Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-04-21
CHAPTER Nj.

CHAPTER NJ.
When the sun had climbed up the
heavens far enough on the morrow to
look comfortably down over the soft
naples in the courthouse yard, his
beams, or more POLITICALLY, his eye
lashrs of fire, fell against the pOrtly
person ofJoel standing in the doorway
of his bank. and fingered glinteringly
about the great gold fob that danglcd
just below his bullying vest. 1t was the
only ornament that Joel ever permit
ted himself to wear, and for that reason
the more perhaps the sunbeams glinted
from it umhclifcrously. Joel had
| "thickcned up" rs he termed it. during
these years, being quite pronounced in
| the matter of growth with well-de-
fined doublc-chin. and two rather por-
| tcntious puils of fat just below his
eyes. However. his skin was still
| clear. albeit some little red veins were
trarcable about the nose. but all in all
he was n very comfortable and solid
looking person. "Consarn the boyw
he muttrrcd to himself, II wish l had
told him about it long ago." and he
knit his brows and looked hard at the
threshold whore 'Whitncy's Bank" was
cast in the iron. He heard the ten
| o'clock train whistle while he was
staring, and Julius Popp came spring
lily around the corner His hat was on
| one side and he gave his cane jocund
| twirI ut every second step.
"Mornin', Whitney, mornin'," he
said. coming to n stand still with Il jerk
big mornin'." hanging his cane upon
his arm and lighting a cigar. slick
rs weasel, sir!' pulling vigorously;
''make blind robin crow, sir. crow
like Il nightingaler' Then beaming
on his cane with one foot very much
advanced, with his cigar sticking up
past his nose; ''lots of the boys comm
home; played 'er brilliant! brilliant as
a rainbow, sir. My son-in-law. Cap
Heater. is expected in any time,
hear He's a noble specimen, sir; a
specimen I'm proud to say feel to-
ward rs father should feel toward q
son, and | might further remark as a
man should feel toward a protector.
d national protector, sir"
Joel said nothing; he was looking q
little sourly beyond Julius and patting
the iron dOor-sill with his foot. Ju-
Illus whirlcd around with flourish of
his cane and set his hat down over his
nose. "lloneysuckIes!' he calculated,
slots of the blue boys gettin' inn'
| Joel looked down the street; good
many people were coming from the
train, and sprinkled among them were
a number of soldiers. One stalwart
long-legged fellow in blue, with full
square beard and sun-burncd copper
colored skin, strobe along in front
with Il swinging powerful tramp that
left the rest behind. He carried n belt
and scabbard-inclosed sword loosely in
his hand, and the short hair just below
the crown of his head where his SOL
dIcr's cap shut down stuck resolutely
up. He welt by the two men in front
of the bank at sweeping gait. Julius
clappcd his glasses upon his nose and
peered at him. and Joel started little
and widcned his eyes, but the soldier
simply winked one eye and strobe for
ward with immovable face. Julius
jerked his glasses from his nose AMI
looked ut Joel. THE deucem he said,
with kind of excited squeak; who
who was that?"
Joel stepped down upon the side
walk and looked anXiously after the
rctreating figure. but said nothing. On
through the square the soldier strobe,
not speaking to any one or seeming to
notice much. and up the street and in
o. JOel's gate and around to the back
|
tern, threw his sword down and
pumped drink of water, took off his
cap and sat down upon the doorstep
and began to whistle u march softly as
he looked about the place. Presently
Ether opened the door. The soldier
looked up into her face, and said, with
a strained sort of quiet: "Hcllo.
Poppy"
" Mercy" exclaimed the woman,
springing back with CONSERVATION in
her eyes. Then she wavered, tumbled
and sank forward with one cry: "Ab-
salom!" and fell fainting against his
breast.
Down in front of the bank the two
men stood and watched the soldier I'M
ill they saw him turn in at Joels gate;
then Julius snatohed the glasses from
his nose again and looked at Joel.
Joel nodded his head affirmatively, and
Julius, with kind of ecstatic squeal,
!. afa rknI off in the diraotion nf .Ioalte