Connecticut western news., 1891-02-11

shall be satis1ed-
 -L6ndon Work.
 OLD MEEK AVENGED. At Meyers Cross Roads, Tenn, Q dsv serted shanty marks the spot where there once flourished great. commercial emporium. This busy mart of merchant disc was presided over by a wheezing old fellow who was known as Meek Ben- der. His whole life seems to have been acontinual round of apology. His fear was not of 2 drought. which might in- jure trade. or of an overflow of the creek. which might wash his house away, but that he might at some thoughtless time wound the feelings of his fellow man. His name was John, but bis habit of extreme care, his man. ner. which had been refined into gentle ness and then softened into tmidity, brought to him the name of Meek. His business was good. for there was no other store in the community, yet hs was too timid and too much afraid of giving ofense to refuse credit. and when credit had been given he was too gentle to ask for the money which was due him. Even people that were regarded as strict ly honest were not slow in imposing on old Meek.
 Tho back room of Meek's store w0 the wet day gathering place for tho neighborhood. Contracts for the year were drawn up there, and many an old score had been settled in that dingy back room When the weather was cold and when tho fire burned low no one would offer to go out and bring in wood from the rick, short distance away, but some strapping fellow would call old Meek. no matter how busy he might be- "Here. old boy. you will have to calk up this room to keep the fire from get ting out if you don't mind"
 "Gentlemen." he would reply, in . most apologetic manner, you must really excuse me. You'll pardon me, won't you2 1 will do better in the fut- ue."
 One day Lige Parker came into the store, and calling old Meek aside said: Meek, I've got to have $25."
 "Lige." Meek answered, with embar- rassment, you know that if had il you could get it."
 "What. haven't you got it?"
 Not to save my life, 'Lige."
 "Oh. come now. Meek. Who ever hearn of you bein' out of money? The rest of us mout be hard up, but you air allus fixed. Let me have twenty-five" "Lige. lent the last cent 1 had this very mornin'."
 '.Go and look in the drawer, Meek. l reckon you'n find some snealin' round in thar
 ''l took out the last cent, Lige."
 "Wall. dang it, go an look when tell you"
 Lige followed him to the money drawer. The old man pulled the drawer open and said, ''Thar now, Lige, don't you see thar ain't noneY' "Thar ain't none, sho huff Who did you lend it to?" Fl don't like to say. Lige."
 "Oh, it's all right. What difference can it maker
 "None. only don't like to be tellin' who lend money to-
 Come, tell me. won't say a word about it."
 "Not 8 word. Lige?" Not single word" "Wau, I'll tell you. jest to 'commodate you. but please don't mention it. Jim Henly come to me this mornin' an lowed that he must have twenty-five, an let him have it, although I've got . bill that must pay this week or shut up the house" ..-
 Jim Henly. eh? Wy, he oughrer have plenty money. He's got some colts that he can sell any time fur a good price. Say, when he pays you back will you let me have the twenty -fve?'
 "Of course. Lige. you know I'll let you have it as soon as get it."
 That afternoon Lige met Jim Henly in the road Hello. Jim, which way7' "Oh. sorter ridin' roun' for my health, as the feller lowed when he was gittin' outen the way of the sheriff"
 Didn't know but you was goin' OUf to old Meeks."
 "Wan. didn't know but mout ride over that way befo' the thing is done with"
 "Goin' to pay him that money, reck- on."
 'What moneyS' Jim asked in sur prise.
 "The twenty-five you borrowed from him."
 "How the devil do you know I bor- rowed any mony from him?'
 "You won't say nothin' about it, will youy'
 "No. Go ahead"
 aw.I1 | wa. ovor to tha store tbir mornin'. an the old man was sorter com plainin' about bill hes got to pay o1 shut up Hhe house. Said he needed the money 9aet you have"
 '.Ah. la, the old fool IS paradin' il round that he let me have few dollars, is her
 Not particularly paradin' it. Jim. He lows that he needs the money, an reckon he do. Don't gay nothin' sbou, it, but if you can raise the money. wy go an give it to him. Wall, 50 long,"
 It was a chilly evening. A number oi tho "boys" sat in old Meek's back room playing cards.
 "You've got me faded now," said All Hoor,A punching his cards "Got ma aown whar the ground Is mighty rocky. Hello, Jim Henly, how air they comin3 Squat and take hand"
 "Whar is old Meekr' Henly asked. "Gone ou. to git some wood. b1ieve." " Meek came in and put back log on the fire.
 wy, howdy. Jim," said the old man, as he brushed oil his sleeves. "Sorter chilly an saft outside"
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