The Washington times., 1895-05-28
The P0Stnan.
Copyright. 1862

country. He went TO New York, took the
civil service examination and became a
postman. John was satisfied with himself
and could not help thinking if the govern
ment had known his merits il would have
put him on as postman somewhat earlier
than it did.
But he was postman now and he liked
it. He was a bit Imaginative, was John
Wesley Fortune, and he soon came TO know
most OF the people in most of the houses
along his route. Now and then he had to
revise his conclusions when woman he
did not know appeared in sight or when
house which he had decided was occupied
by widow who received regular letters
from her son. a business man in Denver
when he suddenly found this house bios
soming out with an undeniabie lord and
master
But they didn't fool him often. IN a
month he came to know all his patrous as
he called them, and he would say:
Here's letter for So-and-so. 1t doesn't
belong here, does it?'' with a downward
infection, indicating certainty.
He came to know when they wanted
letter, and he regretted nightly going by
that house when an anxious woman learn
ing of his presence In the street from his
whistle, would stand at the window in
such mutely pathetic manner, aud next
day, when he had a letter for that house,
he would hurry unconsciously, that the de-
lay might be as brief as possible, and he
would experience real delight that he had
been able to bring happiness.
OF course, it was only matter of few
weeks when he became able to discern that,
though here was a letter for that house
for that very woman-it was not the one
she was looking for, but he couldn't help
1t. II he could have forewarned her half
block away, he would have done so. It
grieved him to see her disappointment
right at that last crucial moment when
the letter was in her hand.
He came to know that Mrs 9I's husband
was prospecting in silver in Mexico; that
the daughter of Mrs. 106 was married and
living in Buffalo, and he knew as well as
any one could when the letter came telling
about the baby. He knew that Mrs 1o7,
across thestreet was a widow and received
monthly .remittances from firm of law
yers in Chicago, and he rather fancied. she
was always a good deal embarrassed
for the last few days before the bulky en-
yelope arrived.
He learned that Mrs 113 was the wife
of an invalid and that they had money
enough to live on. And he knew that both
of the young ladies in 12S had lovers who
when the college son of Mrs. 130 went di
rectly from Cornell to, Virginia to spend
his vacation insteadsof coming home
The cook at eS was engaged To a soldier
in Jefferson Barracks Mo, and the cham
bermaid at 100 received letters regularly
from two distinct and regular correspond
eDts-though she seemed more delighted
with the occasional niissives from a third.
The Dursemaid at ia received q letter
every Tuesday from sister in convent
at Boston and one every Wednesday from
more or less uncertain young fellow not
far from Cincinnati.
Oh, he knew all about them. He made
himself in manner part of their lives.
He always joked little, where he could
do so without offending, and they always
even the naughty Mrs. 130-permitted
and encouraged it.
He knew be was easily the most popular
mau that went down that street He grew
arrogant, and when a new servant ap-
peared he permitted her to see he was sim
ply taking her on trust. Maybe be would
like her aud maybe he wouldn't, And if
be didn't John Wesley Fortune knew she
was unfortunate, indeed.
One time the remittance for Mrs 107
was two days late, aud he couldn't under
stand 1t. She had SO counted on il the reg
ular day, aud had been SO embarrassingiy
miserable-so almost deSperate-uext day
that he said gayly when he gave it to her
Now, you're all right again.
And she was delighted and relieved and
little excited as she tore it open before he
could run down the steps. So he smiled
back from the pavement and said:
We'll have to stir them up if they get
lazy again-tbose Chicago fellows are
But, positively, she wasn't listening to
him. She wasn't even looking at him.
She was turning away. He resented it,
But he felt better next day, and when he
gave letter to one of the young ladies at
1873, and the other pouted at him, he said
rougisbly:
Never mind. He's coming. That's
the reason be didn't write.'' And he
laughed as heartily as they did, though he
couldn't tblush as much
One time, when Mrs. 81 had been almost
wildly anxious for letter from her hus-
band in Mexico, John Wesley Fortune ran
up the steps with it aud gave the tardy
missive into her hand with glow of gen.
erosity. And she said fervently:
God bless you'll
Aud he quite approved of himself all
day. He owned the route. They would do
anything for him.
So pay day he threw up his job, and ac-
cepted the agency OF book that would
sell on sight-any where; commission, ST. so
on each sale; ten sales, SIS. And
If he wouldn't sell ten books a day for q
week he would quit; he would eat his
shoes; he would give his head for a foot
ball.
Mrs. 130 patiently but wearily declined
to buy. He supposed her son was cutting
up ugly in Virginia. The young ladies at |
128 had half an hours fun with him, and |
he didn't realize till he was out in the sun |
shine how little they cared for him.
Mrs. 1 13 sent word she didn't want to |
see any peddler! That woman-and how |
almost friendly she had beenl Mrs 1O7, |
spruce, Jaunty and reserved, said he would |
have to excuse her, and hurried. away. |
Mrs. log put on her glasses and looked |
through the book, shook herhead and gave
it back.
The cook at 80 said she couldn't read, |
and the chambermaid shut the door in his I
face and went away singing:
81 don't want to play in your yard
don't like you any more
And he went out on the street in cold I
chill, and he heard once familiar whistle
and he looked up and saw the new letter
carrier.
And there was bright face at every
window in the block. But not soul knew
John Wesley Fortune.
IE POv ApMsTDoNfs