The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-04
THE QUALITY OF MERCY
A Story Of Contemporary
American Life.

American Life.
BY WILLIAM DEAN HoWsLLS.
tcoprishs 1891. ~ tbs Aussors
FART FIRST.
CHAPTER l.
Northwick's man met him at the station with
he cutter. Tho train was little late and 81.
bridge was little early: after few moments
Of formal waiting he began 10 walk the clipped
horses up and down the street. As they walked
they sent those auivers and thrills over their
thin coats which horses can give at will: they
moved their heads mp aud down slowly and
easily. and made their bells jsngle noisily to-
gether: the bursts Of sound evoked by their
arm and nervous pace died back in showers
and falling drops Of music. All the time FL
bridge swore at them aRectionately. with
Yankee whose lot has been much cast
With horses. In the halts ho made
ct each return to the station. he let his
blasphemies bubble socisbly from him in re-
Spouse to the friendly imprecations Of the three
or four other drivers who were waiting for the
train; they had apparently no other parlance.
The drivers Of the hotel bus and Of the local
express wagon were particular friends: they
gsve each other TO perdition at every other
word; . growing boy. who had como to meet
Nr. 0errish. the merchant, with the family
oasigh. made himself fountain OF meaning
Les mAlsdictions: the public hickman. who
admired ElbridGe almost as much as he re-
spected Elbridges horses they were really
Northwick's, but the professional convention
vas that they were Elbridge's). clothed them
a ovxth n nj po
himself. moro literally speaking. clothed in an
Old ulster, much frayed about the wrists and
skirts. and polished across the middle Of
the back BY rubbing against counters
and window sills. He was bearded like .
patriarch. and he wore rusty fur cap pulled
down over his ears, though Il was not very
cold: its peak rested on tho point Of his nose.
20 that he had to throw his head far back to
gst Ebridss In the nsld Of his vision. Elbridge
had on high hat and was smoothly huttoned
10 his throat In plain ooaohman's coat Of
black. Northvick had never cared to have him
make closer approach 10 . livery; and It 10
doubtful II Ebridse would have done It II hs
had asked or ordered it Of him. He deferred
% Northwick In . measure - the owner Of
his horses. but he did not defer to him In
any other quality.
"Gay. Hbridge. when you soin' TO sive mo
ehst old hat o'yourn I" asked the hickman. in
. shout that would have reached Elbridgo II
he bad bean halt mile OF instead OF half Q
GOD.
"Whst Do you want Of another secondhand
Ask you ~ - Old tool youf' asked FL
bstdss In his tun.
The hickman douhlsd himself down for Joy.
end slappAd bis lsg: - the sound Of whistle
% IA eastward hs pulled himself ersct again.
"a asiA - 4 the tast we're ono point gained
wal tAaee ~ blown. az way" Then hs
Veab HoaA4 ~ corner OF the station 70 b In
eanrsadsssgs Sae spy chance passages The
6atn miSA4 lmprobsbly bring him.
Wisk h 0ee1ish found II most remarkable
lhAs b GhosA have coma ali tho WY from
0oseA a tAs sans train With Nofthwiok and
~ hneWA ~ b. 1oetAwiok Wa less disposed
0Noude sAA Hs passed RAPIDLY beyond the
Soa3oW4A0 q N 0esxish and mounted to the
DlAao 0hldes made foe him in the cutter.
Shne &AsaAss We SIN tunking tho robes
Abest thsiy len. Aosthvisk drove away from
~ 0leGl0A aAd through the village MP 10 tho
Mn os TIE highland that Lies between Hat
bep1 aad South Hatboeo. The bare line cut
aloas he hosisoa Whsre he sunset fingered
IN . usht At LIQUID crimson. paling and pass
lnS Into weaker violet ttnts with every mo-
AsAk bu4 stu tendesly nushing the walls Of
u ~ color where keen star had hers and
ehsee already pierced u and shone quiyering
khroush. The shortsst days were past but In
khe dSse weak OF February they had not length
med sondhly. though 30 Q dner perception
khers wss the promise Of release from the win
loI DARK u not from the winter cold Il was
Dot fas from o o'clock when Northwtck mount
ID ths southwsrd rise Of the street: II was stu
almost Hight enough to read; snS tho little
slender black figure Of . man that started mp
n the middle Of tho road. - II 1t had risen out
pt the Gsound. had IN oven vivid distinetness.
He must hsvs been lying in the snow, tho
horses croushed back with sudden reooil 80
\ ~ had stxuak thsm back with his arm. aud
Dlunged tho runners Of the cutter into the
4sspsr anow beside the beaten track. He
AosthWiek Q eontemptuons glance. and
than continued along the road q q lsisurely
pses to the deep ont through the snow from
The nsxt house Here no stood regarding such
difficulty ~ Northwtck had In ouisting his
horses and setting under way again. 10 said
nothing. and NoEthwiok did not speak; e.
bridge growlsd. Hes ON one Of his tears
again" and the horses dashed forward with
shhsk Of all their bells. Northwiok did not
span bis lips till he entered tho avenue OF frs
fhss Led from the highway 10 his house; they
vsre stu ologsed with the snowfall and their
IoWoEmost branches were buried In the drifts,
"Whst's the mAttsr with the colt ?" he asked
Il don't know % that fellow understands
~ colts feet vsry we'll guess ono OF the
Dhoes 10 ~ WONG" said Ebrdse.
Better look after 1t"
Northvick Left Ebridse the reins. and got
mt Of The cutter at the flight a granite stops
which rose to the ground door Of his wooden
palace Broad levels OF piazza stretched away
rom the entrance under portioo Of that car
pslfry which 20 often passes with us for srohi-
'ectura In spite Of the effect Of organic aim
dness In every wooden structure but . log
sabin, OF nsherman's cottage shingled to tho |
ground. tho house suggested perfect func- |
lonsl comfort There were double windows |
N all round the plazzas; a mellow glow from |
he ineandescent electrics penetrated to the
,uter duak from them: when tho door was |
'pened TO Northwlck. . pleasant heat gushed |
put together with the perfume OF flowers and |
'he odors OF dinner.
Dinner II just served. SIR" said the inside