Part 23 (1/2)
Martin, the postman, was the most deliberate man in Grey Town He never hurried, and he never made a mistake If he had twenty letters to deliver at the same address, he would carefully read the address of each one before taking the responsibility of handing it over to the recipient This accounted for the fact that Martin, the postman, was invariably late
To Molly Healy, anxiously waiting at the Presbytery gate for the weekly letter fro cause of sin So keenly did she resent his leisurely er almost to hatred, when she resolved to check herself
”It must be stopped,” she re at him with the pitchfork, and it would never do for the priest's sister to be pursuing the posth the town to destroy hi for theyou,” said Mrs Quirk
”But he doesn't mean it, and that is the worst of Martin His conscience is so big that it takes hiood man, but it is murder I sometimes contemplate,” cried Molly
At last she hit upon the device of giving Martin half an hour's grace before expecting him
”I will be lenient with the man, and not expect hiood to pinch hied to an hour, and Molly Healy was in a white heat of fury when Martin arrived
”And what has kept you to-day?” cried Molly Healy ”You are the slowestyou are phenory,” said Martin, in hiswith ungovernable temper I could shake you!”
”You require your letters delivered by a twenty horse-power auto-an to run through the letters with a deliberation that was al the cards, perhaps you will give me the one you have in your hand,” cried Molly
”Patience, young lady I have a duty to perforive me my letter If you only kne near you were to sudden death you would be in haste to get away from me”
”There you are, five letters--one for you Let an to read the address over
”Oh, the Lord forgive you! You are an occasion of sin to ood-day to you The Lord send you a better temper!”
Martin delivered the letters, and proceeded placidly on his path of duty Molly Healy watched him until he had turned a distant corner
”The et to heaven--he is too slow; and he will preventthere unless Providence removes him to another round”
She carried the letters to Father Healy, and then proceeded to shut herself in her roohter and in tears she read her letter, and then re-read it, determined to lose not one word of the contents
Dr Marsh ith Father Healy when the letters came
”May I read them?” the priest asked
”Certainly! Why not?” replied the doctor in his brusque y”
He took a book froree with you,” laughed Father Healy, as he tore the first letter open
”Hu I will send for you; meanwhile I am quite content to remain a sinner”
Father Healy did not reply He had become keenly interested in his letter Twice he read it, and then he asked: