Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-10-12
all you arc right 1t ia your duty to dc

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liver them, 49,,
While talking with alOluaeity which
did not encourage the postman he toek
up tho sack tbs latter had placed beside
him, seemed TO feel its weight AMI
turned II over aud over ,,
l.et nay sack alone, please" sail
Martin, eOolly, "fou have dlKaHangel
all my letters, shall no longer know
what 10 do"
The other llumbly excused himself
or this awkwafiness,
'eihe OWL IL reparable," added he,
''seat yourself At this table, and you VIII
have no trouble 10 arrange the letters
according to the routeyou should take
Tho pOstman emptied his sack before
him and began to arrange lla letters,
His auestioner affected to Keep dis
oreelly At Substance, hut found an oppor
tunity to cast y iurtlye glance over his
shoulder .,
While Martin, was busy with his work
he heard furious gr0wla behind Him,
'Pere Martin, help me to prevent
your dog from stangling mime said
his new acquaintance,
The postman arose and caught his
dog by the skin OF the neck, Tho ami,
mails fury contrssted with its habitual
gentleness,
This fact seemed strange to Martin,
He felt distrust Of the communicative
stranger grow upon him, He was about
to replace hia papers In the sack when
tho man, IN II 10 SEQ what was tho state
Of the weather opened the door,
At tho same instant the wind swept
impetuously into the room. which II iill'
od with thick smoke, and lifting tho
letters spread out upon the table, seat
tered them In every direction.
Tho postman uttered IN exclamation
OF anger
"Bah it's nothing" said the person
who had caused tho accident, "Wo two
will speedily gather them up.
And without needing tho refusal OF
Martin, who wished 10 avoid his help
and do tho work alone, no began to
search for the lottors,
When thcy had collected all they
could find the postman carefully exam
ined them; then hc seemed worried rs
IL he had not the full number.
"Arc any missing" asked his COM
panion.
at appears to mo that there was
another letter"
"Bah Either you are deceived or
You forgot IL at tho post.oillcc."
"That is quite possible
He said to himself that IL must be 80.
However, he resumed his hunt and
searched beneath tho furniture. lie
found nothing and concluded that his
memory had not served him faithfully,
for he had watched his companions
movements, and il did not seem admis'
siblc to him that he had stolen n letter,
Nevertheless he fastened to depart, re-
GREETING that ho had entered the drink.
inn house. The man who had chattcd
with him inspired in him q veritable re,
pulsion, and it was his rule. because oi
the habits of discretion which the post
office imposes upon all its agents, tc
keep at distance all who did not ap'
pear to him worthy Of confidence.
| Tho stornn hoj oomowi.~t .L~toJ ~,
fury, the rain soon ceased to fall and
bright sunshine lighted up the conntr,
when the postman reached the nearest
village.
A woman was at tho door OF her house
awaiting his passage. See was still
young and, without possessing remark
able beauty, had neat and sympathet
ic countenance.
"Nlensieur Martini" said she to the
postman, "have you letter for me?'
"No, Madame Andre, have not"
"That's strange; my husband should
have written to me to-day you can no
imagine how much his silence troubles
me-"
She grew pale and seemed scarcely tt
have the strength to sustain herself"
The postman assisted her into tht
house and handed her q chair upol
which she let herself fall. Two charm
ing children fixed upon her sad and anx
ious looks.
"You will receive letter tomorrow
Madame ANDRE" said Pere Martin, "th'
delay of day is easily explained you
husband was disappointed, some unfor
seen business suddenly demanded his at
tention and he missed the mail"
"No know him and can not under
stand his silence. You are aware tina
he departed two months ago for the city
Some work has to be attended to which
promises to bring him in great deal o
money q small inheritance was also tt
be received But all is concluded. H'
sent me word that he would return thi
evening he has made his arrangement
to that end To morrow the farm o
LaNIane is to be sold; he has decided tt
purchase either all or part of it. 1t i
an opportunity which will never agail
present itself, but 1 would prefer .
thousand times that he should miss it tt
have him return without nothing for me.
"Why?
"Because some one has wicked dc
signs against him, and at nighta terrible
blow is soon struck. You know ther,
are two routes, by which to return here
one is longer than the other, but safer.
am afraid lest he might return by wa,
of the Moulin. .Brule, the more SO Al
there is some one to see in that direc
ton. I tremble at the mere thought o
it, If I 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, wher
they have o grudge against anybody"
She seemed to hesitate and then adj
ded -
"If I tremble, it is not simply because
my husband will have to pass through {
dangerous spot with money in hi
pocket, but also because there is in the
district wretch whose dearest wish is
to put five feet of earth between them.
"rhis hatred dates from long ago
When I was a young girl he wanted tc
marry me, but he filled me with horror
He has never pardoned me for having
repulscd his offers, and has enyeloped'ir
the same animosity the man preferred
| - L., H. halo, Gnoruo op1 n,vco1