The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-22

I1enbefod having Aoand ~ innIkeep9 cal
he man ~ had inst By tha4 HaMa. n
wondered. then. with aflfigAt, n the letts
had not besa stolen iron hin. But b
1 felt sure that he La not remembered Sc
ing IT. He promised her that he would 9,
TO meet her husbend on his arrival at TIL
market town and warn him to be careful
Then he hastensd to depart.
Unfortunately his round that day wal
exceptionally long. and the bad weathei
retarded him. He arrived little latel
than usual at the ONCE and immediatel,
| questioned the postmistYess
She answered that she was sure he hat
taken letter addressed to Mme Andre
and a colleague confirmed the declaration
| This wns q thuaderbolt for him. His
trouble increased as he recoIlected thai
| many times some one had called at the
moment when the mails were received and
opened to ask II there was anything fol
Nine. Andre.
He flew rather than ran to the coach
ONCE. where he was informed that George
Andre had arrived and had set on ON foot
for his home,
The postmnn was much agitated at this
news. The prospect Of catastrophe for
which he was responsible rose before him.
He saw George Andre, with Joy in his
heart, meeting with death on the TIRES
hold Of his home and misfortune falling
upon the wodow and orphans.
Without hesitation. or even giving him.
self time to enter his own house, he set
out again. Those who saw him pass Won
dered what grave business caused him,
fatigued as he was, to go back SO Hastily
by the route he had Just come.
When he had covered quarter Of the
distance to George Andres house, he
questioned some people to know II they
had seen the traveller. He was told that
George Andre had passed some time be-
fore. Joy at his return gave wings to the
one. as to the other did the thought Of
preventing evil crossing his path.
There was no doubt that Andre had
taken the road which would conduct him
to the burned mill. By taking a difficult
footpath, however. the postman calculated
that he might still arrive at the mill first.
He still more hastened his steps and
reached the fatal spot when the evening
was somewhat advanced.
The place was propfrious for an am
buscade. A kind of cutting had been
opened between some rocks, and small.
a miniature avenue. The clouds were
passing quickly and every now and then
covered the moon. In the middle 81 the
culvert he heard footsteps. 1t was doubt
less George Andre few yards ahead of
him. The postman fastened to meet
him, when a shot rang out. and he fell,
struck In the breast.
The assassin Immediately came out of
an adjacent thicket. but as he approached
his victim to despatch and rob him he
found himself In the presence of a new
arrival. and his disappointment found vent
in an awful curse as he recognized George
Andre.
The blade Of knife glittc.ed in the as
sassin's hand. but before he could use 1t
he was felled to the ground by vigorous
blow from the newcomer.
At the same moment woman, Wild with |
terror, threw herself upon the postman's |
body, crying:
Unhappy woman that L am. saw It |
all! He has killed him!"
1t was Nine. Andre. who arrived there |
lust as the postman fell.
Jane" said her husband, Il am not
hurt"
They stopped over the body. and by a ray
II moonlight which Just then appeared they
recognized the postman's face.
The husband and wife carried him to
heir house, where he lived twenty-four
lours.
Before he died the couple learned the
tory Of his devotion to duty and noble he
Million.