The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-10-26
CHAPTER Xxx.
WARREN LELAND's PROGRESS.

Loosen the dOgi
This order was sufficient for Warren
Leland. He was not coward; he would
not have budged an inch before an en-
ragged tiger; but te would have travelled
q hundred miles on foot to avoid the
shadow of ridicule.
Profting bv the warning and mo-
ment when he seemed unobserved he
slid from the tree, jumped into the next
field, and entered the woods at point
somewhat farther down than where he
had scaled the hedge.
This done, he resumed his walk with
the assured tread of man who had
right to be there.
He had gone but few steps when he
heard behind him the wild barking OF the
dog, which proved his retreat had been
an opportune one.
Some Of the farmers he had noticed az
he passed before were still standing at
their doors.
Stopping before one of them, he asked:
My friend, to whom does that large
house below there, facing. the road, be-
sic2"
You probably know that as we'll as L.
replied the man, stolidly.
Had 7 known, I should scarcely have
asked yoI." said Leland. in quiet tone.
The farmer-a poor one, by the way
did not deign further reply.
His wife stood near him; and Leland had
remarked that in all classes of society
women have more wit and good-humor
than their husbands. Therefore he
tnrned to her and said:
1You see, my good woman, I am
stranger here. To whom does that house
belong? Probably to Nathan Metcalf?"
NO no." replied the woman. Mr..
Metcalf lives much further on"
"Ah! Then who lives here?"
why, Amos Denton, of course"
"Ah, Amos Denton! But tell me, he
does not live alone? There is lady who
sines-his wife?-his sister? And an
other-very beautiful. Who are they?"
"Ah, the first, no doubt, is his daughter
in-law, young Mrs. Denton. Mrs. Clara,
Who"
Yes, yes, and the other?"
us young lady who is living with her.
l don't really know"
'Ah! thank you, thank you, my good
woman! You have children? Buy them
presents with these;" and dropping. sew.
eral pieces of silver in the lap OF the
obliging woman, Leland walked rapidly
away.
Returning home, the road seemed less
gloomy and fur shorter than when ne
came.
AS he strobe on, humming the prelude
of Bach, the moon rose, the country
looked more beautiful, and, in short,
when he perceived, at some distance down
the ever gloomy avenue, his own house,
bathed in the white light, he found the
spectacle rather enjoyable than other.
wise.
And when he once more ensconced him.
self in the maternal domicile, ano
breathed the odor of new damp paper anc
old moldy trees that constituted its at.
mosphere, he found great consolation ir
the reflection that there existed not very
far from HIM two young women who
possessed charming faces, delicious voices.
and one, at least, pretty name.
Next morning. after plunging into
cold bath, to the profound astonishmen,
of Seth Gridley and his wife, Leland
went to inspect the farm. He found the
barns and other out-buildings we'll con-
structeas but not SO picturesque as ne
CO ID desire.
But lie WIS amazed to hear the farmers
he met arguing, in their peculiar Yankee
drawl, on the various modes of culture
and crops, like men who were no stran-
gers to all modern Improvements In agrl-
culture.
The name of Metcalf frequently oc-
Cured in the conversation as conhrna-
ton of their own theories, or expert.
ments. Nathan Metcalf gave preference
TO this fertilizer, to this machine Tor
winnowing; this breed Of cattle was in
troduced by him. Nathan Metcalf did
this, Nathan Metcalf did that, and the
farmers did like him, and found it to their
advantage.
Leland found the Congressman had
not exaggerated the local Importance OF
this parsonage, and that it was most es-
sepaal to conciliate him. Resolving,
the. efore, to call on him during the day,
he meanwhile went to breakfast.
The duty toward himself fulfilled, the
young man lounged on the veranda, as
he had the evening before, and COM
menced smoking.
Though it was near midday, it was
doubtful to him if the solitude and 81
lence appeared less complete and oppres-
sive than on the preceding evening. A
hushed cackling Of fowls, the drowsy
hum OF bees. and the mufled chlme oI
distant bell-these were NIL.
Leland lounged on che veranda, dream.
ing of his club, of the noisy crowd, of
the rumbling stages and street-cars, OF
the playbill of the Madison Square The
ater, of the drives in Central Park-and
the memory Of the least of these en-
chantments brought infinite peace to his
soul.
The inhabitant of New York has one
great blessing, which he does not take
into account until he suffers from its loss
one great half of his existence is filled
up without the least trouble to himself.
The all-potent vitality which ceaselessly
envelops him takes away, in 9 vast de-
gree, the exertion of amusing himself.
The roar Of the city, rising like great
bass around him, fills up the gap in his
thoughts. and never leaves that disagree
able sensation-a void.