Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-08-04


Yes sh, Is very sick indeed"
He stopped to inquire every day aft
er that and then pursued his way
gloomily. Mike is getting peevish."
the clerks at the office said In surprise
An air of intense anxiety seemed to
pervade the atmosphere of the stone
house, and the bell was muffled, for
the patient had reached the crisis when
Mike again appeared at the door. He
was awkwardly holding a parcel wrap
ped In tissue paper.
"She used to like white roses" he
said to the nurse. Put these In her
room"
At length news came that Isabel was
really getting better. The air of de
preston vanished. Once more Mikes
whistle sounded cheerlly. Then he be-
came puzzled over letter which un-
mistakably bore Billy's handwriting
and yet was not directed to the girl he
had treated SO cruelty. Mike finally
came to the conclusion that the fel.
low had written to the nurse desiring
information concerning IsabeIs condi-
ton, and he fervently hoped that she
wouldn't make 1T up with him."
He fingered the letter guiltily as he
approached the house and saw Isabel
herself standing upon the veranda. a
sudden moisture filled the sympathetic
postman's eye, for she was such a
small, white Isabel. Her dark hair had
been cut, and the short curls seemed to
change her back again into the little
girl who had raced to meet him upon
her way from school.
'I am glad you are better" he said
heartily, and she smiled.
THANK you," she answered softly.
You have been very kind. Any let
ters todayg"
Mike drew a long breath. There's
one here" he said hesitatingly. Il
guess it's for the nurse-addressed to
Mrs. William D. Rhodes"
Isabel extended an eager hand.
why. Nike" she said, laughing hap
PLY, don't you know-that l am Mrs
William Rhodesf
He stared at her unbelievingly
"You," he repeated dully-"you Mrs
Rhodes, and it wasn't the Billy fellow
after allr' ... -...
"Oh, but it was" she said rather
confusingly, "for Billy is William
Rhodes"
The old postman still looked bewll-
dered you married to him all the
while" he said slowly, "and me think
ing when the letters stopped and he
went away bidding you 'goodby for
ever on a postal card that 1t was all
over with" ..
She laughed merrily at his unblush-
ing confession to reading her mail. 81
understand now" she said, "your dis
appointment at having no letters to
deliver, but you see when we became
engaged Billy managed to be trans
ferred to the company's office here, so
there was no further need Of CORE
spondence. We were married quietly
the very day before was taken de3.
perately Ill with typhoid fever, which
had been threatening me for so long.
Billy has been with me through it a.,
and now that | am strong enough
the girls eyes shone-'"we are going
upon our long postponed wedding tril'
to Europe The card you spoke Of,
she explained kindly. was sent from
New York, where Billy had gone to
engage our passage, and, knowing til
I was to be married the next day, he
bade goodby forever to Isabel Drew"
Mike replaced his cap and sorted out
another handful of letters. The infn.
tious smile appeared upon his face.
and the Irish blue eyes twinkled. "Yog
can't always take it from the postals. "
he said.
At the foot of the stair he doffcd
his cap again. u wish you much
happiness, Mrs. Rhodes" be added
tremendously, and the girl watched
him far down the street.
Never was wish more sincere" she
murmured softly. The days followCG
each other uneventfully. No girlish fa (,
bent over the roseoushes or smiir'
from the window, and then one morn
ing Mike discovered among his lcttc"
one bearing a European postmark ii"
addressed In small. neat hand-whi
he we'll remembered-to Mrs. IalI
Drew
1t would naturally be supposed thn
such a bulky letter could convey nil
the news necessary, but with 1t. ais
directed to Mrs. Drew, came a pictur"
postal. the same white boat wh.h
had at one time aroused Mikes anger
and beneath the boat was penned:
You will be glad to know that Billy
and l have arrived safely and are well
and happy. ISABEL RHODES.
The postman ascended the steps OF
the stone house. There's n letter f1i
Mrs. Drew" he informed the mai
who opened the door, land posia
card for me-"
"You!" the girl exclaimed sCornfu.l'
why, it's for her too"
II am not so sure of that" NJ.
answered knowingly. But you ms,
let her have it."
The door closed with Il bang, for m.
maid had long since ceased trying tt
understand Mike and his ways, Ga1
the whistled tune, Has Anybody Her,
Seen Kelly" foGted riotously down
the street.
BERTILL0N STUDIES HAIR.
TbipkS Aa Aae NaNu Criminal I1epfi-