Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1911-02-11

! slipped through the closing doors, his
hoofs skating along the oiled floor;
then he saw his reflection in the glass
front of the tier of letter boxes and
paused, staring, beligcrent, beating
angrily.
Some one laid a tentative hand on
his back and was rewarded with a
vicious lunge. Billy renewed his gaze
In the glass. He paved the floor an
| grily; he bleated once more, and then
before the Mortified onlookers could
prevent him he bent his head and
crashed violently into the glass front.
SCATTERING 1t in a thousand flying frag-
ments and topping the whole struc-
ture on to the startled postmistress
and her assistant.
Fortunately nobody was hurt, not
even Billy the goat. The glass front
of letter box No. 10 was impalcd on
one horn, and on the other was fancy
embossed envelope that inclOscd val
entine Somewhat subducd, he was
captured by several citizens Of Little
River and tethered to the doorknob.
Then one and all went forward to as
sist in restoring order in the chaos Of
mail matter.
Drusila, pale and frightened. still
lowered in the corner into which Greg
DRY Ware had thrust her and which he
had left without a word to help clear
I'D the wreckage. Fanny BiCkncll the
sharp faced. sandy haired little post
mistress, pointed a skinny finger at
Drusilla. while her little dark eyes
flashed rescntfully.
81 declare, Drusilly Fowler, amt you
got any better sense than to tag that
goat of the Franklns into the post
office? l expect the gov'ment will get
after you. You've broke all the rules
of the office. 1t says no dogs allowed
inside, and that means goats and such.
l thought you didn't take no stock in
the Franklins' goat"
Il don't" rctorted Drusila, with
| spirit. 'IIe chased me all the way
down here. He's the bane of my life.
You can look to Mr.. Franklin for dam
ages"
81 shall" said Miss Bicknell acidly,
and then, addressing the men who
were picking up glass preparatory to
raising the fallen section of boxes, she
| added: "What you men fussing over
there? Remember that's all gov'ment
mail matter you're handling"
picking some Of these letters out OF
| the dirt under your boxes, Miss
Fanny" said Gregory Ware grimly
81 should recommend that you have
| something done about your boxes The
|
and the mail box is full of cracks
Look under here where it Stood" He
| pointed to square dust outlined
| space on the floor where several yell
lowed and dirty missives We're mingled
with bits of dirt and splintered glass
you're the postmistresS, Miss Fanny.
You'd better see what these letters are
doing underneath the mailing box"
He stood back while the fussy little
woman came forward and picked the
letters out of the accumulated soil
She scanned them closely-there were
| three in all-and then she looked hest
tatingly around the office.
"These must have slipped through
the crack in the mailing box" she
said after awhile. Heres bill from
Fryer & Kermit for Arson Rowell
| Come to think of it, AnSon's dead this
five years, and Fryer & Kermit went
bankrupt anyway, so there's no harm
done there! And here's Il postal card
for Mrs. Beebe. saying that Burns &
Co. amt got the sample of blue
cloth she asked for, and, land it's
dated two years back, so that don't
make no matter either, because Mrs
Beebe's wearing black now anyway
And-here's a letter for-mercy me-
are you there, Drusilly Fowler? Here,
Gregory, give that letter to Druslly
while | boss these men," She thrust
a yellowed embossed envelope into
Gregory's hand and turned away.
He came toward Drusilla, his eyes
fixed on the missive in his hand, his
face white beneath its coat of tan.
When he spoke his voice was thick
with emotion.
"Drusilla, here's a letter Miss Fanny
just found under the mailing box.
| Like as not it's been there all this last
ten years, ever since | mailed it one
night before Valentines day. l never
od-why-you-neve answer
ed it." he said with slow emphasis as
she took the letter from him. Now l
know, but suppose It's too late.
She opened the missive with shaking
fingers and drew from within lacy
and lowered valentine. Wreaths Of
roses and fOrgetmenots surrounded
two loving hearts, and underneath was
a printed verse that was heavily I'M
derscOred in ink:
While I protest my heart is thine
l would inquire If thine is mine.
II this be true pray give sign
To say you'll be my valentine.
And the name of Gregory Ware was
signed to it, and the date was ten
years ago! Drusila stared at it until
all the GOODNESS had fed from her eyes
and great tenderness invaded her
face. Ashamed to lift her betraying
glance to his serious inquiring one, she
pressed the valentine with unconscious
| grace to her heart.
"Oh, this ought to have come before
1T ought to have come before!' she
cried passlOnately.
as it too late now, Drusilla?" asked
| Gregory softly. ITS never too late to
be happy-if you want to be-" he sug-
gested.
81 want to be-" sighed Drusilla CON
tentedly, and, then later she added.