Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-05
kingSb0rO's Puzzle.


glared savagely whenever he saw handsome
10 Madison with his hands I'm the pockets OF
hls neatly hitting coat. and took occasion TO
remark To the first person he met that he
Wishes the Old days In which people W n n at
70 Wis bic means OF support were prose "a tci
would return again. Squire Batsman, VINO
kept the Io>t office, admitted 10 certain AS
tute questicners That 10 Mallisoa never r.
ceived letters. so 10 was impossible that any
one was sending him money with which -
sup .sort himself IN idleness. SuSpic!o9 even
ran 50 high that Bill Bridger. who was TIE
Only arothecsry and cand v seller a. Kings
tOro, and who had 10 Madison Tor quite a
steady customer. made 10 a rule tn examine
very carefully every bank note that 10 or
fered In payment, lest haplg the n tnispme
du-uOihinE m ght be circulating counter
fcstS. Tie married women NJ kingsbOro',
who naf IN work as hart a. wDmcl almost
always do IN new towns in YOU < states,
carefully pointed out 1o TO their sous as N
example 10 he stunned, except SO ftr as per-
sonal neainess was concerned.
But the kingstOro girls differed from the
rest o. the community in their estimation OF
10. He might he indolent-in fact they knew
he was, for he might almost al ways be seen
on The main street of the village. sauntering
along while other men were AZ workout he
was handsome and he dressed with real good
taste, and his breath never smelt OF LIQUOR or
tobacco, and he was always polite, and ne
never was AWKWARD or III at ease or u esum-
ing when In the society OF ladies and he
seemed to understand all his fair cOmpan-
Ions so well. In all these respects ne was
boys, so that when good mothers warned
their daughters against young men who
could only give fine words in proof of afec-
ton, the damsels experienced strong miSgiy-
lngs as 10 what they would say II 10 MALI
son were TO propose.
But 10 saved them the necessity OF decf J.
ing any such question. He proposed 10 no
body; be made love 10 nobody; ne seemed 70
have no special favorites among the girls in
htngsborO. He never even nirted, ne seemed
20 heartily enjoy himself when with ladies'.
IN d &c Ia .aaFr
leave no one word upon which 10 base a
suspicion OF any stronger sentiments. And
he did not stop with conquering the hearts OF
all the kipgsOOrO girls. without aAy seem
ing intention 10 DO 50. he won the hearts Of
few 81 the elderly women i'm the town. They
did not mean to give couuteLance 10 a sGOTy
some bad or fretful child 10 take a walk win
him. ana then send the child bone with a
head full OF Bible stories aud a mouthrlI OF
Pretty songs. the mother OF the chill would
reluctantly admit that the handsome young
Go nothing did have real goo heart.
But still 10 did 10 WORK, nor did he try -
do any. lie boarded at the only hotc. In
town, paid his bills, avoided the Dar-rOOw,
never played cards, always went II church
on Sundays, and ever formed Que Of the
scant score of faithful souls who on We'd
nesdsy evenings used To hold a prayer meet
ing in corner of kiugsboro church. There
was not al ktngsboro' any club. that iuS'i-
tuition 50 industriOUsly haiei by all good
women, but there was a Cathering-p r 20
which fulfilled all the requirements 81 a
club. and that was the post Office. TIE ma
stage was nOminany due at seven IA tIe
evening 80 half the male inhabitants coz
ETeEated In BIZ Burths Saiilv-SnOp. WulGn
formed The ante room OF the post Office, im-
meoistely after supper, aud they usually
enjoyed two-hour season OF conversation
before the arrival and distribution Of The
mail gave them hint 20 60 home. Subjects
for conversation were not very numerous At
kingsbUro', and as the few native Characters
With any salient points had been very thor
al my
OF The men who waited for the mail, the
arrival OF 10 Madison was a perfect gOiSend.
IL is hardly necessary TO say that 10 fond
hut few companions among the kiDgSbDrO'
men. The young men hated him for estraug-
Ing their sweetheartS, and each OF the older
men was afraid that 10 might marry his
daughter and come under the parental roof
or support. Theories about 10 were plenty
among the men who talked about him. but
none OF them were flatterIng To the young
mans character: counterfeiter. burglars ac-
complice, confidence man, horse thief, fugi-
tive from justice-tbeTe was some one 10
prove that 10 deserved each OF these unpOp-
uiar appellatiohs. while the only theory IN
The least degree tolerable was that OF a scat
ter Drained youth who consumed quarts OF
hair oil and read the New York ROmancer-
he believed 10 was an exiled prince in dts
guise; but even princes were unpopular
kingsboro'.
one cool night. several weeks after JOS
appearance at Kings boro, the opposing tue
oTists as 10 JOS character INDUCED In a
many cornered and very lively duel. u was
during season when sudden atmospheric
CT anges made most of the Kings bOro people
bilious; otherwise the bitterness with
which the conversation finally came to be
characterized would have been inc xplicable.
Squire RipsOn so far forgot his years and
dignity OF character as TO call Bill Burth,
his temporary host, fool for holding that
10 could be nothing worse than a well-to-do
young man enjoying himself, while the ag-
grieved Bill, notwithstanding the kintIIneSs
OF spirit which was proper 10 a man VINO
was Methodist class leader, called tue
Squire a liar. Both men were upon their
feet, lnclining slightly forward towards
each other, and looking words which shOald
never be spoken, when suddenly the mail
stage drew up with crash al the door. The
postmaster threw last parting glare at toe
squire, and hurried out for his mail bags,
while The whole party followed TO see VINO
might be IN the stage. The light streamed
through the open door into the stage, and
the villagers saw inside a single passenger,
whom they recognized as a Cincinnati sales
man through whom some Of the Ki.gsboro
10 erchanis occasionally purchased gOo!s.
They were about 10 turn away in mingled
disappointment and resignation when sud
denly 10 Madison, who had Jus. arrived az
me once, sprang into the stage AMI threw
himself upon the passenger, while The stage
turned quickly, the driver whipped up furi-
ously and started for the hotel.
The stares which passed arouni the party
OF spectators were simply appalling IL their
bIankness. At last Squire RIpsoa rec JVerei
oretlh enough 10 gasp, detective"
NO sucn thlng.' shouted BIZ Birth
through the delivery window. IT'S p.oo4oiy
The poor little fellows brother, ana he's
been waiting for him weeks longer Than ne
to-
A derisive smile played over the hills aud
valleys of the Squire's face, and ne was
about To say something savage, when the
rea er OF the New York Romanoer abandoned
his theory Of the disguished prince ana sug-
gesIed that 10 was highwaymap; that ne
knew travelling statesmen carried lots OF
money; that he was robbbing the salesman;
the driver WAS IN league with him, aud IL Se
enough they were mile from town by IN
time instead Of going TO the hotel. Jack I
Sheppard was little fellow sa!d the theo- |
rist ia evidence.
I'm going 10 the hotel, )" said the Squire,
starting for the door aud followed by the 4
party. moment later the door OF the post
masters inner sanctum was heard to slam.
and Bill BurIh came running To Join the I
crowd. Sol Turner, who carried crutcheS |
and was soon left behind, shouted appeal
lngIy TO Them not 20 do nothing until
he got there TO see, but no encouraging an
sweT was wafiei back TO him.
The hotel was ga ned, and the stage stool |
before the door, but the consequent failure |
OF the theory OF the Romancer's reader could |
not stop ihe impeluous rush of the villagers
They crowded into the public room OF the |
hotel, but neither 10 nor the stranger was |
there. In moment, however, n door opened
and good Mrs. Butler. the laudlady, ap-
peared with a smile Oh her lace ana a tear In |