The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-01
THE J|LI|NG OF MASTER TOMM|E
By W. R ROSE

Letter carrier No. 400 was swinging
back to the postofice at 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 were nice people. and they ap
preciated their obliging and good look
ing carrier, for carrier No. 400 was
really ono Of the most presentable men
on the force. He wasn't exactly a
young man, he had stepped over the
80 line, but there wasn't a 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. He was quite alone In the world;
he had a tidy amount in the bank; he
carried a 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 a 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, q
decidedly goodly man to gaze upon.
AS he turned the corner on to the ave
nue. a young woman carrying a small
handbag suddenly confronted him.
'If you please" said the young wo
man.
Letter carrier No. 400 stopped. She
was a comely young woman with darh
eyes and a clear complexion, and wheI
he had further noticed that she had 8
dimple in her left cheek, it suddenly
occurred to him-he was q quick
| thinker-that when you own as pretty
a dimple as that, one Of them Is quite
| enough. Besides this, her voice was
low and quite musical, and the carrier
| who knew really nothing about sucf
| things, felt sure that her clothes, al
though quite plain, gave her strik
| ingly neat appearance.
He stopped short and lifted his hat.
| "If you please" the young woman
| tImidly repeated, II want to ask a ia
vor."
| Certainly" seid the carrier.
And his smile seemed to reassur,
her.
| 81 came to the city," she rapidly ex
| planned, "to find an aunt whom / hat
not seen for years. l had written t.
her / was coming and knew her ad
dress. But when l went to the hous
found she had suddenly moved ava,
out Of the city, the neighbors said
And now l am quite at a loss what t
do. have never been In a city before
and l do not know where to CO." TIL
young woman's voice trembled little
'They told me at home," she added
'that if l got lost or wanted to knoy
where to find places must speak to
policeman"
81 am not" said the carrier, "a pc
"makes no difference" He added
just in time, for the young woma
seemed quite startled.
81 am only one Of Uncle Sans pos
men," said the carrier, but l fancy
can meet this emergency quite as we
as if I walked beat instead Of
route"
He smiled as he said this, and hi
smile was so infectious that he fancie
the young woman fairly echoed it.
81 have itv' he cried. you must G
to Mrs. Torrens. She'll take care {
you tonight anyway. Tell her whs
you told me and say that I sent you
Here he blushed slightly. He ws
playing quite a new role.
"And your name?" the young woma
timidly asked.
George" replied carrier 40
"George Tolliver. Here's my card. Mr.
Torrens knows me. Go back to tt
first street, turn the corner; it's
white cottage with blue chairs on tt
porch"
She thanFed him gratefully and the
went their several ways.
AS he strode down the street ca
rier 400 suddenly noticed that he W;
whistling as he hadn't whistled sin
he was a boy.
= The next morning when he steppt
on the Torrens porch the door sudde
ly opened and the young woman stot
on the threshold She looked amazin
ly well without her hat and wonderfl
ly neat with her white collar and cuff
"Mrs. Torrens said you were comil
y; up the street." she murmured, "and
n wanted to thank you for your kindnes
p She is lovely lady, and am to ST
ID and help her with her sewing for
week, at least. Thank you SO much
Carrier 400 waited up the sire