Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-04-18
IN THE MTDDLEW
A Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.

was wont to say. ''lts partition, a
division that's irving to be struck. And
what's it about? Why, the Internal
ni"gcr. that's all! And who wants him?
Why, the fellers down South? We
don't! Then, confound it! why can't
they let 'cln have emp" and he would
20 about his affairs
But it is surmisable that Joel could
reason more cogently than this, shaving
the subject down very near to its mar
row in his mind, but doubtless. seeing
with the well-nigh abnormal keenness
of his business instinct the thousand
golden chances of the time, his finer
sympathies were dwarfed and swal-
lowed up in his opportunities. AT all
events, he throve wondrOuSly; buying
not few farms about Openstone dur
ing those years, and about the close of
the war opening hank in Openstonc.
Also about this period he began to
identify himself with politics; grad
ually working himself toward the
local leadership. 1t was little doubt
full whom his heart was wholly with,
for principles and moral tendencies
had never chung to Joel's feet suffi-
GENTLY to clog his progress much. be-
sides he was, as the term is usually
accepted. pre-eminently practical. and
aimed to be with the fellows who were
successful and had 1.-THE sand as he
put it
Promptly upon the morning of his
fifteenth birthday, John Earring en-
tered Jocl's office, and hanging his
cap upon the wall, stated that he was
ready for business. Joel turned his
large person about and looked at him
with inQuisitive surprise. "Oh. yes, l
remember" he said. well, so you
think you want to so to work, do
you?"
Yes SIR" said the boy.
Joel stretched out his legs and lean
ing back with half smile looked up
at the ceiling. Lets see, what did
you say the bargain WASP"
IL am to work five years, sir"
Joel looked at the boy. Don't you
want any pay?" he asked.
"Only some books. sir"
Joel poised his watch-fob between
his thumb and finger and looked at it;
the boy regarded him steadily. Five
years." said Joel. that's onc-third as
long as you've lived"
"Ycs sir"
And you don't want any thing but
some books?"
THAT is all. SIR"
$50 you think you are in debt to meP"
Yes. sir. for myself entirely
"Do you think five years of work
will pay it?'
Il left that to you. sir. will work
longer if you wish.
II guess five will do What do you
| want to work at?'
"Whatrr'r you think l can do the
best.
"Well. they need more help in the
store. guess YOU can go in there.
After John EARRING had gone Joel
| locked liNrdly al the columns of fig
urvS before him and shook his head.
"It's sand" he said, "but I'm afraid
it's mixed with iron. Hard to handle
! I'm afraid" and he shook his head
again.
Jorl's office was double and built in
the right hand front of his big retail
store. 1t had been originally single
room. with long horizontal window
running its entire length looking in
ward upon the store with perpendicular
windows looking out upon the street,
but ,Joers many affairs had caused him
to erect partition making a private
office for himself opening into the
book-kccprr's room. Here the account
ant sat facing the interior through the
long open window, where ut any mo-
ment he might lift his eyes and witness
the workings of the place. In the store
was we'll nigh every thing that could be
imagined: nj least every description of
merchandise demanded by the town and
surrounding country. The place gave
employment to quite number Of
statesmen, OpenStOne at that period
being the terminus of the railway that
came IN from the east. and a large
scope of fertile land south and north
and west making the volume of bust
ness considerable.
One morning. when John Earring :
task had progressed year or more,
upon coming to the long window with
the proceeds of q sale-the book-kecper
being also cashier-he looked up with
a sort of spirit-shock rs he met new
pair of eyes. Very black were the
eyes; at least there seemed slow
black fire burning back of the pupils
giving that effect. Their owner was a
man of medium height, rather pale and
thin, an almost unnaturally large head
and jutting in front, small weak nose
and thin nervous lips. His person was
scrupulously clad. and about him there
was an air of Undesirable quiet. Ii
did not seem. somehow, the quiet of a
peaceful self-possession, but rather a
sort Oh pent-up agony Oh - Slcat pam
or rage held forever perfectly still
, and motiunless. His words were few
. and we'll chosen. His manners gentle
manly, but not of kind to invite init
macy. He seldom smiled or stopped
| to talk and was wonderfully assiduous
and careful of his trust He looked
keenly at John Earling. and the youth
noticed that his thin white hand trem.
blcd little as he took the money from
him. While the stranger ran swiftly
over the money John Earling regarded
him steadily for a moment with hi:
clear gray eyes little wide, as if the
face before him had suddenly pressed
= itself upon his attention. The mar
glanced up and bowed as if asserting
to the accuracy of the amount, anC
\ young Earling was turning away wher