The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-06-01
CARRIER NO. 400

to the pOstOff1ce at fine clip. 1t was late
in the afternoon and he had finished his last
delivery.
Letter carrier had an East End route.
1t wasn't an aristocratic route but they
were nice people, and they appreciated their
obliging and good-looking carrier. For car
rier No. 400 was really one Of the most pre-
sentable men on the force. He wasn't exact
ly young man, he had stepped over the 80
line. but there wasn't younger man on the
force who could out class him in any way.
In fact, he was what the feminine lexicon
would define as an eligible party. He was
quite alone in the world he had a tidy
amount in the bank, he carried goodly sum
of life insurance, he had no cause to fear for
the future. Added to this he was sober,
faithful, intelligent and hadn't vice worthy
of the name.
Possibly his only defect was an entire in
difference to the improving sex. which GER
tainly was not their fault. for he was, as
has been emphasized, a decidedly goodly
man to gaze upon.
AS he turned the corner onto the avenue
young woman, carrying a small handbag,
suddenly confronted him.
eff you please" said the young woman.
Letter carrier No. 400 stopped. She was
a comedy young woman, with dark eyes and
a clear complexion and when he had further
noticed that she had dimple in her left
cheek, it suddenly occurred to him-he was
a quick thinker-that when you own as pref
ty dimple as that, one Of them is quite
enough. Besides this, her voice was low
and quite musical, and the carrier-who
really knew nothing about such things felt
sure that her clothes, though quite plain,
gave her strikingly neat appearance.
He stopped short and lifted his hat
eff you please" the young woman timidly
repeated, II want to ask a favor
Certainly" said the carrier
And his smile seemed to reassure her.
81 came to the CITY," she rapidly ex-
planned, Ito find an aunt whom 1 had not
seen for years. 1 had written to her l was
coming. and knew her address. But when
I went to the house l found she had sud
denly moved away-out of the city, the
neighbors said. And now 1 am quite at
loss what to do 1 have never been in
city before. and I do not know where to CO."
The young womans voice trembled little.
They told me at home,' she added, that
if 1 got lost or wanted to know where to
find places must speak to policeman
Il am not said the carrier, "a police
man; but that" he hastily added, makes
for the young woman seemed quite startled.
81 am only one of Uncle Sans postmen."
said the carrier, 'but l fancy 1 can meet
this emergency quite as we'll as If walked
a beat of instead of route.''
He smiled as he said this, and his smile
was so infectious that he fancied the young
woman fairly echoed it,
Il have it," he cried. s'You must 20 to
Mrs. Torrens. She'll take care of you to-
night anyway. Tell her what you told me
and say that l sent you Here he blushed
slightly. He was playing quite new role.
and your name?" the young woman
timidly asked.
George" replied Carrier 400, George
Tolliver. Here's my card. Mrs. Torrens
knows me- Go back to the first street, turn
the corner it's a white cottage with blue
chairs on the porch
She thanked him gratefully and they went
their several ways.
AS he strobe down the street Carrier 400
suddenly noticed that he was whistling as
he hadn't whistled since he was boy.
The next morning when he stopped on the
Torrens porch the door suddenly opened and
the young woman stood on the Threshold.
She looked amazingly we'll without her hat,
and wonderfully neat with her white collar
and cuffs.
Mrs Torrens said you were coming up
the street." she murmured, land l wanted
to thank you for your kindness She is a
lovely lady, and 1 am to stay and help her
with her sewing for a week, at least. Thank
you so much
Carrier 400 walked up the street firmly con-
WINGED that that was as pretty dimple as
the law allowed.
day-and the days he didn't see her seemed
empty and wasted, for Good Mrs. Terrence
seemed quite loath to let her go. And one
fled over his letters, You don't seem to
bother the postmen to any fatiguing ex-
tent
'NO." she answered, little sadly "there
is nobody to write. am quite alone in the
world"
And IL it needed any bond of sympathy to
draw Carrier 400 to this village maiden,
there it was.
One day he boldly said to her, "Have you
seen much of the city,"
No, She hadn't. She guessed she was
little timd.
May l call for you Sunday morning." he
asked, with a nerve that he felt was really
paralyzing, "and take you for little trip
on the suburban cars?'
81 will ask Mrs. Torrens," she said, with
a happy smile; Il would like to go ever SO
much"
So they went. AS the weather was de-
lightful and Carrier 400 knew where to
order such a nice luncheon, and, really,
when they came back late in the afternoon
the man of the party felt that he had never
spent quite such delightful day.
But, alas. there was dark cloud in the
ofing.
AS the carrier looked over his letters the
next morning, there was one for Mrs. Tom
Trimble. 1t was In care of Mrs. Torens,
and the address was written in a stiff, verti
cal hand.
He read this address to the neat young
woman at the door, and when she heard it
she hesitated moment, and then with a
merry laugh and quick blush, said: Eyes,
that's for me-"
And Carrier George walked away with
heavy heart. and the sky lost its color and
the grass seemed dull and brown.
She had told him her name was Anna
Ravens. And she looked SO honest and SO
innocent.
He came and went as usual but he no
longer had a smile and a friendly word for