Daily Republican., 1882-03-24
A MAIL-CARRIER'S YARN

I
late war-there was a young man VIII
carried the mail bet ween Madison ant
Macon, Georgia. His name was Boil
Lowe. He used his eyes and ears pretty
well, and never-fond ~ he was of 3;
story-tod lies. 70 say Bob Low,
says SO was to certify to the truth Of q
statement, which was certainly to his
credit, moreover, he was as honest at
the day, and could have been entrusted
with untold gold or uncounted dia
mOnds.
Morally you could not find fault
with Bob. Mentally, he was very wei
for an uneducated man; but he hal one
great failing-great particularly in the
eyes Of pretty Annie Wesley, who other
wise esteemed Bob perfect. He had
allied himself with certain class OF
persons who termed themselves "free
thinkers"
This theological difference at last led
TO a little quarrel; and Bob tried to get
Annie out of his mind, but failed to do
it; and Aunie was v.ry miserable, as
well for 'the sake of Bob's soul as for
herself, for though she had offers in plen-
ty, not one-not oven rich John Grab,
who had ever 80 many acres of land
could be compared: TOR a moment in her
mind TO Bob, had Bob only held proper
sentiments.
30 though they kept apart, for whole
month, at last one bright morning, as
Bob rode along slowly and stupidly for
him, he saw sitting under tree,a little
figure in blue dress that he couldn' t
pass to save his life. So ne stopped his
horse and called out
"Annie is that you?"
Eyes, Bob" said Annie, showing a
pair of wet eyes. 81 came here on pur-
pose to see you I've talked in my poor
weak, womanish words, but you talk
it's no use and all the viii. e there is One
who talks 50 plainly to US, ana the
words are here ;aud I've brought them
you, and please dear Bob to read them,
and perhaps"
She did not finish the sentence, but
placed a pretty Bible in Bob's hand.
I've had it bound very nicely for you
and oh. for my sake read lit will
teach you SO much, Bob so very
much
Bob took the Book. For moment he
felt annoyed, and much like sneering;
but Annie was very dear to him, so he
kept his anger under for her sake,
thanked her for her present, and
placed it in the breast-pocket Of his
coat.
''As if were to be converted like a
sinner in tract" said Bob, after he
had ridden ON l.t,le. "But women
are not expected 10 have minds like
ours" And out of another pocket he
pulled an intidel tract, which friend,
An unbelieving doctor, had loaned him,
and fell to reading.
1t was not wise thing, as the event
proved, for the horse left to himself,
stumbled over something on the road
and was famed; not badly, it seemed,
but it forced Bob to dismount and stop
at a country store, to examine and battle
the Limb and then he had 10 lot the
beast take his own time afterward; 80
that instead of trotting briskly into
Macon before sundown, the young NAB
found himself belated, on lonely road
some honrs after the sun had quite van
Ished-his horse growing lamer and his
hopes ofsupper quite gone.
"Hang the tract" growled Bob;
what did / bother it for?" Aud he
gave the paper toss into a clump of
bushes, and then his mind went back
TO Annie Wesley's Bible.
He felt for it. 1t was safe. He wish.
ID that he was somehow better, and he
walked along with the bride over his
arm i'll quite melancholy mood.
Suddenly shadow fell across the
'oad. Bob looked up. Straight before
lim sat mounted man, with black
mask on his face and a pistol in his
land.
"Halt commanded this individual
erociously; and Bob halted. eff you
IRE quiet you will come to no HARM"
aid the man. 81 only want your mail
rag. l happened to know that is worth |
something tonight, and have follow.
you from the store back yonder. |
There amt soul within hearing. and |
'ou may as we'll take it coolly; l am
.rmed you see, you are not. Hand over
he bag"
"Never.' exclaimed Bob. "The
mailbag il in my care-entrusted; I'll
uard it as long as | have breath In my
oly."
That won't be long" with a coarse
augh, 'it you don't listen to reason"
Bob tor reply, mounted mis- horse, and
at behind the mailbag.
"Your life is in danger warned
be robber. 81 Intend to have those
STEERS, and life isn't worth much to
le. I'm in earnest: no fooling', and
Q took deliberate aim at Bob Lovic's
reast.
Bob was unarmed and he loved life
early, but he was no coward. 1t was
selesS to try to overcome the 70 ober.
[e hal only his tists-rather useless
'eapons under the circumstances; but ;
Q Showed fight" and as the robber'
niger kindled he fred, The aim was
bod. The little ball of lead lodged in
obs coat just where his heart should {
lould have been, and Bob staggered.
He was shocked rather than hurt;
nd in that moment Of excitement {
. remembe having heard it was 80
mortal injuries. Probably he had 8
,ceived mortal injury and the robber
ould walk Oft witch the mail bag,
here Bob knew we'll reposed the mon {
I which energetic Dick Dorr had sent s
take his poor old mother from the
and other trusts were in
lat leather bag-the humble hopes l
those ..who. wrote the letters twined l
)out them.
The doctor and his infdel tract had s
,ne LJvic little good; but he was hon ,
t and friendly yet. f
'I'll fight while l have drop Of f
God left" he said to himself. And i
dip may come and the mailbag be t