The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-11-07

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COPYRIGHT. 1910. 81 rna PEARSON PUBLISHING co.


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"Thatll do for talk" said Denton
rather shortly, "but give me birc
in the hand every time"
After that Asahel took extra notice
of the mail for No. 10 Orange Street
and he came to feel, with Elsie, tha
there were too few letters from a Ger
tain distant city, addressed in tht
firm, precise hand of draughtsman
Awful busy times, | guess, in the
city" he would say consoingly, OF
/ Men don't think so much of writin'
letters as girls do, Elsie" as the girl
looked forlornly through the lttle
packet of letters for one which came
not
And Elsie began to look less brgh /
and rosy as time went on. for Father
Denton was becoming very friendly
with the Sears family and very impor
tunate as to his ambitions for his
child and his family.
Asahel Rugg. reading the signs un-
erringly felt much anxiety over this
case, in which he interested himself as
in all others For he knew what con
stant pressure may finally accomplish,
and he knew that pique, which grows
out of hope long deferred, viii drive
a young person to almost any sort OF
thoughtlessness and impulsiye action,
Business men, when they don't hear
from some one they're eXpectin' to-
usually writes TO know the reason"
he suggested one day.
"Oh, Mr. Rugg, d lady could never
do anything like that" said Elsie
tremulously. But it was only two days
later, when Asahel was looking up at
the letter box at the corner of Orange
and Lakeside, that Elsie came run
ming to him, breathless and excited.
"0h, Mr. Rugg." she painted, will
you please help me? IL dropped a
letter In there bout half an hour ago,
and now ! don't want 1t TO go; |
wouldn't have It so for-for anything.
Mr. Rugg VIII you please give 1t
back to me?'
why, Elsie" answered Asahel,
"thatd be against the regulations you
know After letters been dropped
in the box It's the property OF the
United States Mail; haven't no right
to touch 1t, you see"
But please, Mr. Rugg." she pleaded
wildly. "Oh. please tear 1t up for
me or do something to stop IT.; | can't
have it gol"
'Was 1t to hlm?" asked Asahel
bluntly.
She nodded and cast Gown her eyes
"Mebbe you think you was a little
over harsh to i'm, Elsie" he suggested
softly, Is that it?"
"No," she answered, unable 10 raise
her eyes to his, that isn't it, Mr.
Rugg. | guess--well, you see, | wrote
very hastily--all OF a sudden-and
now | guess | said-more than was
proper. I'm afraid he'll think I'm
begging him back, and I'm not, any
such thing"
"Ahem," grunted Asahel, clearing
his throat. His duty was now plain,
and he became entirely Carrier No. /.
I'm afraid l can't do nothin' TO
help you, Elsie. Givin' o letter that's
been posted back to the writer is one
an the same as robbin' the United
States Mails. Why, Elsie, | wouldn't
do any such thing for Mrs. Rugg, her
self"
From that time Asahel could hardly
walt for the daily sorting OF the mail,
but the expected letter was long in
coming, it seemed to him. Young
people were as queer as old ones, and |
a little bit queerer, he decided.
Once again he was passing the Den.
ton place as Elsie and the carriage |
manufacturer son returned from bug
gy riding, and the young people were
UDln bO EAtllEu diJOuA nOiiitibih6 Nh0h |
they seemed not to notice him as he
passed
"Oh, don't know don't know"
cried Elsie, as she sprang out of the |
buggy. "I shant be home tomorrow.
Mr. Sears"
well. I shall come for an answer
bn your birthday night" declared the
The young man. much as he might
have spoken TO party in a horse
trade
And Asahel had no appetite for sup |
Der that night. and was made 10 take
4 dose of boneset tea before he went
70 bed, by his watehful spouse.
Carrier No. ! went into the post
sffice after finishing he last delivery |
and deposited the collections from the
boxes on his route; then he started |
to 90 home, for carriers are not al
lowed to loiter in The Office after their /
duties are performed a mail had
last come in from the West. aud the I