Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-07-18
THE NEW POSTWAR
BY EDITH w. GOODWIN

'ei . cToSSern bear; mamma
mas headache and can't make any
NOISE: all the other boys have gone
Sliding. and l can't got"
David Burbank rOamedf hstlessly
ABOUT the house in search of something
10 pass away time. A Slight cold was
the reason he wasn't allowed to 20
sliding with his chums.
lie failed to find anything among his
playthinSs that appealed to him. so he
struck few notes on the piano. but
was promptly told by sister Adele Ito
stop that noiSei"
The little fellow wondered what
made Adele SO cross. She was usually
good pal with her young brother. bur
today she had only cross words for
him.
Whats thls?" he queried aloud.
sister must have forgot to mail her
letters: I'll go mail 'em. then maybe
she won't be so cross at me-"
lie had caught sight of pile of let
tiers. but failed to notice that each one
mad been opened, and that they were
all but one addressed to his sister, He
counted them; there were twenty-four
In all.
He quickly put on his coat. cap, rub
oers and mittens and, taking the let
tiers under his arm, proceeded down
the street.
Davie walked on little further, then
quite suddenly he retraced his steps.
He had an idea. Why not play he was
the postman. and leave the letters at
different houses2
with him. to think was to act, so he
didn't stop to consider the fact that he
might not leave them at their intended
designations. but quickly assembled the
steps OF the nearest house and dropped
the letter at the top of the pile into the
mail box. Then he rang the bell and
hurried on.
He repeated this at four or five
houses. then decided to try different
streets. Ere long he came to the home
Of Wilbur Downes. Wilbur was a par
ticular friend Of Adele's. In fact, al
though the little brother didn't quite
understand the situation. he had been
Adele's promised husband, but only q
few days previous they had parted with
bitter words.
Guess I'll leave two letters for VIII
bur-" was the lads next inspiration.
He carefully selected two fat letters
from the bunch and dropped them in
the box one at time.
AT last he had finished his seIf-im-
posed task and turned his steps home
ward. The family were ut supper.
Mothers headache was better: Adele
looked pale and was very quiet.
When questioned as to where he had
been, Davie replied that he had gone to
walk, rs he couldn't think of anything
else to do. His mother feared he might
nave taken more cold and put him to
bed soon after the meal was over.
u He suddenly awoke after what
seemed to him hours aud hours. The
doorbell was pealing loudly. Pretty
soon he heard Adele exclaim rather
curtly:
wilbur Downes! thought you
were done coming to see mel"
Il thought so, too, Adele; but must
ask you to explain something then I'll
know just what course to take"
you'd better come in, then; it's too
cold to. stand here"
Davie was very anxious to hear the
remainder Of the conversation so he
hastily got out Of he'd and went into
the spare chamber on tiptoe. There
was register In the floor right over
the parlor stove. and he had on several
occasions listened here when Wilbur
was calling on Adele. He heard the
following:
II found these two letters in the mail
box ut home, and can't imagine how
they got there. Perhaps you can tell
me-"
"Let me see them!' and Adele
snatched them away from him. One
was addressed to her in Wilbur's hand
writing; the other was addressed to
him in her own penmanship.
Her cheeks famed and she got up
and walked the Moor. After few mo-
ments she faced Wilbur and asked per-
emptorily:
."Did you read the one addressed to
you?'
"Of course I did, Adele; what else
could / do?'
"Well, I surely didn't want you to
see it-not yet, anyway. Davie must
have put them there, but what his OBJ
ject was I can't imagine"
swell, Adele, If you really meant
what you wrote, shall bless Davie to
my dying day. Tell me. dear, did your
The listener upstairs was getting ex.
cited. First he believed Adele would
nearly take his head off the next morn.
ing; then 1t appeared that Wilbur was
glad he had got the letters.
All was quiet for q moment or two !;