Show aua a u a A STAMP by L L robinson t by jo epi i lea leonard Biorn field vas one of those children of fortune who for the greater part of the year had nothing to do leonard was by no means a lover of solitude in general yet pos every access to the pleasures of society and he was suddenly seized one gay and charming summer with tl e desire or solitary rambling abart aiom the noisy world so he babp to the haunts of city and fashion and burled himself in the i easeful shelter of a rural hamlet it was on a certain da when hav ng sought refuge in ardent aigist aun I 1 eonald stood in the brushville Brush ville batore idly awaiting the nail it was on the glass showcase that his eye was resting and upon a certain white envelope which he was morally sure had i resented itself to his vision in numera ie times before vet tor the first tin e it seemed actual ly demanding his attention A rather soiled and crumpled missive but in scribed distinctly with the address miss dorothea winthrop N ville va half unconsciously he had read these same words repeatedly but un observed hitherto a few less legible pen strokes ofa the corner of the en delope now attracted his glance in Is that letter deta ned only for want of a stamp a cramped and apparently nervous hand was traced the old timed en treaty in haste in haste repeated I 1 eonard ins involuntarily at the innocent de vice another glance and quickly he noted the absence of the customary stamp turning abruptly to the store keeper leaning adb er the inter leon ard asked briefly Is abat lettel detained only for want of a stampa all replied the other se renel it was dropped in the mall box just as iou see it two weeks ago and I 1 put it there in full sight thinking whoever mailed it would probably see and the mistake two weeks repeated leonard meditatively and all tor the want of a two cent stamp why man I 1 should think you would have put one on yourself he added with fine dis legard 0 the principles of finance well hardly replied the post coolly not if oi had to handle a dozen or so betteis a week let me begin that and halt the let would come in minus a stamp well put one on now at ny rate said leonard promptly laying a coin on the counter two in deed for a letter in haste why Is no telling what Is being with held from miss dorothea winthrop it was wednesday on which this little occur ance had stirred for a mo men the surface monotony of leon ard s existence b it by friday it had quite slipped from his mind and was not even recalled as once more he stood at the door of the store secene ly awaiting the coach which was al ready appi caching at its own dellb erate oace A moment later and the mail bag was sw ing into the hand outstretched to receive it but contrary to the usual routine the driver did not at once direct his course to the stable tor the needed change of horses led ving his box he proceeded to the door at the rear of the vehicle to as a passenger to alight a slight girlish fairn and a pale timid face looked andio isly about with tremulous eagerness marking voice and manner she turned to the nearest by stander can ou tell me how far it is to redbank farm and where I 1 can get a conveyance to take me therea the man thus addressed did not egiy but with the indicter nee common to those unaccustomed interesting themselves in tl e at bairs of others it Is five miles to redbank arm he answered briefly and there is no way to get there that I 1 know on but I 1 must go there and at once she said earnestly cannot you help mpa and with this she turned to an ather with imploring ees leonard bromfield had stool by a silent listener advancing q to her side he said I 1 think perhaps I 1 can assist you at the place where I 1 am boarding there Is an old buggy and horse and it I 1 can procure its use and yo i will accept my sei vices I 1 will gladly drive you to the farm mentioned the soft gray eyes were lifted to his face with a glow of trust and gratitude that would have the speaker for a far greater offer oh I 1 cannot tell ou how I 1 should be re said fervently and I 1 could sit here in the store till ou have made inquire undoubtedly replied leonard promptly and escorting to 1 seat within he hastened away in her service the leady sympathy ym pathy and aid accord ed her in hei dire need had quickly won tl e confidence of his fair corn pai aoi and her ardent appreciation tf the kindne s thus bestone 1 in the desire to render u as agreeable and as little burdensome as i and ere a mile hind them her little story had i J rief conal ed ho v her father be ing in adverse circumstances had left her three months before in N valle with friends arile be hid gone out in the combly to begin life anew As the villagers ha 1 informed him the road was neither deific lit nor ob and in little more than an ho ir he I 1 ew rein before the comfortable looking country house known as red bank farm almost before he could assist her hia eager companion had si rang light ly to the grobi d and was already at w hile I 1 eonard more deliberately secured tl e horse he could not bring to leave her thus ab ruath without at least learning the ies lit of 1 er tears tor tl e one so dear to her advancing therefore to the door agh which he had seen her disappear he was met by a woman whose kind face beto kenel unmistakable gravity it Is fortunate you have brought her she said with the ready corn common to rural dis and evidently supposing th t leonard had accompanied her young visitor as a friend or relative the poor man has been callan tor her day and night and I 1 hope now he 11 die peaceful what cried leonard with startled emotion that surprised him self do iou mean to say he Is so as so ill repeated his hostess why hi cannot last moren an hour I 1 should say why was his girl so slow in comin I 1 wrote a letter for him myself when he was first took near three weeks ago and I 1 took care to write on the back of it in haste for the simple reason that the let ter did not reach her till yesterday replied leonard ain ost resentfully how could it go through the mall with no stamp upon ita 0 o stamp rei bated the woman a look of deep contrition suddenly over spreading her countenance deary deary I 1 never thought that I 1 haven t ciote a letter since I 1 was s girl when they to be paid for at the other end I 1 never thought the stamp she turned hastily away and leonard instinctively followed to the room near b where as she lofti opened the door they bath stobo matlonie mot lonie s on the threshold it was truly a scene to move the stoniest heart alth a reckless hand the girl had tossed her hat aside ami kneeling on the floor at the bedside her head was burled on the fieast of the sick man his wan hand resting caressingly but helplessly on the soft brown tresses but on his pallid face worn by illness and many a trace of sorrow beamed now a smile of in effable peace and satisfaction while la whispers the words I 1 knew you would come my dar ling I 1 knew I 1 could not go without seeing you once more heart broken sobs concu sing the slight young form alone answered him till at last came the cry oh father do not leave me lou will not die and leave me all alone rhe piteous appeal seemed sudden ly to disturb that rapture of peace which the fulfillment of his ceaseless kiaer had bi ought and over the dy ing face crept a visible shade he gazed upon the head pillowed on his breast and then as with m ite supplication he raised his dim eyes they fell by chance as it were fill on leonards pitying face in a moment the latter stood beside him I 1 am a stranger to you and your daughter he said soothingly but it I 1 can do anything tor you you have only to ask only be a friend to her lt you can whispered spere I 1 the dying man with pain ful effort increased by the emotion stirred within him and with one more glance of love upon her he was leaving his eyes closed and the stillness of death fell softly upon the sick room through all the autumn and winter months that followed faithfully he discharged the trust generously undertaken proving himself the pst of friends and counsellors coun in the spring luddeni sud deni leonais awoke to find himself a prisoner fast caught in the ne which love had woven of threads spin by chance |