The Wahpeton times., 1885-08-20
A ROCK On A GRAVE.
CHAPTER I.

was always anxious when stranp GER
made his appearance. This anxiety.
ever attended by sharply manifested
suspicion, becomes painfully acute,
when everything upon which it was
hoped an Investigation can be hinged
shrinks from assuming substance into
an established shadow. 1 lived during
one season in the village of Wykleph,
1 had lived in the roaring noise of
rushing city, and the quiet air of the
village was relief 10 me. l did not
attempt to enter society, but after
awhile, the leaders of the social realm
invited me to participate in a church
festival, distinction which bled me
pretty freely. he cost of lovely
smile at Il church fair above market
quotation, for these coy partings of
lips are very dear, indeed.
] had just returned from the fair
and was arranging an armful of flow
eEs, when some one knocked ut NV
door.
.'Comc in,'' 1 called.
don't know that l have ever seen
q more handsome man than the man
who entered the room. Tall and
we'll formed, well dressed and at
graceful ease, he was truly man cal
'caiatcd to win immediate admiration.
BE seated" said l, placing hand
ful OF roses IN a vase.
Hc sat down, crossed his legs,
dropped one arm over the back of the
chair on which he sat, and, after u
few moments of silence. during which
he surveyed me closely but not impu-
IDENTIFY, said:
''You must excuse me for calling
upon you at an hour so unseemly."
''No apologies necessary" Ircpled.
l must have given him an unintended
look OF inquiry for he shifted his posi-
tion and sad
''Don't be inpatient 1 shall soon
explain, that is, so far us am able to
explain something which really admits
OF no solution. A few moments ago,
saw you at church fair. I suppose
it was church fair, for, us I stopped
Near the door, saw many smiles that
were bringing much larger price than
they could have brought at Il more
protane auction. l don't know why,
But l singled you out and watched YOU
until you entered this house. I have
Just arrived. l don't know why
came to this place, but now that l am
here, [ know not where shall put up.
suppose, however, that l must put
up with anything I can get. 1applied
at q little hotel, down the street, but
ut IS place of such utter chcerlessness
that sojourn OF two hours within its
walls would depress me into the deep
est melancholy. Now, come to YOU
for advice. Whittier must go9"
looked at him closely. His face
was as frank as the face of a child, of
q child that has not exchanged the
openEess of nature for the slyness of
man.
'.I'here is no other hotel in town.
replied.
"Bad-the one you have not, and
thc one you have"
ESPECIALLY the one we have," re.
joined
<'You are right sir. Are there no
private boarding houses?''
''Yes, but they are not open to stran-
gers.''
This is an exclusive community,
suppose."
'.Rather.'
"You have bed and lounge in
your room, I see. Do you know OF
any reason why should not sleep on
the lounGe?"
Eyes, sir. You are a stranger TO
me-'7
"Pleasc excuse me for not sooner
iutroducin,g myself. l am Charles
Madison Your name, pleasc?'
81 am John Talbert," replied
"Ah- l am glad to meet you, Mr..
Talbert. Some time has elapsed since
we saw each other last, Talbert. Let
me see, the last time l saw you, my
dear fellow, you came to my room one
night after having become disgusted
WIFI, the hotel. L had bed and a
lounge. John said I, you may take
the bed or the lounge, it makes no
difference which .Well,' you replied,
~1'l take the bed Now, Talbcrt, l
will not rob you of your bed, but will
be satisfied with the lounge"
Bv this time was staring at him.
He burst into loud laugh; and after
Indulging his boisterous mirth, said:
''Look here. Talbert, coufound it,
you see how / am situated. You are
certainly not afraid of me. You see
that l shall not despoil your lounge,
SO. what objections can you have to
my sharing your room until l can Sc
cure other quarters. Come, don't be
hard on stranger.
3.Madison-'
That's the way to talk
S'You may stay"
.@Give me your hand, old fellow..Oh,
L know man when see him. Let
me take off my coat. l see that you
have number of pipes. l have q
lot of excellent tobacco"
We talked and smoked until nearly
daylight. 1 had never met so pleasant
companion.
CHAPTER II.
The introduction which I had re.
cei7ed into the society of Wyklcph, al.
though it was ffattering, by no means
destroyed the interest which 1 had
formerly taken in the outside world.
The truth is, longed for companion.
The good-natured young men of the
village possessed no interest for me.
found in Madison such genial asso-
ciate that offered to share my room
with him. He accepted the offer.
81 have no business he said. II
am an aimless roamer-a consumer in