Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-05-04

sway from il when child, going down
the broad river on boat, as he had
heard Soel Whitney tell, and thence
bv rail into the West; and now he had
come again after twenty years had
gone, and, knowing no one and hiui-
self utterly unknown, was walking
with kind of expectant, wondering
step along the twilight street of the
town that bore his name. Many of the
passers looked curiously at the tall,
pale youth, but among all their faces
there passed not one that he had ever
seen.
A light snow lay upon the ground
and the air was motionless and chill
He turned into one of the two rather
dingy houses that divided the hotel
honors of the place, and no one being
in the little yellow Office, he wrote his
name in the much despatched register
and waited. He could not but feel it
strange that q place SO intimately
known and connected with his ante
cedents should be SO unfamiliar to him.
He went to the open door and looked
out The vim and stir and freshness
of Openstone was not there. The long,
weather-beaten street had some loiter-
ing pedestrians in it and team hitched
here and there, and upon the porch of
the other hotel the lean landlord stood
looking with sour dolefulness toward
him. The town seemed very dull,
though doubtless it had its lively days,
for the region was well-to-do and busy
enough, and the farms were old and
valuable. In a moment John Earnings
hostess, fat lady who leaned back
and shook a good deal about the bust
and gastric region when she stepped,
came bustling in behind the counter.
He went forward as she courtesied and
wiped her fat hands upon her apron,
and asked if he might obtain lodging
for the night.
Certainly" said the fat lady, with
q very agreeable smile; ''iist step in
this way with your baggage and take
the parlor bedroom. My son should
a been out to the depot and brought up
your things, but he's out to the farm
gettin' in q COW. and he didn't get
back until >jist now. Set your things
right down there; I'll send my daugh-
ter in with some fresh water for your
pitcher. Now, what might your name
bep".
John Earling, ma am"
The fat woman's mouth and eyes
perceptibly widened. 'Lawk!" she
gasped, .'be you any kin to John Earling
who was murdered down on the south
road twenty year agop"
81 have been told that it was my
father who lost his life there"
Lack" with great gasp of won
der, '.you aim baby Earring, be youP"
:" presume I was once, ma'am, -
with smile.
I" The fat lady had her arms full of
clothes which she had gathered off from
the bed and was pausing in the door;
'L-a-w-k!" in long, gasping whisper,
and staring over the clothes at him,
"hoW you hev growedi +"
John EARRING smiled, and after star
ing at him momentlonger with some
thing like stupid wonder, her face
| flushed and a look of awe came into it,
| and she started on, and he heard her
say: "Lawk! lawk!" and run against
| the decreasing as she emerged from
the parlor into the hall.
The young man brushed the dust
| from his clothes and sat down in the
| parlor and took up book. Presently
the fat lady came putting in with tow
| els and water, and after putting them
in the bedroom came out and paused
by the door with arms akimbo. She
evidently purposed saying something
but staring a moment at the young
man seemed to take il all away, for
she only gasped, wonderingly: "Lawk
lawki" and went out.
John Earring smiled again and won
dered who she was. Afterward a shy
eyed girl went by the door and rang :
bell upon the veranda, but the stout
landlady came herself, and with a dca
of color in her full-moon face, brought
John EARRING to supper. She seemed
| not yet to have entirely overtaken her
self. for when he sat down at table anC
she turned awaystoward the kitchen
she said, with a sort of signing. puff
"Lawk! lawkr'
John Earring had very good sup
per indeed and delivered to him will
deal of awe and polite painstaking
When he had partly done eating an ell
derby, bald, rudy, sweet-cider-consum
ing sort of a gentleman entered, an,
being seated, the fat landlady said
esquire Thorp. make, you acquaintet
with John Earling-Mr. John Earring
he used to be baby Earling when I wa
Hettie SPAWN and worked for hi
mother. But, lawk! lawk! hoa0 he ha
growed!'
'WeIl. well! bless me. I'm glad t
see you, sir" cried Squire Thorp
shaking John Earring vigorously b
the hand. 81 used to know your fathe
prime. You look some like him, bu
more like the mother. I judge" The
she that was once Hettie SPAWN foun
her tongue loosened, and John Earlini
learned great deal of himself and hi
parents ere the meal was finished.
| Squire Thorp, widower, justice q
the peace, notary public, and admire
OF Mrs. Hettie Tressler, was very hearty
and Mrs. Hettie Tressler, widow, owne
of the Tressler farm, and leaser of tn
Earlingford House, was overdowingl
happy: John Earring, too, found him
Iself strangely well entertained b
glimpses they gave him of his unrt
membered years and time hidden bt
hind that misty period.
When he and Squire Thorp went OF
into the little yellow Office together
after the meal had been discussed, til
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