his disappoiut
ment was apparent in every luz Of
bis face. they amt agoin to ask
me-"
oh ] don't blieve She began
~ do, If you DON'T ne Interrupted
with some heat They've left me ont
a-purpose. Prob1y they think because
I'm nigh eighty an little mite deaf
that I'm too old 20 go TO weddin' g.
Praps they're 'fraid amt good
enough 90 meet all them folks that's
comm on, on maybe it worried 'em
for fear ia cat with my knife Ellle's
the last one j sh'd ever thought would
set stuck mp" he ended. plainuyclY.
His Dyes FEN Ou little table I'm one
corner of the Kitchen. Uttered with
brass weights and small wooden
wheels and wellworn leyers-tho
works of am old hall clock he had been
repairing of late 10 famed bis anger
into new and fierccr flame
AN there's granpap's old clock
] was goin to give her. just because
che sets such store by old thingsl'