Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-05-22
auR. POKE'S NEIGHBOR.
by NARY KYLE DALLAS.

F'The house next door is occupied at
last said Mr.. Priam Poke. ssI saw 'em
moving in this afternoon. They don't
appear to have much to move, and the
calico cover tumbled off the lounge as they
carried it in, and the cover underneath
was extremely ragged. A very seedy old
gentleman came with the furniture-no-
body else.''
''There isn't any one else Priam,'' said
Miss Poke, his sister; 'sI've heard all
about him. He lives quite alone. He's
at something he won't let any one see;
and he dosen't even keep a servant, but
goes to a restaurant for his meals.''
'tDear me, what curious character!''
said Mr.. Poke; ''and wonder what he is
inventing? Let nobody see it, indeed l
mean to see it. mean to know all about
it. I'll find out what it is by hook or by
crook; and when / say that, I mean 1t, as
you know, Melinda"
Melinda nodded. Mr.. Poke had never
been known to scent secret without In
vestigating it. He was the busybody of
the neighborhood. Whatever could be
discovered, Mr.. Poke discovered prompt
ly. He had no hesitation in listening at
key-holes or prying into peoples win
dows with his opera glass, and conse-
quently always had fund of petty arec.
dotes. When he set himself to work to
Rnd out what his neighbor was at work
upon, it was ten chances to one that he
would discover it. Especially as the in
ventor's house was no castle, but ricke-
ty little building as seedy as himself. In-
ventors are seldom prosperous, we'll
brushed, well-fed people. Necessity has
often been said to be the mother of in
vention, but # is painfully apparent that
invention is often the mOtherof necessity.
The seedy old gentleman worked away
upon something that required great deal
of hammering. He rushed in and out,
and came back with packages in the dark
gray paper used in hardware stores. Iron
rods arrived one day in a hand wagon :;
but though Mr.. Poke noticed all this, he
was no nearer the point than before.
''He keeps his curtains down. p said this
gentleman, in offended tones. sand shuts
his shutters before he lights his lamps,
Melinda; but am not going to be bafaed.
1 intend to call on him.
HE never lets any one in, Priam,'' said
Melinda.
t'He shall let me in,'' said Priam, 'sand
I'll say to him, Just show me this thing
of yours I'll make him do it. I've broken
my neck stretching it out of the window,
and caught cold in my head peeping over
the fence in the back garden, and won't
be baffled, after all. I'll call this week
Act of politeness can't be offended-eh p
e'I don't know,'' said Melinda. "He'i
an inventor and an infidel. wouldn'
risk it,
''But I will, said Priam.
That evening, as Maggie, Miss Melin
da's little servant girl, was returning
home from the bakers, with yeast in
pitcher, long, gaunt hand came sudden
ly down upon her shoulders, and voic
said:
"stop minute; I want to talk tc
you.''
"Oh, Lor'l'' cried Maggie; but looking
up, she saw the face of the next doo
neighbor looking pleasantly at her.
Ou NO SS1ACA AAC W ACa1AA anu pa
half the yeast, sir,'' said she.
s'sorry," said the man. sLook here
What's that?''
ga twenty-five cent piece" reptile
Maggie.
"Put it in your pocket and answer m
a few questions,' said thenext door neigh
Dor.
eyes. sir - said MapOie
"Who is that little man with the lon
nose who lives next door to me, and VIII
is he always at my fence or my window
What causes him to feel such anxiet
about my affairs, do you knowP''
"oh, yes, sir" said Maggie. ''L kno'
all about it. He's Mr.. Priam Poke, Mi
Poke's brother; and he's the awfulle
busy body. Counts the slices of cake q
} the dish when they've done tea and
!; ever young man stops at the area gat
: tells Miss Melinda. hate himl An
t what he wants, sir, is to find out VIII
you are making, sir. heard 'em talkin
1t over at the tea table. And they say yc
are an inventor and an infdel, pleas
He always says everything bad about e.
erybodyi so you mustn't mind. And
he hasn't been ablo to see what you swei
o doing, he's going to call and find out. T
: says he will know, please, sir"
s you're a good girl, Maggie" sa
the inventor, mildly. "And If that is a
r hope Mr.. Poke will CALL"
Then Maggie ran home, and the inye
tor went his way with curious look upt
his face. Maggie, who was sharp, notice
l. it.
e ''I shouldn't wonder if Mr.. Poke didr
Y never come out alive If he once gets
lie next door," she said. And this idea W
lie SO enlivening that her delight was gre
ID when, one day, she saw Mr.. Poke, dress
'An his best, clatter down his own do