The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-25
THB QUALITYOP MERCY
A Story Of Contemporary
American Life.
gv WILLIAM DEAN HoWElLS.
cepyrssAs. 1891. By ". D. HowslisJ
.rAnr FouR.
Nm prrp yrrY
CHAPTER KIN.

CHAPTER XIII.
Thu psle light In which Matt Hilary watches
A.. slslph out OF sight thickened into earl
vintor dusk before his train came and he go
~ n Boston. In the mean time the electric
ssme out like sudden moons. and shed luna
s -. ovsr the region round about the station
r ,s a Young man. who was In the habit o
s...,ihine himself in print Ms lone OF tn,
po.lon Erents young men," found his way int
:. ..tIne house not far from tho track. II hat
s.,mnlc domestic effect inside. and the younf
Ian cave A sigh OF comfort in tho pleasant
-.rmth and light. There was a woman there
.ho had a very convcrsablo air. sort Of even.
tn.I socjability. as tho young man realized
-hsn she looked up from twitching the white
s,oan cloth. perfectly straight on the little Ia.
h,ss act in rows OH either si,le OF tho room.
sbo finally reached tho table where the young
IAN had taken chair for his overcoat md
hat, ard was about taking another for himself.
well" he said. lets see. No use asking II
,or,ve cot cofIce?" He inhaled the odor OF II
canning from the open door OF another room.
With dcep breath.
Baked beans"
"Yes"
swell. don't think there's anything much
hstter than baked beans. Do your?
-Wsll. not when you git 'em good" the
voman admitted. "Ril good"
and what's the matter with piece OF minoe
peY'
Every time
-Ithough. co." said the woman. I'VE have
Wboth WAYS. int Id as soon eat pioce OF
don't know what as q piece o cold mtnco pic"
"Wo have mince pic right along at our
house, said the young man. But guess X
Ivas to eat piece Of 1t cold. my vito would
have tho doctor round inside Of five minutes"
The woman !nughed as II for JOY In the lot
mInce-pe fellowship established between her.
SELF and the young man. We'll. guess shc
need t.. Nothin' else you wart|' She
brought the beans and coffee. with a hot plate.
and Japanese paper napkin. and she said. as
she arranged them on the table before the
Young man. Your pies warinin' for you:
got you some rolls: they're Just right out the
oven: and here's some the best butter ever
nut a knife to. II do say so. It's Just as good
and sweet as butter can be. II It didn't come
from the Ncrthwick place at a dollar pound"
WELL now. should have thought you'd
have used the Northwick butter" said the
young man with friendly irony
"You know the Northwick butter ?" said the
woman. charmed at tho discovery Of another
tic.
well. my wife likes It for cooking" said the
young man. we have fancy brand for the
table,"
The woman laughed out her delight in his
pleasantly Land! I'll bet you grumble at
It. tool" she said. with q precipitate advance
In intimacy which he did not dissllow.
well. I'm pretty particular" said the young
man. But have to be. to find anything to
find fault with in the way my wife manages.
Idon't suppose shall be able to get much
more Northwck butter. now"
why notf'
why. II he was killed in that accident
oh. guess there amt anything to that"
said the woman. Il guess 1t was some other
Northwick Their coachman-Elbridge New
ton-was tellin' my husband that Mr. North
wick had stopped over at Springfield to look at
some bosses there. He's always buyin' more
hossss guess he must have as much as
eighty or ninety HOSES now. don't place any
dependence on that report"
That's so." said the young man. why,
what did that fellow mean. over at the drug
store. just now. by his getting out for Canada?
What fellow?"
Little slim chap. with big black NOUS
may say"
"Oh-Mr Putney! That's just one Of his
jokes. He's always down on Mr. Northwick."
Then suppose he's just gone up to Ponk-
wasset about the trouble there"
Labor trouble?"
"Iguess So"
The woman called toward an open door at |
the end Of the room. "William!" and man In |
his shirt sleeves showed himself. You heard |
Of any labor trouble to Mr.. Northwick's mills ?"
No. don't believe there is any," said the
man. He came forward inQuiringly to the
table where his wife was standing by the
Eterts young man.
Well. I'm sorry." said the young man, but
II shows that haven't lost 30 much In miss
ing Mr. Northwick. after ALL came cp here
from Boston to interview him for our poper
sooutthe labor troubles"
wantto know" said tho hostess. "You
an edtorr
WELL I'm reporter-snme thing" the
young man answered. Perhaps you've got
some troubles OF your own hero In your
shopsi"
No. said tho host. II guess everybody's
preuy well satisfied hero In Hae5orJ'." He
vas tempted to Talk by tho air Of confidence
.nich tho Ecents' young man somehow dif-
.s'ed ABOUT him. but his native Yankee eau.
non prevailed. and he did not take the lead Of.
isrod him.
=, Wen' said the young man. II noticed one
your citizens over at the drug store that
'. sn to DO pretty happy"
~ Wife"
Who is Mr.. Putnoy. any way p asked tho
kestS man.
:, M Pu:ney7" the host repeated. with q
.auee Of his wife, as II for instruction or cor.
0'aoh In case he should 60 wrong. Hes
w =. ~ inc old Hatboro' Putney's, here"
AL OF EN- preserved In liquor. the same
"e'I no. can't say as they are." Tho
"s' laughed. but not with much liking, an.
'o,sauy His wife did not laugh at all. and the
ass note. ' ''' ''"N '''u'A
w. rty'" he said. Ito sec a man like that,
s s'1 mat way. He said more bright things In
NY minutes drunk as he was. than could
Ttu month on strict prohibition basis"
ha good understanding was restored by
!. ready self-abasement. well. I d. know
~. can say that exactly" said the hostess.
,S"n ~" no Is bright. there amt any two ways
M ~, And no amt always that way you
~ us lust one OF his times. now. He hos