The Press., 1911-03-08

had left without word to help clear | up the wreckage. Fanny Ricknell the sharp faced sandy haired little post mistress. pointed a skinny finger at Drusilla, while her little dark eyes
 flashed resentfuIly.
 'I declare. DrusilIy Fowler. atn't you I got any better sense than to tag that goat of the FrankIins into the post 1 office? I expect the gov 'ment will get after you. You've broke all the rules of the office. It says no dogs allowed inside. and that means goats and such thought you didn't take no stock in the Franklins' goat"
 "I don't" retorted Drusilla. with spirit 'He chased me all the way down here. He's the bane of my life. You can look to Mr. Franklin for dam ages"
 X q shall" said Miss Bicknell acidIy, [ 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 Uldu ludIL0F you F0 uduulluS.
 'Picking some of these letters out of the dirt under your boxes. Miss IsFanny." said Gregory Ware grimly. "I should recommend that you have something done about your boxes. The whole thing is cracked and warped. and the mail box is full of cracks. Look under here where 1t stoOd!" He pointed to square dust outlined .space on the floor where several vel lowed and dirty missives were mingled with bits of dirt and splintered glass. f39GUsre 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 hesi- tatingly around the office,
 '"These must have slipped through the crack in the mailing box" she said after awhile. Here's a bill from Fryer & Kermit for Anson Rowell. Come to think of it, Anson's dead this i've years, and Fryer & Kermit went bankrupt anyway, so there's no harm done there! And here's a postal card for Mrs. Reehe. saying that Burns & Go. ain't 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 DrllsIIy while l boss these men," She thrust a yellowed embossed envelope into GFegory'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 em9tioq.
 ''Drusilla, here's letter Miss Fanny just found under the mailing box. Like as not it's been there all this last ten years, ever since l mailed it one night before Valentines day never uRderstood-w -why-you-never answer cd it," he said with slow emphasis as she took the letter from him. Now I 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 un- derscored in ink:
 While I protest my heart is thine
 would inquire if thine is mine.
 If this be true pray give sign
 To say you'll be my valentine. signed to it, and the Gate was ten years ago! Drusilla stared at 1t until all the coldness had fled from her eyes and a 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 lit ought to have come hefore!' she cried passionately.
 "Is 1t too late now, Drusilla?" asked Gregory softly. "Its never too late to be happy-if you want to be-" he sug gested.
 ''I want to be-" sighed Drusilla con Sentedly, and then later she added, sWho would have thought that goat of Franklin's would prove blessing in disguise2''
 Little River folk watched agape. and nobody but those two understood why Gregory Ware and Drusilla Fowler led the Franklins' pet goat home with such solicitude or why Gregory bought it afterward and changed its name to Valentine.
 'It can browse in the south meadow. He'll make nice playmate-for some bOdy-some day" he added vaguely.
 Fly the. e.pIeasure that bites tomorrow. | Nnnpn~. VTo,.H>ov%