Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-01

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 impaled on
one horn. and on the other was fancy
embossed envelope that inclosed val
entine. Somewhat subdued. 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.
Drusilla, pale and frightened. stin
lowered in the corner into which Greg
ory Ware had thrust her and which he
had left without a word 70 help clear
up the wreckage. Fanny Bicknell. the
sharp faced.-sandy haired little post
mistress, pointed q skinny finger at
DrusilIa. while her little dark eyes
flashed resentfully.
al declare. DrusiIly Fowler. amt you
got any better sense than to tag that
goat of the Franklins into the post
office? I 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.
I thought you didn't take no stock in
the Frankiins' goat"
al 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"
81 shall" said Miss BickneIl 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
whole thing is cracked and warped.
and the mail box is full Of cracks.
Look under here where 1t stoodT He
pointed to a square dust outlined
space on the floor where several yell
lowed and dirty missives were 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. Here's a bill from
Fryer & Kermit for Arson RowelI.
Come to think of IL, Anson's dead this
f1v~years, and Fryer & Kermit went
bankrupt anyway, so there's no harm
done there! And here's a 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 Drusilly
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 1t one
night before Valentines day. / never
od-why-you-never 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 a lacy
and lowered valentine. Wreaths OF
roses and forgetmenots surrounded
two loving hearts, and underneath was
printed verse that was heavily un-
derscored in ink:
While protest my heart is thine
i would inquire IL thine is mine.
II this be true pray give a 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! Drusilla stared at It until
all the GOODNESS had fed from her eyes
and a great tenderness invaded her
face. Ashamed TO lift her betraylng
glance to his serious inquiring one. she
pressed the valentine with unconscious
grace to her heart.
"Oh, this ought to have come before
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