West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-12-09
"a Kansas man-about Maryland!


But that night, after Seffy's father
was In bed. Sally wrote a pitiful letter
perhaps the first she had ever writ.
ten:
Dear Seffy ct RAM:
please come home. Come as soon
as you get this. Your pappy wants
you. He Is old and sorry, SO please
come right away.
"Sephenijah p. Baumgartner, Senior"
But the envelope was addressed to
Mr.. s. p. Baumgartner, Jr.,
President Kas. State League,
Kansas"
The post-mistress smiled indulgently
as Sally handed In the letter the merit
day.
"A long way off," she said.
Yes" said Sally. fidgeting with her
bonnet. How soon do you think II
will get there?"
The postmistress reflected.
About a week." she said then
$50 long,"
But, as a matter OF fact, she had
thought IL would take longer. Kansas
was vague place In those days. and
a vast distance away.
We'll" said the post.mistress COM
fortingly, 'mebby not quite so long.
But better not count on its getting
there sooner. III give IL a good start.
I'll put IT In the mail bag now"
Thank YOU" said Sally.
She watched her put II into the bag
and then went dreaming home, and
for all OF the two weeks OF waiting she
was very happy-dreaming always.
Poor girl-she had made her life so
unhappy that JOY seemed divine. She
was sure OF Seffy. Sometimes she won-
dered with blush and start IL he
might not come himself in answer.
She would not have been surprised to
have him steal up behind her-that
was his way, she remembered-and
call out softly her name. So she went
about almost on tiptoes so that she
might hear him II he should II was
little difficult to keep IL from the In
quisitive old man. who did not quite
understand her sudden happiness. But
she did IL.
And, finally, the two weeks were up.
She was quite sure Seffy would not
waste moment with his answer And
he might use that mysterious instru-
ment, the telegraph, which she under.
stood would not take more than an
hour from Kansas. She supposed his
message. even II he used the tele.
graph, would come to the post-ofice.
The ceremonial Of letter, with
simple people, is as much a matter OF
concern as treaty between two ma.
lions. And now, as she dressed her.
self in her best clothes to go to the
post-offlce. she felt, somehow, as IL
she were to be in Seffy's personal
presence, and must be as immaculate
as always. She wondered how he
would address her-forgetting that his
answer must come TO the one whose
name she had signed. She had heard
OF various most dear headlines to let
tiers. am afraid she blushed at all
this. For, az she looked in the glass,
she saw a face so radiant that she
looked again to identify II.
So. all the more she dressed herself
with the same care she would have
taken were she going TO him instead
OF to the pOst-offce for his letter She
remembered what he had said about
her hair, and she ventured TO pull II
about her face. much as Il had been
that night In the dark parloT. But at
the thought OF that the tears came
slowly into her eyes. She had been
very happy that night. IL was all the
happiness she had ever known, II
seemed now. She dried her eyes and
then she sat at the table where semy
had often sat, and looked again in his
broken mirror. The radiance was
quenched. Her face was pale and thin
now. She thought OF IL quite as II he
were soon TO see II.
II wonder II he'll think me hand
some, now7" She shook her head
doubtfully at the face she saw in the
glass. mo. have no red cheeks no
more--and my eyes are bigger-and
ny lips thinner-and my hair is paler
and my bands"
She remembered how he had kissed
them, and put her head down and
sobbed. They did not seem NJ 10 be
kissed now-nor worth kissing.
But the postmistress liked her bet
ter that way and so do I. For she had
acquired a daintlness that was almost
/ Immaculate.
As soon ~ Sally came. the postmis
tress smiled and shook her head. For
she had understood what the letter
contained quite as n she had seen Il.
And she had watched anIiously for the
i answer.
mot yet" she said connpassionateIy
Sally'a legs weakened and she
clutehed - the little shelf before her.
II took a moment 20 swallow the thing
IN her throat Then she murmured:
TITS two weeks"
Yes. But he'd have % be pretty
prompt 10 get Il here By this time"
Sally had been sure Of this prompt
ness. II never occurred 20 her 90
doubt She would not have wasted =
minute. She turned hopelessly away
Perhaps tomorrow" said the kind
post-mistresB.
sally yeered, smiling.