Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/233

 new one,—a big square envelope with a seal on the back of it, addressed to him in the most delicate feminine hand, and postmarked "Independence."

"Great Scott, this is interesting," he cried, breaking the seal.

When the postmaster saw he was going to open it right there in the office, he stepped around in front and looking over his shoulder said,

"What is it, Charlie?"

"It's an invitation from the Ladies' Memorial Association to deliver the Memorial day oration at Independence the 10th of May. That's great. No money in it, but scores of pretty girls, big speech, congratulations, the lion of the hour! Don't you wish you were really a man of brains, Sam?"

"No, no, I'm married. It would be a waste now."

"Sam, I'll be there. Got the biggest speech of my life all cocked and primed, full of pathos and eloquence,—been working on it at odd times for four years. They'll think it a sudden inspiration."

"What's the name of it?"

"The Message of the New South to the Glorious Old."

"That sounds bully, that ought to fetch 'em."

"It will, my boy, and when Dave Haley gets this post-office away from you in the dark days coming, I'll publish that speech in a pamphlet, and you can peddle it at a quarter and make a good living for your children."

"Don't talk like that, Gaston, that isn't funny at all. You don't think the Radicals have got any chance?"

"Chance! Between you and me they'll win."

Sam went back to the desk without another word, a great fear suddenly darkening the future. McLeod had gotten off the same joke on him the day before. It sounded ominous coming from both sides like that. He