The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1918-01-04


She took the box to the wide porch
and sat on the steps to open it. Lau-
retta seemed to be opening a tomb or
something that was sacred, but she
continued nevertheless.
There were some half-dozen letters
in the box. Some were of very an
Gent date, while two had been recently
mailed. Apparently there were still
people as ignorant as to country mail
ing systems as. she herself was. Evil
IDENTIFY motorists had stopped to mail
those two letters, thinking they would
be collected on the first route Of the
village mailman.
Lauretta decided to return the let
tiers to the writer's rather than to the
persons to whom they were written.
The address in each case was on the
envelope. She thought it would be
far better to let the sender know why
the letters had not reached their des-
tinatiOn, so she wrote a short note
with each one telling Of the strange
way in which the missives had come
into her possession. Lauretta hoped
all the people were still in the land of
the living and that nothing tragic had
happened because of the failure of the
letters to reach their destinations.
From five Of the messages Lauretta
received most charming answers. A
correspondence began with one of the
young men, which later ripened into
warm friendship. He had posted his
letter while rushing along the highway
and had wondered at it's fate. He told
Lauretta all about it in his reply, but,
urged by curiosity regarding the girl
who had been interested enough to
renal the letters, he stopped to see
her the very first time his machine
skidded along the Cedar Swamp road.
Lauretta and her parents were all
three delighted with Frank Joyce.
Lauretta's romantic spirit had pro-
duced many such episodes in the Car
son household.
They were all four sitting out under
the great gnarled apple tree having
cooling drinks, when huge yellow car
stopped at the gate.
Lauretta's father went forward to see
who the new arrival was. He smiled
genially when he discovered the good
mission as Joyce.
Jimmy Gains glanced swiftly over
the group under the apple tree, and
approved most decidedly to Lauretta.
He cast an unappreciative glance at
the recumbent Joyce, and pOndered
darkly as to his identity.
Lauretta smiled when Jimmy Gains
joined the unconventional circle and
confded his reasons for coming.
''The letter that I posted in that
box" he said, frankly, was proposal
to a girl. I was mighty upset at get
ting no reply, and have been dashing
all over the country trying to forget
the girl
There was sympathy in Mrs. Car
! sons motherly expression, but Jimmy's
eyes seemed happily forgetful now
that they had rested upon Lauretta.
Il wish there had been dozens and
dozens Of letters more in that box,'
laughed Lauretta.
"And a couple of dozen cars block
ing the highway" Joyce insinuated,
and Lauretta had the grace to blush.
Jimmy Gains glowered at Joyce.
Jimmy had an odd feeling that Lau-
retta was going to be the next and
last recipient of proposal from him.
Things happened suddenly with JIM
my. Already he had thanked the imps
of fate that had failed to give him
Blanche Markham. He had known
only passing love for her.
"Well, I am lucky that ignorance
led me to posting my letter in your
box" Joyce said. II say, why don't
you put the old box back again? You
may catch some more messages and
have sort of private mailing system
end friendship-maker combined"
Bright head" laughed Lauretta
II will put it back at once"
ut is using government property FOL
fraudulent purposes" Jimmy put in
peevishly fearful of whom La0retta
might draw next into her net
IF this is the result of fraudulent
: purposes" laughed Joyce, gazing al
t Aauretta, may we all become frauds
: I'm sorry you're not satisfied, ole
! chap" he added by way Of rousinf
Jimmy's wrath.
: Mr.. and Mrs. Carson exchanged al
: amused glance. Lauretta went off il
: search of the box and more iced tea
D Il am SO satisfied" retorted Jimmy
: that I'll bet you I'll be a married
i army officer before you're even IL
q khaki"
t Before further words fell from as
;; tonished lips, Lauretta returned.
e THE government property is n,
: longer government property. A tin,
: wren has taken possession of the oil,
o mail box. and I haven't the heart t,
a dispossess her. A little bird has save,
e me from further blocking the high
l. way" She looked mockingly at Jim
my. swell, has q bomb explode,
= here9"