Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-03-29

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Dozo men. Inc Young men hated him
for esfranging their eweethearts, and
eacn Of the older men was afraid that 10
might marry his daughter and come nm
der the paternal roof for support.
One cool night, several weeks after
{ JOS appearance at Kingsboro, the oppos-
ing theorists as to JOS character in
dulged in many cornered and very live
~ duel. 1t was during season when
sudden atmospheric changes made most
OF the Kingsboro people bilious; other
wise the bitterness with which the con-
versat1on finally came to be character
lied would have been inexplicable.
Squire Ripson SO far forgot his years and
dignity of character as to call Bill Burth,
his temporary host, fool for holding
that 10 could be nothing worse than =
well to do young man enjoying himself,
While Bill, notwithstanding the dndli-
ness OF spirit which was proper to a man
who was Methodist class leader, called
the squire liar. Both men were upon
their feet, inclining slightly forward to-
ward each other and looking words
which should never be spoken, when
suddenly the mail stage drew up with a
crash at the door.
The postmaster threw last parting
glare at the squire, and carried out the
mail bags, while the whole party fol-
lowed to see who might be in the stage.
The light streamed through the open
door into the stage, and the villagers
saw inside single passenger, whom they
recognized as a Cincinnati salesman
through whom some of the Kingsboro
merchants occasionally purchased goods.
They were about to turn away in min
gled disappointment and resignation
when suddenly 10 Madison, who had
just arrived at the Office, sprang into the
stage and threw himself upon the passen-
ger, while the stage turned quickly, the
driver whipped up furiously and started
for the hotel.
The stares which passed around the
party of spectators were simply appalling
in their darkness. At last Squire Rip
son recovered breath enough to gasp:
"Detective!"
''No such thing!" shouted Bill Burth
through the delivery window. cts
probably the poor little fellows brother,
and he's been waiting for him weeks
longer than he expected to-"
A derisive smile played over the hills
and valleys of the squire's face, and he
was about to say something savage
when the reader of the New York Ro-
nance abandoned his theory of the dis
guised prince and suggested that 10 was
a highwayman; that he knew travelling
statesmen carried lots of money; that he
was robbing the salesman; the driver
was in league with him, and like enough
they were mile from town by this time
instead of going to the hotel. "Jack
Sheppard was a little fellow" said the
theorist in evidence.
"rm going to the hotel" said the
squire, starting for the door and fol-
lowed by the whole party. A moment
later the door of the postmasters inner
sanctum was heard to slam, and Bill
Burth came running to join the crowd.
Sol Turner, who carried crutches and
was soon left behind, shouted appealing
ly to them to do nothing until he got
there to see, but no encouraging answer
was waited back to him.
The hotel was gained, and the stage
stood before the door, but the consequent
failure of the theory Of The Romancer's
reader could not stop the impetuous rush
of the villagers. They crowded into the
public room of the hotel, but neither 10
nor the stranger was there. In mo-
ment, however, door opened and good
Mrs. Butler, the landlady, appeared,
with a smile on her face and tear in
each eye.
II know what you men are after" she
said. "Don't ever talk about woman's
curiosity again. The whole story is this:
10 Madison is woman and Mr.. Brown
was her lover. They had some sort of a
lovers quarrel and parted angry. She
made up her mind she was in the wrong,
but by that time he had started on an
other trip. She didn't know where to
write to him. but she had once heard
him say he never missed going to Kings
boro, so she came here in a suit Of her
brothers clothes and has been waiting
for him ever since, poor girl. And they've
made up and are everPo happy and are
going to be married tomorrow. And
I've known about it all the time, and I'd
have done just what she did if I'd have
been her"
This last clause of Mrs Buffers speech
was enough to set 10 Madison right in
every ones eyes, for Mrs. Butler was one
Of those women who are trusted by every
one on questions of propriety. But it is
|
particular occasion remembered this por-
ton Of Mrs. Buffers wonderful address
until it was recalled by some sighting
remark made by persons to whom the
story was told at second hand. The
men said nothing to each other for sew
eral moments. Then Bill Burth went
meekly up to Squire Ripson and whis-
pered:
81 was fool, squire"
Twas another" whispered the squire.
The interested parties had determined
to have the wedding ceremony perform
ed with the greatest privacy, but some
one learned from Parson Fish the hour
at which the service was to be perform
ed, and the news spread rapidly, and the
Kingsboro people took the matter into
their own hands. They dressed in their
best and besieged the hotel, and when
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