The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-09-24

J a.
| Martin 2" said the man. "Will it take
you much longer to finish your round ?
! You doubtless have yet to go to the
Landa Grise, in Plessis. [ know some
one who is impatiently waiting for you
there. [ am obliged to pass in the VI
entity. If you wish it will relieve you
of your letters"
"Thank you viii deliver them my
SELF
"That's yourself out and out. After
all you are right. 1t is your duty to de-
liver them"
! While talking with loquacity which
did not encourage the postman he took
up the sack the latter had placed beside
him, seemed to feel its weight and turned
/ it over and over.
:" Let my sack alone, please" said
| Martin, cody. You have disarranged
all my letters. [ shall no longer know
what to do"
The other humbly excused himself for
this awkwardness.
"The evil is reparable," added he.
"Seat yourself at this table, and you will
have no trouble to arrange the letters
according to the route you should take. -
The postman emptied his sack before
| him and began to arrange his letters.
His questioner affected to keep discreet
ly at distance, but found an opportuu-
lty to east furtive glance over his
shoulder.
| While Martin was busy with his work
he heard furious growls behind him.
-" Pere Martin, help me TO prevent
your dog from strangling mine," said his
new acquaintance.
The postman arose and caught his dog
by the skin of the neck. The animal s
fury contrasted with It's habitual gentle
ness.
This fact seemed strange to Martin.
He felt distrust of the communicative
stranger grow upon him. He was about
to replace his papers in the sack when
the man, as if to see what was the state
of the weather, opened the door.
At the same instant the wind swept
impetuously into the room, which it
filled with a thick smoke, and lifting the
letters spread out upon the table. scat
tered them III every direction.
The pOstman uttered an exclamation
of anger.
" Bah it's nothing" said the person
who had caused the accident. eve two
will speedily gather them up"
And without needing the refusal of
Martin, who wished to avoid his help
and do the work alone, he began to
search for the letters.
When they had collected all they could
find the postman carefully examined
them; then he seemed worried as if he
had not the full number.
Are any missing?" asked his COM
panion.
ct appears to me that there was
another letter"
bah! Either you are deceived or
you forgot it at the postofficc.
"That is quite possible"
He said to himself that it must be SO,
However, he resumed his hunt and
searched beneath the furniture. He
found nothing and concluded that his
memory had not served him faithfully.
for he had watched his companion's
movements, and it did not seem admissi-
BILE to him that he had stolen letter.
Nevertheless he fastened to depart, re-
GREETING that he had entered the drink
ing house. The man who had chattel
with him inspired in him veritable re-
pulsion, and it was his rule, because of
the habits of discretion which the post
office imposes upon all its agents, to
keep at distance all who did not appear
to him worthy of confidence.
The storm had somewhat abated its
fury, the rain soon ceased to fall and
bright sunshine lighted up the country
when the pOstman reached the nearest
village.
A woman was at the door of her house
awaiting his passage. She was still
young and, without possessing remark
able beauty, had a neat and sympathetic
cOuntenance
Monsieur Martini" said she to the
postman, " have you a letter for me ?''
''No, Madame Andre, [ have not"
''Ihat's strange my husband should
have written to me to-day; you can not
imagine how much his silence troubles
me-"
She grew pale and seemed scarcely to
have the strength to sustain herself.
The postman assisted her into the
house and handed her a chair upon
which she let herself fall Two charm
ing children fixed upon her sad and
anxious looks.
You will receive letter tomorrow.
Madame Andre said Pere Martin, "the
delay of day is easily explained your
husband was disappointed, some unfor-
seen business suddenly demanded his at
tention and he missed the mall
No; / know him and can not under
stand his silence. You are aware that
he departed two months ago forth city.
Some work has to be attended to which
promises to bring him in great deal of
money; small Inheritance was also to
be received. But all is concluded. He
sent me word that he would return this
evening; he has made his arrangements
to that end. Tomorrow the farm of
LaMane is to be sold; he has decided to
purchase either all or part of it. 1t is
an opportunity which will never again
present itself, but | would prefer
thousand times that he should miss it to
have him return without nothing me-"
"Why?"
because some one has wicked de-
signs against him, and at night terrible
blow is soon struck. You know there
are two routes by which to return here,
one is longer than the other but safer. |
am afraid lest he might return by way
of the Moulin-Brule, the more so as
there is some onetO see In that direction.
[ tremble at the mere thought of it. If
l only knew"
The postman strove to calm her fears.
but she shook her head.
"You can not think, !" resumed she.
"what certain men are capable of. when
they have grudge against anybody"
She seemed to hesitate and then added: