The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-06-14
THE J|LT|NG Of MASTER TOMM|E
BY w. X. ROSE.


Letter carrier No. 400 was swinging
back to the postoflice ut fine clip. 1t
was late in the afternoon, and he had
finished his last delivery.
Letter Carrier X had an east end
route. 1t wasn't an aristocratic route,
but they We're nice people. and they ap-
precinted their obliging and good look
Ing carrier, for carrier No. 400 was
really one of the most presentable men
on the force. He wasn't exactly
young man, he had stepped over the
30 line, but there wasn't younger
man on the force who could outclass
him In any way.
In fact, he WAS what the feminine
lexicon would define as an eligible par
ty, lie was quite alone In the world;
he had II 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 n Vice worthy of
the name.
Possibly his only defect WAS an en-
tire Indifference TO the improving sex.
which certainly was not their fault,
for he was, AS has been emphasized, IA
decidedly goodly man to gaze upon,
Az he turned the corner on to the ave
nue. II young woman carrying a small
handbag suddenly confronted him.
"If you please" said the young wo-
man.
Letter carrier No. 400 stopped. She
was comedy young woman with dark
| eyes and Il clear complexion, and when
hn hnd furthor pofiood thot eho had q
dimple In her jeff cheek, II suddenly
occurred to him-he was quick
thlnSer-thnt when you own as pretty
IL dimple AZ That, one of them IL quite
enough. Besides this. her voice was
low and quite musical, and the carrier
who knew really nothing about such
things, felt sure that her clothes, al
though quite plain. gave her strlk-
ingly neat appearance.
He stopped short and lifted his hat.
"lf you please" the young woman
timld.J repeated, II want to ask n ia
vor."
"Ccrtalnly," said the carrier.
And his smile seemed to reassure
her.
II came to the city" she rapidly ex-
planned, "to find an aunt whom / had
not seen for years. l had written to
her ! was coming and knew her nd
dress. But when | went to the house
| found she had suddenly moved away
out Of the city, the neighbors said.
And now | am quite Mt II loss what to
do. l have never been In n city before,
and | do not know where to GO" The
young woman's voice trembled u little.
"They told me ut home" she added.
that IL | got lost or wanted to know
where to find places i must speak to n
policeman"
IL am not" said the carrier, "a po-
liceman, but that" he hastily added,
makes no difference" He added 1t
Just In time, for the young woman
seemed quite startled.
II nm only one OF Uncle Sans post
men," said the carrier, but | fancy
can meet this emergency quite AZ we'll
rs II | walked II beat instead OF n
route"
lie smiled as no said this. and his
smile was no infectious that he fancied
the young woman fairly echoed 1t.
II have 1t" he cried. "You must 90
to Mrs Torrens. She'll take care Of
you tonight anyway. Tell her what
you told me and say that sent you"
Here he blushed slightly. He was
playing quite II new role.
"And your nameT the young woman
timidly asked.
George" replied carrier 400,
George Tolllver. 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 car
tier 400 suddenly noticed that he was
whistllng as he hadn't whistled since
he was boy.
The next morning when he stepped
Oh the Torrens porch the door sudden
.y opened and the young woman stood
IN the threshold. She looked amazing
ty well without her hat and wonderful
y neat with her white collar and cuffs.
"Mrs. Torrens said you we're coming
up the street." she murmured. "and
wanted to thank you for your kindness.
She Is lovely lady, and / am to stay
and help her with her sewing for a
week, ut least. Thank you so much"
Carrier 400 walked up the street
firmly convinced that that was as pref
ty dimple as the law allowed.
He saw the young woman almost ev-
cry day, and the days he didn't see her
seemed quite empty and wasted. for
good Mrs. Torrens seemed quite loath
to let her go. And one morning car
rier 400 said to her as he shufiied over
his letters, "You don't seem to bother
the postmen to any fatiguing extent"
NO" she answered little sadly,
"there Is nobody to write. ! am quite
alone In the world"
And II 1t needed any bond of sympa-
thy to draw carrier 400 TO this village
maiden here 1t was.