Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-10-02

thliltQ-
Why not thine own? Press on; achieve
achieved
--[Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
TALE OF A "PHONO."
The little village of NJ, situated al
an cqui-distance OH the north, south
east and west from several manufac.
turing towns, was unique in its isola'
ton. Its people were staid, slow-go-
ing and conservative. The only com.
munication with the outside world
was had through weekly mail coach
"a "ramshackly" affair drawn by a
pair of equines that had seen theil
best days long before they were util-
lied as the motive power of the stage.
The inhabitants of the town and sur
rounding country were perfectly con-
tented and happy. Indeed, progress
sive citizens of the larger towns, de-
string to awaken their somnolent
neighbors and enter the rich agricul-
tural region lying contiguous, had on
repeated occasions, surveyed routes
for railroads through M; but the
townspcople and country folk arose
en- masse in their opposition to this
I invasion of their pastoral peaceful
ness, invariably defeating the bencvo-
lent schemes of the railroad mag
mates.
Such thing as a sensation in the
sleepy old town had been unheard of
since the last attempt to locate rail-
road though it failed. However, one
Thursday, when the stage, at snairs
pace, drew up at the door of the viii
lage postofficc and general notion store,
and a passenger alighted, an utter
stranger, his appearance in the village
created something akin TO a sensation.
Rumor and conjecture as to who he
was and what he was were rife, and
when il was learned that he was to in
habit an old two-story frame house on
the outskirts of the town, that had
been vacant for some years, the towns
people were in fcrment of curiosity
and inquisitiveness. III fact, tho old
gentleman furnishcd food for gossip
ad libitum.
When the turmoil caused by the ad-
vent of Mr.. Thomas f. Olson into the
midst of their cOntented little village
subsided, life among the villagers
went OH as usual. In time he became
incorporated into the everyday rou-
tine of their town, and the interest
aroused by his first appearance among
them was forgotten.
Although nothing certain could be
learned of his reasons for settling in
M, it became generally accepted
fact that Mr.. Olson had chosen this
retired place to conduct u series of
experiments, which he had in hand,
the result of which it was very de-
sirable and important should be kept
secret OF tho specific nature of
these experiments nothing could be
learned.
No one was ever admitted to the in
side of his house, and how this rumor
could have become circulated and ac-
cepted as the truth was a mystery.
Nevertheless it was a satisfying cx-
planation to the simple villagers. Mr.
Olson, outside of his home, mingled
with the people on footing Of equal
ity, his atfable manner and genial tenn
perament causing him to be liked and
esteemed by the whole town. .~ Occa-
sionally, however, some one more
bold than the others would interro-
gate him as to the experiments he was
engaged in, but this attempted inva-
sion of his secret would promptly be
repulsed. When he had resided in the
town some five or six months, no one
was rash enough to ask the old gentle
man the result of his inve legations.
In the year 1876, when Mr.. Olson
had lived in M three years, his
goings and comings were as unob-
served and created as little interest as
those of the older inhabitants.
One Thursday morning, when the
usual crowd was gathered around the
postotiice awaiting The arrival OF the
stage coach, Mr.. Olson was found TO
be missing, contrary to his wont, from
the assemblage.
81 haven't seen him for three days
past" said Sam Hall, the postmaster.
"Nor /, nor / ;" half a dozen in the
crowd observed. A silence fell over
them, and several shook their heads
ominously, though why it would be
hard to tell.
"If he don't put in an appearance
by the time the mail comes in, boys. l
move that we make a visit to his
house and see if there's anything the
matter" continued the postmaster.
In few minutes more the stage
pulled up, the mail was thrown out
and distributed.
"a letter for Mr.. Thomas +.
Dison," called out Hall. elias he come
yet?