The Portland daily press., 1890-12-13
APosTBoY's BRAVERY
philadelphia Press.1

village where | lived when boy was
the old north and south turnpike, the
main artery of travel in those days
across the northeastern tier of counties.
Down this road came rolling every af-
ternoon, the big four horse stage coach,
bringing passengers and mail from the
south bound for the county town.
The mail bag for our postoffice was
thrown off from the coach at the point
where our village road joined the turn
pike, and as my father was postmaster
it was my duty to carry it from the
turnpike to the village postofice.
l had the choice of two routes for my
daily journey; one by the public road
and a much shorter one which cut
throu.. 1 the woods that bounded the vii
lage on that side, and it was along that
path that usually carried the mail.
We were at that time in the midst of
the civil war, and the mails were filed
with tidings from the soldiers at the
front, and not infrequently contained
packages of money and valuables sent
in Uncle Sans care to those at home.
But the particular afternoon of which
write, the stage, for some reason which
I cannot now remember, was very late.
watched the sun as it went down be-
hind the wooded hills to the west, and I
saw the twilight come creeping in across
the eastern field. sat quietly upon a
roadside bank wishing for the coming of
the stage, and calling to mind the prob
able appearance of the impatient and
anxious group at the postofice.
But the twilight grew deep, and actual
darkness fell around us before the far off
rumbling of wheels announced the ap-
pearance of the belated conveyance. /
had been debating for some time whether
l had not better go home without the
mail, for l was naturally tinid, and the
prospect Of the night journey alone
through the wood, even though it was
but short distance, had terrors for me
which l could not subdue. But had
been reluctant to start on account of the
ridicule which knew would follow me
from one end of the route, and the dis
appointment which would meet me at
the other, and now the stage was here.
The horses were drawn sharply up,
the clatter of the wheels ceased, cloud
Of dust moved forward and enveloped
the coach, and out from the door in the
midst of the dust stepped two men.
They parleyed for few minutes with
the driver about the fare, and then dis
appeared in the darkness. l had good
view of their faces as l went up close to
the forward wheel, and saw that both
of them, though well dressed, were evil
looking in the extreme.
SIS that you, Harmon" asked the
driver, peering down at me through the
shadows before throwing the mail pouch
into my hands.
Eyes," replied, complainingly, "and
I've been waiting for you just two
hours"
"Well, it won't take you long to get
home now" he said, cheerily; then,
bending down still further and beckon-
ing me to come still closer, he added in
a low voice: "You want to hang on to
that mail bag tight tonight, Harmon.
It's GOT A sudden starting of the
horses interrupted him, he swung back
into his seat, and finding that he could
not readily quiet the impatient animals,
he cracked his long whip over their
heads, shouted out "good nightr to me,
and the next minute coach, horses and
driver were far down theroad, swallowed
up in the darkness.
"Are ye fraid to go down aloner'
asked the farmer who had come out to
see the stage go by.
"Fll bet cookie he isl" exclaimed the
farmers boy.
"No, amt afraid" I said stoutly,
dreading ridicule more than robbers.
"There won't anything catch me to-
night" added, flinging the pouch
across my shoulder and starting rapidly
down the road toward home.
For a little way the road wound through
fields, and this portion of my route I
traversed with stout heart. But just
ahead lay the woods, long stretch of
unbroken forest, and approached them
with dread and premouition such as,
think, had never befoD nor have ever
sincelnown. plunged into them, how
ever, without hating or hesitation, know
ing that they must be passed; but, in
stead of peering about for dangers in the
darkness, kept my eyes turned to the
ribbon Of starit sky above the tops of
the tall trees that bordered the road.
When I reached the point where the
footpath started in, at the left, stopped
for amoment, debating whether I should
take the short cut or follow on around
by the highway. Iquickly decided upon
the latter course. The short distance of
the narrow path, winding under inter
lacing tree tops, down steep embank-
meuts, through intense darkness, was no
offset in my mind to the broader, lighter
and less terrifying, if longer, route by
the public road.
Suddenly / became aware that two
men were walking with me, oneon each
side of me. They had come up SO noise
lessly that had not heard the sound of
their approach. "Good evening, my
young friend" said Che one on my right,
whats that you're a-carryingT
'It's the mail bag" said !, stopping
and standing still in surprise and fear.
is that SOP he exclaimed. 'PEeoften
wanted to lift mail bag. Is it very
heavyr
mot very" replied, actually hand
ing it to him in my bewilderment.
He took it, held it up by the end strap
as.high as his head and shook it gently,
as if to make test of it's contents.
81 believe there's a letter in there for
me, Bill" he said to his companion, land
if there is it's necessary that should
have it at once. Delays are dangerous"
The only way to find out for certain"
replied the other man gruffiy, sis to
open the bag"
True" responded the first speaker,
but we must not open it on the public
highway; some evil minded passer by
might seek to appropriate the contents
thereof, which would be crime against
the government, indeed an unpardon-
able offense. Suppose we retire to some
secluded woodland dell, and there study
the situatiison. Young man." he added,
aadraSv;ro me ~-tsvou are cordially in
vited to accompany "
"I-Td rather not go, trephed. be-
ginning for the first time to fully .seallze
my position. "If it's all the same to-
you," I added, "I'l go on home"
"Well, my dear young friend and fell
low worker" began the man, but his
gruf voiced companion interrupted him:
"Oh, let up ON that, Andy! We amt
got any time to lose. Come along,
young fellow"
And before / had time to protest /
was seized by one arm, hurried to the
roadside, across the ditch and in among
the trees. | believe began to cry and
beg; it would have been strange if had
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