The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1911-02-10

Billy
And the old pcstman fought with the
greatest temptation of his Ilfe-to de-
stroy a part Of Uncle Sans mall.
When he saw the little white lady
leaning back YEARLY In her chair upon
the veranda Mike was certain that he
would have preferred to pay the full
penalty due such crime than to have
been the bearer Of this cruel missive.
He avoided her eyes as he turned
away. but there was a t-emuIous little
catch In the voice which thanked him.
To his great relief. Isabel no longer
awaited his coming. and when he next
left u letter for her mother 1t was a
white capped nurse who responded to
his ring.
young lady sick?" Mike asked in
a tone which was supposed to express
only polite interest. and the nurse an
.swered. ersvely: 'A..
YES; she 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, foe
the patient had reached the crisis when
Mike again appeared at the door. He
was awkwardly holding parcel wrap
ped in tissue paper.
"She used to like white roses" be
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 cheerily. Then he be-
came puzzled over letter which I'M
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 fell
low had written to the nurse desiring
information concerning Isabels 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.
81 am glad you are better" he said
heartily, aud she smiled.
THANK you" she answered softly.
"You have been very kind. ANY let
tiers today?"
Mike drew a long breath. There's
one here" be said hesitatingly. "i
guess it's for the addressed 70
Mrs. William d. Rhodes."
Isabel extended an eager hand.
"why. Nike" she said. laughing hap
PLY. don't you know-that am Mrs.
William Rhodesw
He stared at her unbelievingl..
"You," he repeated dully-'you Mrs.
Rhodes, and it wasn't the Billy fellow
after alp
"oh. but 1t was" she said rather
confusingIy. "for Billy is William
Rhodes"
The old postman still looked bewil-
dered. you married to him all the
WHILE" he said slowly, land me think
ing when the letters stopped and he
went away bidding you 'goOdby for
ever on a postal card that it 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 des-
perately III with typhoid fever, which
had been threatening me for so long.
Billy has been with me through 1t all.
and now that l am strong enough
the girls eyes shone-'we are going
upon our long postponed wedding trip
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 that
was to be married the next day, he
babe goodby forever to Isabel Drew"
Mike replaced his cap and sorted out
another handful of letters. The infec-
tious smile appeared upon his face.
and the Irish blue eyes twinkled. you
can't always take it from the postaIs."
he said. fs
At the foot of the stair he doffed
his cap again. 81 wish you much
happiness. Mrs. Rhodes" he added
tremendously. and the girl watched
him far down the street.
"Never was wish more sincere" she
softly. The days followed
each other uneventfully. No girlish face
bent over the rosebushes or smiled
from the window. and then one morn
ing Mike discovered among his letters
one bearing European postmark aud
In a small. neat hand-which
he well remembered-to Mrs. James
Drew.
IL would naturally be supposed that |