The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-11-06

By JOSEPH IvERS LAWRENCE
COPYRIGHT. 1910 nv TIE PEARSON PUBLISHING co.

! AnoWU hS AShHti huHss oue "iN"JS az
Asahel Rugg the letter-carrier, for he
aad grasped one Of the greatest things
9iaosgpltyl anaiFelIhion nave to,ssakA
/ TO be What YOU are Sage he was, as
we have said, and teacher and coun,
ciior. but he had found those func
tions within the province of q letter
carrier
Many postmen are cynical, for they
view life at a peculiar angle, but Asa
he Rugg waxed increasingly optimis
ilc as his years of service passed. He
observed thai with the heavy mail
which had to do with those inevitable
woes, death and taxes, there was ali
ways a brave show of letters and par
cells that reeked with love and sym,
pathy and trust.
Elsie Denton lived with her father
and mother out on Orange Street, just
about where it turns into Lakeside
Avenue, and she was one of the pret'
test and most popular young women
in Essex Falls, which has quite as
many pretty and popular young women
as any town Of its size.
For years Asahel had handed the
blue-eyed, laughing girl, leaning upon
the gate. letters, cards, papers and
parcels for herself and her house and
stopped for a gay word and hearty
laugh with her. Once there was little
enough mail to please the black stock
inged, gayly beribboned little lass
just seasonable remembrance cards
and, once a year, big, fluffy valentines
addressed In scrawly, penciled hero
glyphics, but later the budding flower
claimed the heavier part of the houses
mail. and her letters were addressed
in round. masculine hands.
Carrier No. l was chirographist Of
no little skill; he had none of the
Illicit desires Of mrs. MdilSetter to pry
into the contents of the letters in his
care. but he knew at the glance which
told him the destination of the letter
if 1t were from the handsome young
engineer who had lived in the town
the year before, or young Halsey
Sears. who dashed about town in a
rubher-tired buggy, and who used, In
the past, to SNOWFALL him in winter
and attack him with pea-shooter In
summer
The young engineer was Harry Pei
ton, who had lived in the town while
he worked on the new bridge over the
river. He was a clean, nice-mannered
young fellow, and the town took a
lively interest in the affair between
him and Elsie, but he went off to the
city after a while, as most of them
did. and the affair was considered end
ed by all except Elsie and Asahel
Rugg.
Halsey Sears was tbs only son Of
Hiram Sears. the carriage builder and
a fat. red-faced, loud laughing young
man with a taste for trotting horses,
big. black cigars and the burlesQue
shows which came to the Opera House;
added strong drink to the list Of his
deSiderdtd
One night as Asahel Rugg was pass
ing the Denton house on his way home
TO his cottage on the edge of the town,
Halsey Sears whisked up in a smart
runabout and dropped Elsie at her
gate.
Good evening, Mr. Rugg," said FL
sic, blushing unconsciously.
"Hello, Asahel; village get on all
right without you till tomorrow"
called young Mr. Sears. jocosely.
81 reckon it will, | reckon it will,
Haisey." answered the postman with
reproying dignity, and paused to give
a good evening to Elsie's father, who
sat upon the steps Of the house smok'
ing his pipe.
That's the kind Of lad for girl
TO set her cap for, Asahel! chuckled
Henry Denton, as young Sears drove
away. while Elsie grew very red and
uttered incoherent protests.
Asahel rarely threw cold water on
Ruy ones enthusiasm, but he was too
honest to sanction anything which
had so much Of his disfavor.
"Yes. Henry. l s'pose it is," he said;
"that is. if she don't care for nothing
but silks an satins an fine carriages"
Elsie gave him a quick look of graft
tude, but her father puckered his lips
over his pipe-stem and smiled sourly.
Love in cottage sounds better in
poetry han 1t does when you're tryin'
to pay the rent Of the cottage, he an
nounced
Asahel was no adept in epigram, but
he returned the dry smile and re-
piled
1--WE noticed right along, Henry.
that ii all depends on what kind OF
love is in the cottage"
"Bosh," shifted Denton. you've
tarted around so many love letters
Asahel. that you're chock full Of SEN
timent I tell you. if | was a girl
wouldn't let any young man with
manufacturing business almost in
his hands slip by me while | was
maxim eyes at a hungry young feller
who was dependin' on buildin' cities
with a pencil and paper
"Now. father, you're too bad to talk
like that" protested Elsie, who
couldn't fee into the house while her 1
father continued to sprsad himself |
over the narrow steps.
"Hmi" retorted Asahel. a6 near in 7
dignant as he ever got, "any one ,
knows there's more money IN engi- (
neerfn' than carriage buildin There's .