The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-22
Merely q B0StInaa.

u
| One day In the middle RI October. Post
man Martin set out o. his usual round
The weather was frishf7di? The rain hat
not ceased to fall for oxer-A week, and II
the road were sloughs and gtagmires
The rivulets were trahsf6fmed into tor.
rents, and what foliase remained ON the
trees was 80 impresnated with water tina,
they afforded NO shelter..sWet to the bone
the postman walked with the impassi.
bility Of the old soldier who does not dis
pute his duty. He had distributed part
Of his letters, but his round was far from
being at an end when, he passed an In
1 significant country INN which stood on
tho outskirts of wood and served dou-
BILE. purpose to the peasants OF the dis
| trict-namely, a grocery store and wine
4 shop.
Hello! Stop q minute and give me
some information which require, and
| by that time this storm will be over
Such was the Invitation addressed to
him by man who. pipe in mouth. was
standing at the door OF the inn.
! The rain was descending in torrents at
that moment. violent wind blowing 1t
! in the postman's face and driving BIN
Z dlulOSI UdChWdEu. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. eAo
weather the postman was little ahead of
his time, and the exigencies of the SER
vice did not 60 so far as to forbid him to
accept a momentary shelter when offered
/ under such circumstances. He entered the
inn and walked toward the fire which
cracked on the hearth.
The man who invited him to enter threw
on some dry branches, which blazed up
Immediately. causing a thick steam to
49, 1I~
The stranger Intercepted him upon the
hours Of the departure OF the mail and
followed this by crowd OF questions con-
corning himself and his service.
"You don't know me, them" said Mar
tin.
mo. but hear everyone esteems you
here They know your worth. hope you
won't refuse to drink with me. though
don't know you" And without waiting
for reply he called to the mistress Of the
inn:
Bring two glasses of your best brandy"
A big woman came and served them and
returned to her occupation.
what a wretched business yours Is.
postman! hope you haven't much farther
to go, but l suppose as far as some one
who is waiting for you impatiently there.
and as am going that way should save
you going on by taking your letters for
you"
Thank you, I'll deliver them myself"
That's Just like you, from what hear.
and, after all, you're right. 1t Is your
duty
still talking with a loquacity that the
postman did not encourage, the stranger
lifted the bag which the postman had
placed by his side and appeared to examine
it, as IL trying its weight. turning II
around in different ways 70
Leave my bag alone, please" said Mar
fin, dryiy. You have mixed up all my
letters"
The stranger humbly excused his awk-
wardness and added: That can easily be
The postman emptled his bag before him |
and began to classify his letters. His In |
terlocutor affected to stand discretely at q |
distance. but threw a'furtiye glance over |
his shoulder.
While the postman was SO occupied he
heard beside him a furious growing and
the stranger Bald suddenly: Stop! Our
logs are fghting!" 49,.
The postman rose and took his dog.
whose present fury contrasted forcibly
With his usual gentleness. by the collar.
The animals behavior made him more sus-
,icious of tine communicative stranger.
He was about to replace the letters
n his bag when the unknown man, az
( TO see what the weather was. opened
he door. Instantly a gust OF wind burst
into the room, filling II
With thick smoke. and catching up the
etters on the table scattered them over
he room.
The postman uttered an exclamation OF
nyer.
Bah! That is nothing" said the other.
We will soon pick them up" and with
nut taking any notice of Martins refusal
4 his assistance he began to assist in re-
overing the letters.
When they were gathered, the postman
loosely examined them
Are there any missing?" said the
Their.
at seems to me that there was another
etter," replied the postman.
"Oh, you've made mistake. or else
ouve left 1t at the Office
..Well, 1t is possible" said he, and added
0 himself, at must be SO"
However, he recommended his search
nd looked under all the furniture. but
nding nothing concluded that his recol-
,ction was at fault, for he had watched
Is companions movements and 1t did not 1
ppear possible that he could have taken q
,tter. Ii
Still he FASTENED to leave, regretting |
hat he had entered the inn. The storm d
ad greatly abated. and though the rain ,
ontinued 1t soon ceased completely, and I
he sun illuminated the landscape before
le postman arrived at the nearest vii
lge.
A woman, still young. with az attractive /;
nd sympathetic rather than remarkably r
eautiful face, stood at the door Of her !.
ouse waiting for him to pass. '
"Ah, Martin" she said, .you have u
tter for me-" IL
mo, Nine. Andre. have nothing $
THAT is very strange. am sure my 9
usband must have written. You don't '
now how much this silence troubles me-" 3
She became pale and appeared to hardly b
ave the power to stand. s
You will receive letter tomorrow" $
lid the postman, reassuringly. Its be- b
e day late is easily explained" 4
mo; cannot understand my husbands 2
lence. You know he left two months ago q
IT the town. He went about some BUSH a
ess, which would bring him a large sum Of a
oney. It concerned little heritage b
hich had fallen to him. But all that is ar fl
lnged, and he was to return this evening. liz
omorrow the neighboring farm is to be h
I'D. and know he had decided to pur- 8,
lase 1t. 1t is an opportunity which will CT
u, occur again, but Isshould . thousand II
mes rather that he missed 1t than return Il
ithout his letting me know when he h
ould come" IL tc
..Why?" asked the postman. astonished. pl
Because know some one has some evil
sign against him, and at night one may v,
silly receive an unlucky blow. You know N
ere are two roads from the market town n,
re. One is the longer. but safer. l am n
raid he will return by the burned mill. h,
cause he has some one to see by that o1
n.y." ~ ~