Smyrna times., 1919-08-13
THE NEW POSTMAN
BY EDITH W. GOODWIN.

David Burbank roamed Iistlessly |
about the house in search of something |
TO pass away time. A Slight cold was |
the reason he wasn't allowed to go |
sliding with his, chums.
He failed to find anything among his |
playthingS that appealed to him, so he |
struck a few notes on the piano, but !
was promptly told by sister Adele ito |
stop that nOise!"
The little fellow wondered what
made Adele so cross. She was usually
a good pal with her young brother, but
today she had only cross words for
him.
whats this?" 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-"
He had caught sight of a pile of let
ters, but failed to notice that each one
had 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
bers and mittens and, taking the let
ters 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 houses?
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 ascended 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
few days previous they had parted with
bitter words.
"Guess I'll leave two letters for Will
bur-" was the lads next inspiration.
He carefully selected two fat letters
from the bunch and dropped them in
the box one at a time.
At last he had finished his self-lm-
posed task and turned his steps home
ward. The family were at 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, as he couldn't think Of anything
else to do. His mother feared he might
have taken more cold and put him to
bed soon after the meal was over.
He suddenly awoke after what
seemed to him hours and hours. The
doorbell was pealing loudly. Pretty
soon he heard Adele exclaim rather
curtly:
"Wilbur DownesI 1 thought You
were done coming to see mel"
''I 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 toe
cold to stand here"
Davie was very anxious to hear the
remainder Of the conversation, so he
hastily got out Of bed and went into
the spare chamber ON tiptOe. There
was a register In the floor right over
the parlor stove, and he had on severa
occasions listened here when Wilbur
was calling on Adele. He heard the
following:
"I found these two letters In the mai
box at home, and can't imagine how
they got there. Perhaps you can tel
me-"
"Let me see themr" and Adele
snatched them away from him. ON
was addressed to her in Wilbur's hand
writing; the other was addressed Il
him In her own penmanship.
Her cheeks famed and she got VI
and walked the floor. After few mo
ments she faced Wilbur and asked per
emptorily:
"Did you read the one addressed t
you"
"Of course 1 did. Adele; what els
could 1 dO?"
"Well, 1 surely didn't want you t
see it-not yet, anyway. Davie mus
have put them there, but what his oh
ject was 1 can't imagine"
"Well, Adele, if you really mean
what you wrote, shall bless Davie t
my dying day. Tell me, dear, did your
The listener upstairs was getting e1
8 cited. First he believed Adele woul
nearly take his head off the next morr
ing; then it appeared that Wilbur wa
glad he had got the letters.
ALI was quiet for moment or two
then Davie was sure he heard his sii
ter sobbing. Wilbur was speaking l
very low tones and the lad couldn
hear what he said.
When morning came Davie coul
= hardly speak aloud. and his mothe
kent him in bed all day. He rathe