The National tribune., 1890-04-03

inevitable consequence of this condition of
things was that the forest bad become
livelier place at the hour when church
yards yawn and graves give mp their dead
than the main street of the village itself at
high noon; for it was pervaded by the train
bound residents Of several neighhOrlng ham,
let's as well as by the iourneying Thebans;
and the former generally entered the wood
without traversing Tbebes at points nearest
their respective aboGes 1t is perhaps su-
pererogatory 10 state that no elves had ever
been disturbed at their midnight revels in
all this nocturnal traffic, which had now
been continuous for a round dozen of years
But what most puzzled the octogenarian
Smith was that no headless Spinney had
been observed, sitting by the side of the
stream or elsewhere. The octogenarian
Smith was a person who-and this pecu-
harity was characteristic to a certain degree
of all male Thebans-when once he got an
idea in his head stoutly maintained that the
idea was right, from the simple fact that il
was in his head, and that all there was wrong
abont the matter was that people existed
who doubted the truth Of the idea that was
In Smiths head.
AMONG THESE INCREDULoUs INDIVIDUALS
was = young lady Of the name of Abigail Nor
ton, the daughter of the wcll-tO-dO hardware
merchant of Thebes, Andrew Morton, a widOwer
of some 10 years standing. Miss Abigail was
conceded 10 be the finest English scholar at
Thebes' Corners: this, of course, did not mean
great deal; hut the fact was incontestahle that
the lady was weli-taught, well-read, well man
nered. and would have been recognized as
woman OF education and culture in any COM
muuty. The name of the wood. which Of it,
self Smith believed 10 be overwhelming evi-
l.
ofA man named Spinney. was explained, and
satisfactorily enough, by Miss Morton, as the
old English term "spinny." a small thicket
with underwood, from the Latin spipd, thorn;
whereby il was evident that the word wood
was Pathological. Her philology was accepted
by the Thebans in general as being thoroughly
excellent for dictionary imprisonment; but the
freedom Of the citizen demanded the ancient
usage for its common service, and Spinneys
Wood fourished. in popular parlance, like its
own green bay trees
Through Spinney's Wood. on the moonlit
Autumn night Just eulogized for its beauty,
ratified the old Ounihus, which twire in the p
hours made the ronnd trip between Thebes and
Stockton. It's occupants were hut two in num-
Der, both mon, and though acquainiances, not
friends The older tall. well preserved man,
between 80 ard 60 years old. had settled HIM
self comfortably in the corner Of the vehicle
some time before its departure He had been
transaciing business at Stockton all the after
noon and evening. aud was anxious to get homo
20 Thebes The New York express WAS late
from the West, however. and while awaiting
its arrival the tired Theban fell into doZc,
from which he was awakened by the salutation
Of Good evening Sir. Morton" The tram was
in, and had brought one passenger for Thebcs.
GOOD evening. sir. returned Andrew Morton,
in tone SO formal that il offered but poor
encouragement TO further converse.
And further converse there was none. The
elderly merchant closed his eyes resolutely,
and uttered not a single sound during the whole
trip through the forest. The younger man
diverted himself by admiring the beauty of
Luna's silvery sheen upon the still luxuriant
vegetation of the spinny; by contemplating the
infexible features IF his mnte companion; and
by thinking how great would be Andrew Nor
tOn'ssurpgise, If he knew that passionate love-
letter from his daughter Abigail was in the
pocket Of him 20 whose civil greeting be had
responded with such Tepressiye coldnesS-