LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1258, 19 March 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

LEE, THE LETTER MAN. By Johnny Ludlow. Continued, Upon going out, Spicer turned one way, Lee the other, Spicer’s district was easy as play ; Lee’s was a regular country tramp, the farm-houses lying in all the four points of the compass The longest tr amp was over to us at Crabb. And why the two house., our own and Coney’s farm, should he comprised in the Timberdale delivery, instead of that of Crabb, people could not understand. It was so, however, and nobody bestirred himself to alt -r it. For one thing, wo were not often at Crabb Cot, and the Coneys did not have many letters so it was not like an every day delivery ; we chanced to be there just now. The letter spoken of by Salmon, which would bring Lee to Crabb this morning, was for the Lev. Herbert Tanerton, Hector of Timberdale. He had married a niece of Mr Coney’s, and was now staying with h r at the farm <m a week’s visit, and had given orders to Salmon that his letters during that w-ek were to b delivered at the farm instead of the rectory. Le" finally got through his work, all but this one letter, and t irned his steps our way. As ill-luck had it the poor fellow thought it sc aftet wards —he could not take the short and sheltered way through Crabb Ravine, for he had letters that morning for 'ir Robert Tenby, at. bell wood, and also for the Stone House on the way to it. Hy the tune he turned on the solitary road t' at led to Crabb, Lee was nearly blown to smithereens by the tierce north east wind, and chilled to the mairow. All his bones ached ; he folc low fjfozeu, ill, and Wondered whether he should get over the ground without breaking down. ‘ I wish 1 might have a whiff at my pipe I’

A pipe is to many people the panacea for all earthly discomfort; it was so to I e». But only in the previous February had oecurrred that damage to 1 felon Whitney s lettter, already told of ayd Lee was afraid to risk a similar mishap, again, lie carried Salmon’s general orders with him : not to smoke during his r und. Ouce the letters yys£Q delivered, he might do SO.

His weak grey hair blowing about, his thin and shruken frame shivering and shaking as the blasts took him, bis empty postbag thrust into his pockeb and the He tor’s letter in his hand, Lee toiled along on bis weary way. To] a strong man the walk would have been nothing, and not mu h to Lee in fairer weather. It was the cold and wind that tired him. And though, after giving vent to the above wish he held out a little while, presently he couhi resist the comfort no longer, but drew forth his pipe and struck a match to light it. How it occurred be never knew, never knew to his dy ng day ; but the flame from the match caught the letter, and set it alight. It was that thin foreign paper that catches so quickly, and the match was obstinate, and the wind blew the flame about. He pressed the fire out with his hands, but a portion of the letter was burnt. If Timbuctoo, or some other far away place had been within the distance of a man’s legs, Lee would have made off for it straight His ppe on the ground, the burnt letter underneath his horrified gaze, and his hair raised on end, stood he. What on earth should he do? It had been only a pleasant young lady’s letter last time; now it was the stern rector’s

There was only one thing that he could do —go on with the letter to its destination. It often happens in these distressing catastrophes that the only course open is the least palatable. His pipe hidden away in his pocket—for Lee had had enough of it for that morning—and the damaged letter humbly held out in his hand, Lee made his approach to the farm. 1 chanced to be standing at its door with Tom Coney and Tod. Those two were going out shooting, and the Squire had sent me running across the road with a message to them. Lee came up, and with a face that seemed greyer than usual, and a voice from which most of its sound had departed, he told In’s tale.

Tom Coney gave a whistle. ‘Oh, by George, Lee, won’t you catch it! The Hector - ’

‘ The Rector’s a regular Martinet, you know,’ Tom Coney was about to add, bu the was stopped by the appearance of the Hector himself. Herbert Tanerton had chanced to be in the little oak-paunelled hall and caught the drift of the tale, A frown sat on his cold face as he came forward, a frown that would have befitted an o d face better than a young one.

He was not loud. He did not fly into a passion, as Helen Whitney did. He just took the unfortunate letter in his hand, and looked at it, and looked at Lee, and spoke quietly and coldly. ‘ This is, 1 believe, the second time you have burnt the letters,’ and Lee dared not deny it. • And in direct defiance of orders. You are not allowed to smoke when on your rounds.’

‘ I’ll never attempt to smoke again, when on my round, as long as I live, sir, if you’ll only be pleased to look over it this time,’ gasped Lee, holding up his hands in a piteous way. But the rector was one who went in for ‘duty,’ and the appeal found no favor with him.’

‘ No.’ said he, ‘it’would he to encourage wrong doing, Lee. Meet me at eleven o’clock at ’almon’s.’

* Never a £ ain, sir, as long as I Ave !’ pleaded Lee. ‘ I’ll give you my word of that, sir; and I never broke it yet. Oh, sir, if you will but have pity upon me, and m»t report me ’ ‘At eleven o’clock,’ repeated Herbert Tanerton, decisively, as he turned indoors

again. ■ What an old stupid you must be !’ cried Tod to Lee. ‘He won’t excuse you ;he is the wrong sort ol parson to do it.’ ‘ And a pretty kettle of fish you’ve made of it!’ added ' ! oin Coney. ‘l’d non have minded much, if it had been my letter ; but he is different, you know.’ Poor Lea turned his eyes on me : perhaps remembering that he “had asked me, the other time, to stand his friend with Miss Whitney. Nobody could be his friend now: when the rector took up a grievance he did not let it go again ; especially if it were his own. Good hearted Jack, his sailor brother, would have screened Lee, though all the letters in the parish got burnt H At eleven o’clock precisely the Peverend Herbert Tanerton entered Salmon's shop; and poor ee, not daring to disobey his mandate, crept in after him. They had it out in the room behind. Salmon was properly severe ; told Lee he was not sure but the offence involved penal servitude, and that he deserved hanging. A prosperous tradesmen in his small orbit., the man was naturally inclined to he dictatorial, and was ambitious of standing well with his betters, especially the rector. Lee was suspended there and then ; and Spicer was told that for a time, until ether arrangements were made, he must do double duty. Spicer, vexed at this, for it would take him so much the more time from his legitimate business, that of horse doctor, told Lee he was a fool, and deserved not only hanging but drawing and quartering. ‘ What’s up ?’ asked Ben Fymer, crossing the road from his own shop to accost Lee, as the latter came out of Salmon’s. Ben was the ch- mist now, and steady; ami Ben, it was said, would soon pass his examination for Mirgeou. He had his hands in his pockets and his white apron on, for Mr Ben llymer !, ad no false pride, and would as soon show himself at Timberdale in an apron as in a dress coat. K To he continued .)