Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-01-09
tor The Ellsworth Amcrirau.
The New Neighbors Lend a Hand"
BY ,b~SiE.
CHAPTER /

CHAPTER /
The scene was a country store where
everything from barrel Of tiour 10 bin,
and needles could be found, where half
dozen or 50 Of men ami the attendant
crowd Of boys were wont to spend even
nss and stormy days. The store keeper
himself vas above the loafer- in education
and culture. but he was not often To be
found behind the counter. generally having
a Sood-looking youth in attendance, and
preferring to mingle more with the crowd
when he was present at all
To-day, however, the puuru. rain pre-
venting much ira
Ing an ear to the buzz Of conversation
around him. and finding time TO put in
word now snd then for himself
But lust at present the talk is not SO
steadily carried on a. usual. and sudden
sound Of wheels causes a general move TO
the window. when the cause OF the disturb
snce appears in carriage drawn by two
tipe grays. aud driven by man, gentle
man unmis,akably, who handles the reins
with skill and ease. The carriage sweeps
no to the door. the servant at the back
iumpS down and i al the horses heads IN
a trice. the gentleman lelsurrl, descends
and enters the store, be>t"wing pleasant
greeting on those present a. he makes hi-
way 70 the counter and gives an order.
II
and save you sending in the rain he says
and while he waits he turns to exchange
! few remarks about the weather and 50 on
with the people But he is met with dis
couragement in the brief, almost rudely
| given answers, though he does not appear
| to notice, and preserves his good nature To
the end, while his composure never leaves
/ him though he Is quite conscious that every
eve is critically taking note OF hun, even
to his attire He Is a fine looking man,
about middle age, witA graceful, dlsnl
ned hearing. sayoring of military training
his hair is brown. slightly tinged with gray
his close cut beard is still dark, and The
fine ewes are clear and kindly. His dre>'
is plain. vet rich even to the light overcoa
h. wears and at a glance one sees he i
accustomed TO luxury and ease.
He goes at once when the merchant him
self has carried several parcels out to I'll
carriage the stately servant gets up behind
the grays sweep away through the pourin
rain. and then the men gather around IN
fire again. and yet out thei~ pipes and t'
bacco.
Maxwell does not go back to his ledge
at once: instead he saunters up to the FIR
whistling softly.
"A pleasant spoken man, our new neis
Dor, he says.
, Pleasant enough assents anothe
.but too high-toned for the likes of US
The speaker was an elderly man, who
Il long rubber coat reached to his heels, al
ID whose voice seemed to come from
to hind his heavy mustache. Aye, you
right there" says third, tall, larg
:. framed, spare man with an unmistakai
!. stamp of a hunter He rides out in gre
j 1
here, and especially the man 10 hold
horses" goes on the man with the M
tache.
You would want him to do the drivi
too, eh. George?" laughed Maxwell, a
an .,audibIe smile" goes around the roo
That's rough on you, George, says
other, a slight, thin man named Basler-
I'VE know he judges me by himsel
returned George dryly, and the laugh
turped on Maxwell, who takes it good
ak moredlv, and then the door opens to
on init a new conner, who is warmly y
= coined.
v Here comes Tom, he will tell US alb
them. just in time Tom"
"Am 1? anything important going o
carelessly inquiries the man, who had
:. tered smiling, peculiar smile that
seen only on his face, and indicated sc
= new plot for fun developing in his braiI
"Oh, we're only talking of our
peichhor, what's his name?"
L. "Mainwaring?" suggests Tom
"Yes, that's it. What name, !
I'm enough to reach from here to Boston,
b a sure. Well Tom, we want your oplni
70 Tom slowly takes a seat upon the en-
sub the counter, carelessly swinging one
ita- to and fro, chuckling softly to MIN
ing meanwhile, aud seeming to ponder on
men men to say.
ex. well, don't know that have any
tne ticular opinion" he says at last.