The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-08-22
IN A HOLLOW ELM.
BY GEORGE W. sYMONDS.

The morning train, with a great rat
tie and much snoring and putting
from the locomotive, skirted the low
err end of the little New England vii
lage OF Middleton, and finally, with 6
wheezy sigh as though from eIhaus
ton, came to a standstill opposite
the red, box-like structure dignifed
with the name OF depot.
One passenger alighted, and after
sdndry preliminary puffs and snorts
the train continued on its course.
None among the little throng o.
idlers on the station platform recOg
nized the new conner, who was rather
shabbily dressed, with a consumptive
stoop to his shoulders and a pale
clear-cut face, lighted by two large
black eyes, which, from their dreamy
expression, seemed to be gazing upon
q scene tar away.
Guess he's a boOk-peddler," said
old Isaiah Rutterfeld, the village ora
Gle shading his eyes with his hand
and gazing after the stranger. yes
| know he Is, for he's turnin' into
Squire Merriman's gate. Coin to git
him as a subscriber fust as a sort of a
recommend, an then tackle therest OIL
the village"
Esquire Jacob Merriman was the vii
lage magnate, and lived in the finest
house in town.
The supposed book peddler walked
slowly up the straight gravel path
leading to the front door, and rang
the bell.
After quite a long wait, during which
I
dow and apair OF bright eyes surveyed
the visitor, the door was opened by a
servant girl, who had evidently just
come from the wash-tub, Judging from
the red, perspiring face and steaming
parbOlled arms, which were barred
above the elbows.
1'Sue, we want nothiu' today
cried the girl, with an angry toss OF
the head, and she was about to close
door.
81 beg your pardon! said the visi-
tor, stepping into the hail. as Miss
hate ut home? 4"
''Ihat she is, sir"
Take her my card, please" con
tinued the caller.
And thrusting his hand into on inner
pocket, he drew therefrom a shabby
wallet, and handed the girl card, on
which was printed, in bold characters,
the name:
"JOHN KENT"
The girl took the card by one corner,
with the tips OF her thumb and finger,
and bidding the gentleman be seated
IN the hall, disappeared.
In a few minutes she returned, and
with saucy pertness delivered her mes
sage.
Sure, Miss Kate says she's not at
nome to the lOikes OF you"
"Ah." murmered Kent, and his pale
face flushed.
He did not stop to expostulate OF
make further inquiries concerning this
strange message, but walked through
the door, which the girl held open fo1
him, and slammed shut, with a bang
as soon as his feet touched the porch
with his shoulders more stopped than
when he entered.
Il might have expected this" he
muttered, between the house and the
gate.
And another weary sigh escaped
him.
He stopped a minute on the side
walk, and, after looking up and down
the street, walked toward theleft, and
short distance from the house turned
dawn another street which led bv the
town hall and the two meeting houses
the blacksmith shop, and the grave
yard across the railroad, and the mar
row little River Ipswich, and on out
INTO the country.
'I'll take one last look at thefarm.'
he said, when he reached the bridge
and paused for amOment to gaze dOwr
into the tumbling water, and then 90
back to the old life OF toll, and hunger
and want
He heard the sound OF approachin.
wheels, and raised his eyes.
\ little wagon, drawn by a stout
pony whose driver was a rosy
checked curly-headed young lady
not over 20 years OF age. was RAPIDLY
approaching, and at sight of the pony
and driver his cheek again flushed
and glad smile OF recognition
wreathed his thin lips
The pony slackened his pace as h,
neared the bridge, and John Kent
raised his hat to the curly-headeC
driver
.Good-morning, Miss Osborne" h,
said.
We'll, declare " cried Ella Osborne
IN clear. ringing voice. It's Johr
Kent, come back to old Middleton .
Inc young man smiled sadly.
"1es, II Is |, he said. Il am goin!
TO take last look at the old farm.
And where have you been all these
years since your Uncle Sam died ~
In the West" he answered. with
an ambiguous wave OF the hand IL
that direction
And you didn't make your for
No; Icame back poorer than wher
! Went away"
That's TOO bad" she said, pltying
y. Have you been up to SET
I called on Miss Merriman as
came rom the train. She was at
home, but not to me"
The proud, stuck-up thing" cried
the girl, Indignantly. as though Won
Weren as good as she any day! Wen,
suppose | would have been roval-
y welcomed II | had returned a rich
man nan, or been, as | once hoped to be,
the owner OF the Hill Farm
Well, some people are mighty queer
IN Their friendships. Now. when I'm
anybody friend I'm out and out their
Trend, and when don't like them |
tell them so. 1t wouldn't have hurt
ner 70 come down and said, How dive
90 M glad to seeyou, although YOU