Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-14

cast or nationality, had also added that Absalom Heater contained the making of a true American. Whether or not his last was to be construed as inf0r- nation, praise. aspcrsion or phophecy, of course, since who the speaker was is not a matter of record. could never 1 be determined. At all events. when ever the kind old pair deserted the cX- ubcrant Absalom racing toward them across the tawny meadows, it was with a feeling little short of terror. For that many things about the premises should be displaced and overturned were catastrophcs to be expect cd. and that they should be compelled to sec him walk about the sward upon his hands, hang upon the cluthcs-linc by his toes, and perform sundry revolutions and cOntOrtions | about the boughs of old Jade's favorito I spplr-trrr. with the seeming risk of 1 trari ng himself in twain, were hard l ships that frequency hadma in some srnSe bcarablc. But that Absalom knew how intensely their old bones achcd from witnessing him thus raShly | probable. Indeed, that he ever calmly considered any thing was q matter of much doubt, sincr, at this period of his life at least, he seemingly lived l wholly upon instinct, inspiration and 1 electricity. One redccminT trait he l had. however. which molihcd in some | degree the rather sober estimate put upon him by tho mild old pair, and l that lay in his undiSputcd and undying | fraltv to the onr-time hcir-apparent l of Earling farm. About that merry waif his sports were marked with all the supplencss and softneSs of the cat.
 Did one tlaNcn hair upon the little | prattler's head in any manner come to harm through him, no amount of l mental castigation could seemingly ctlace the fault. One afternoon in late October. upon the occasion of one of these cyclonic visits. from his convolu- 1 tions on the apple -bouGh he suddenly dropped to earth. and turning to the ! hoary whittier said, with sort of ! punting shout: ''Hr's nailed um upn'
 Mailed what up?" slowly growlcd
 the imperturbable Jade.
 Mailed up the windcrsr' eiaculatcd
 the lad as he seized the bough, and
 whirling himself in circle over it
 came down uron the ground again.
 You mean the windcrS of Earrings
 houSe?" qucrcd Jade.
 "The samcr' shouted Ahsalom as
 he went over the bough again.
 ''Do you hear that, mothrrP" said
 Jade, craSing to whittle and looking
 toward the door.
 "Hear what?" said Grandam Erric.
 coming forward with her knitting in
 her hands.
 "Why. Ivyl Snaer has had the win
 derS of Earrings house boarded up,"
 said Jade.
 "What for?" said the knittrr. looking
 over her srcctarlcS at Absalom.
 ''Dunno"' replied that worthy from
 where he hung full-lcngth from the
 bough by histors, "gucSs he don't want
 nobody to live there rrnorhimselfnuther." :"
 Then dropping to the ground he rightcd
 himself and sped away across the
 meadows to his home.
 ''That's rurus. muttcrcd Jade, com
 mcncing to whittlc, while Grandam
 Erric. picking up the child. went in to
 solve the puzzle through the mild al-
 cmhic of her pipe.
 Next day the restless Absalom, hat
 in hand. came racing across the mead
 ows again, and racing three times
 round the house, obviously to soothc
 his excited nerves, swooprd in at the
 door. "'Ghcy'vr comet! he snortcd. The onset was 50 sudden. and the
 news of such seemingly startling
 character, that Grandam r,rric and
 old Jade sprang to their feet together
 and snurtrd back: ''Who!" leaving their mouths hang open after tho word
 had been shot forward.
 "rhcv as owns the kid" Quavered : | AhSalom. looking at the child, and drawing his hand across his eyes at the evident hazard of injuring the pcrpctu. al hurt upon his nosc. ''Thcy as owns the kid is comr!" he quavered again Then seemingly unable 10 bear tho . thought of a possible separation iron the child through this event, he sud , denly turned and rushed out and uI and down the garden paths, and whirl ! ing himself over the applc-bough. raccC oil across the meadows, nor saw the 2 larks and insects that flew before hin ' for the tears that filled his eyes. After he had gone old Jade lifted hi U eyes to Nora's face, and seeing he V trembling lip, took down his sharp anc = welI-srourcd hoe from its resting-hook 2 above the kitchen door. and wen u out into the garden with his chil :, sunkcn deep in his beard.
 That afternoon the old Gardene ?. came into the house with weak sor V of step and said to Grandam Erric if much as if a hearse were passing by IT ''Thcy're comin'r' and the two sa a down with sinking hearts. Present. ia 1vyl Snaer's two-seatcd buggy, draw n by his smart bays, came into the throa f. of the little Erric lane, and turnin n at its foot drew up at the gate f. Two persons were in the cal Q riage other than Iryl Snael Q Evidently they were husband an 10 wife. the husband being a larg ', well-formed man with keen blue eyes, a square pleasant face. and singularl h white and well-filled skin. The wifi O had evidently the finer taste in dress 'ee but was slightly short in stature, lii if tie flat of face, with dark bead-lik O eyes, and a general air of knowin n what was going forward. Tho thrc if alightcd and preceded by tn sr smiling Joyl entered the hous,