The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-11-25
TWO THaNKSGIV|NGS.
by CECIL CHARLES.


the mountain foliage reluctantly and
began again his toilsome ascent OF the
road. The blaze OF the tropical sun
produced upon him strange sensation.
1t did not blind him; on the contrary, 1t
seemed to stimulate his faculties. Or was
it wholly the varied atmosphere as he
climbed higher and higher? No, it was
the sun, he decided. The atmosphere
was partly responsible, but the sun-the
tropical sun seemed to show him con
stantly new, strange sights, somewhat
even as the tropical night sky with its
thousand new stars, had divulged new
secrets to his marveling senses.
So he trudged under his small pack
over the mountain to reach the capital.
Meeting him, one would have hardly
suspected him TO be 'down on his luck, T"
as he had but lately declared. Tall,
good looking, well dressed, barely thirty
years of age, Cory Dickinson looked like
the son of rich man out on a pleasure
tramp--not like self-exiled evader Of
the law seeking an unknown field in n
remote Central American republic.
But that was what Cory Dickinson
was doing.
As he plodded along the dusty road in
the afternoon splendor, his thoughts
wandered far away from his actual sur
roundings. lie lost sight Of the distant,
dreamy peaks, the still bellows, the in
tense emerald hues of foliage, the trick
ling, musical mountain streams and saw
only the small New England town
whence he hal lately fled, late Autumn
sombre, staid, matter of fact and Sun
day observing. lie saw his late home,
his stern faced uncle, his invalid aunt,
Mason, the hired man, with his grim
scowl, and Hannah, the servant girl.
Mason's face and Hannah's stood out
particularly clear and obnoxious. Mason
had rejoiced Mt his trouble, revengeful
of the day when Cory had come upon
him brutally kicking the poor old family
horse, and struck him smart blow with
bis umbrella Mason had never for
gotten that blow nor the way in which
Cory had threatened him If he ever ill
treated the animal again. Hannah, too,
had been oveTjoyed at his disgrace; she
was Masons sweetheart
Then, all at once. there came another
face that Cory could only see in thick
blur of-something like mist. The face
of little Lydia Post the school teacher,
the only one of those who knew, who be-
lieved in him.
He had to dash something away from
his eyes as he strobe on.
Late i'm the afternoon he came TO the
first outskirts of the town and entered
small roadside dwelling. He could
peak no Spanish the woman with her
numerous children clinging to her could
peak no English. But she looked at
i'm with generous eyes and made him sit
down on the best seat in the poor room.
He made motion of drinking and said
aqua 2" For he had not
paused to drink at the last mountain
stream, fearing night might ovcrtake
him on the way. She brought water
quickly, and when he would have risen,
made smgns for him to wait, thar she
might prepare food for him. He drew
out the last bit of money lett him--less
than dollar for he had little remaining
when he left the steamer lat the port
but she waved il away and made him see
that she desired no pay.
The humble food of the country was
very good, he thought. He had had
nothing but biscuit since early morn-
ing He ate the eggs and black beans
and tortilas and drank the black coffee
that had grown md blossomed out few
miles away as if they were the choicest
delicaces. AS he sat eating he wondered
what they were doing at home; it was
their supper time, and it was u bleak
autumn day--a late November day, al
most the last of the month Something
ose in his throat, lump like, and he made
aste to finish, fearful of breaking down
he woman would take no pay; he
banked her over and over in words that
the could not comprehend, but with
looks that she surely read, and continued
on his way. But continuing on, he found
that this was but small villag and that
there were yet some few miles tS traverse
before he came to the capital.
The upland scenery seemed less
strange To him now, but for the queer,
low houses, with the heavy tile roofs,
he could almost nave fancied himself
back in the States. Only, all at once,
the twilight had turned to marsh gloom
and he remembered that he was very far
off from home-under the cquator--with
no pllce TO lay his head.
He sat down by the roadside, utterly
exhausted, Il cannot go any further.
I'm dead tired" he murmured exhaust
edly. He leaned his head back against
a kind OF stone wall that seemed 10 pro.
tect property of some SOFT, possibly de-
serted country house. Ii had been get.
ting chilly since sundown, but the ground
was dry. He began to undo his pack to
take out the blanket. He spread il out
and dropped his weary head upon it. He
could have fallen asleep at that instant,
only that he was startled 10y the clatter
of horses hools that seemed to ride up
his side.
"Olaw said a voice, and other words
that he could not understand.