Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-13
Che Story Tellsr.
MERELY A POSTMAN.
Story of Her0ism and Devotion
to Duty.

One day in the middle of Octobe
Postman Martin set out on his usua
round. The weather was frightful
The rain had not ceased to fall To-
over a week, and the roads wer'
sloughs and quagmires. He had dis
tributed a part of his letters, but hi
round was far from being at an enc
when he passed an insignificant coun
try inn which stood on the outskirt
of the wood, and served q double pur
pose to the peasants Of the district
namely, a grocery store and wine
shop.
Hello. Stop a minute and give
me some information which 1 require
and by that time this storm will bt
over"
A big woman came and served
them, and returned to her occupa
ton.
What a wretched business your:
is, postman! I hope you haven
much farther to go, but / suppose
you go as far as La Lande Grise ant
to Plassis? 1 know some one who Is
waiting for you impatiently there
and as 1 am going that way, I could
save you going on by taking your let
ters for you"
Thank you; I'll deliver them my,
self"
That's just like you, from what
hear, and, after all, you are right. II
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 trying Its
weight, turning it round in different
ways.
Leave my bag alone, please" said
Martin, dryly. You have mixed ur
all my letters
The stranger humbly excused his
awkwardness, and added, THAT can
easily be remedied."
The postman emptied his bag be-
fore him, and began to classify his
letters. His interlocutor affected to
stand discreetly at distance; but
threw a furtive look over his shoul-
der.
While the postman was so occupi-
ed, he heard beside him a furious
gr. wing, and the stranger said, sud
denly, stop! Our dogs are fighting!
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 suspicious Of the
communicative stranger.
He was about to replace the letters
in his bag, when the unknown man,
as If to see what the weather was,
opened the door. Instantly a gust OF
wind burst impetuously into the
room, filling it with thick smoke, and
catching up the letters on the table,
scattered them over the room.
The postman uttered an exclama-
ton of anger.
Bah! That is nothing" said the
other. I'VE will soon pick them up
and without taking any notice OF
Martins refusal of his assistance, he
began to assist in recovering the let
ters.
When they were gathered, the
postman closely examined them.
Are there any missing?" said the
other.
1T seems to me that there was
another letter." replied the postman
"Oh, you've made a mistake, OF
else you've left it at the Office"
"Well, it is possible" said he, and
added to himself, 1T must be So"
However, he recommended his
search, and looked under all the fur
niture, but finding nothing, conclud-
ed that his recollection was at fault
for he had watched his companions
movements, and it did not appear
possible that he could have taken a
letter.
Still, he hastened to leave, regret
ting that he had entered the inn. The
storm had greatly abated. The sun
illuminated the landscape before the
postman arrived at the nearest viii
lage.
A woman, still young, with an at
tractive and sympathetic rather than
remarkably beautiful face, stood al
the door of her house waiting for
him to pass.
'Ah, Martini" she said, you have
a letter for me-"
NO, Madam Andre, 1 have moth
ing"
THAT is very strange. 1 am sure
my husband must have written. You
don't know how much this silence
troubles me"
She became pale, ana appeared tc
hardly have the power to stand.
You will receive a letter tomor-
row." said the postman, reassuringly
Its being a day late is easily ex-
planned"
mo. 1 cannot understand my
husbands silence. You know he lef'
two months ago for the town. He
went about some business which
would bring him a large sum of mo-
ney. 1t concerned little heritage
which had fallen to him. But all thai
is arranged, and he was to return
this evening. Tomorrow the neigh
boring farm is to be sold, and l know
he had decided to purchase it. 1t Il
an opportunity which will not occur
again, but / should a thousand times
rather that he missed it, than return
without his letting me know when he
would come"
."Why?" asked the postman, as,
toniShed.
Because l know some one ha!
some evil designs against him, and a
night one may easily receive an un
lucky blow. You know there are two
roads from the market town here
One is the longer, but safer. l an
of ha will ratnrn hy III,