The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-12-28


round. 1t was a thin, bent figure. in
flowerea dressing-gown and slippers.
His hair presented that singular ap-
pearance caused by turning white in
patches and streaks. His face was
hollow and wrinkled; his eyes were
lusterless.
With the most apathetic expression
he looked at me, and seemed to think
that my appearance did not call for
question or remark. At least he made
none.
II beg your pardon, SIR" said. "Is
Mr.. Pierce Bostock at home? Can I see
him?"
''The overseer attends to all busi-
ness" he said, peevishly. $50 to him;
there he goes"
81 have no business that he can at
tend to. | must see Mr.. Bostock per-
sonally.'
"Must you. indeed?" He began to
rouse a little at the word and show
irritation. Where do you come from,
anyway, young man, that you think a
La Fourche planter can be made to at
tend in person at the beck and call OF
every interloper who fancies he has
business with him? What"
His own talk, delivered in a feeble,
broken voice, excited him and brought
on fit of coughing. He stamped with
veXation, and sat down on a bamboo
settee through sheer weakness.
Il am Pierce BostoclI, " he said, when
he could find voice again. What the
devil do you want?'
! ought to have expected this an
nouncement. and to have been prepared
for it; but felt very much at that in
stant as though l had been following
a chimera. To be exact, | felt cold and
sick, and the hopes of long years van
ished as puff of smoke. And yet it
seemed incredible. 7Hiy Mr.. Bostock
this the hearty, ruddy. happy planter
who had crossed our stony New lamp
shire fields ten years before, and
pushed out my horizon everywhere
this feeble, testy, dropping invalid?
Ny hopes were al turned to ashes on
the spot; yet resolved to speak out,
and end the farce. He would not rccog-
nize me. or would bid me begone if he
should. No matter--I would see which
he would do, and then tear this cruel
leaf out of the book of my life. and
turn to other scenes
Welfare YOU dumb? What do you
say for yourself?"
"Mr. Bostock, am Dorr Jewett. Do
you not know me?''
very faint appearance of interest
came to his face.
"Jewett?" he repeated. 81 believe l
t. l,a5
Amos Jewett was my schoolfe1low
when i was boy. Dorr-Dorr? That
was my fathers name"
| saw that his mind was CROPPING for
memory, and l waited.
He motioned me to sit down with
him. He looked at me, but was silent.
Amos Jewett was my father" l
ventured. Don't you remember com
ing to our poor New Hampshire home
ten years ago, sir? Don't you remem-
Der how kind you We're to us? / was
the boy you took so much notice Of
He heard me, and the mists seemed
dispelled from his brain as by magic
A look of surprised intelligence came
to his face.
You Dorr Jewett? - little Dorr?
Bless me, how you have grown! I'm
not often glad to see anyone but my
child, in these days; but ! am glad to
see you. Is your father well?"
"Why, he died, sir, more than year
ago. wrote to you about it,"
Il never read letters now-nor pa
pers-nor books. Not now. Yet do
remember nice letter you wrote me
once, years ago, before"
The change that came over that Woe
full face terrified me- 1t was literally
black with rage, with fury, called up
by his own speech.
eyes, SIR | fastened to say, 'and
you answered it so kindly"
''Did |? That is well: ! am glad to
hear it. So you've come to look up
wretched and lonely old man like me,
have you, because was kind to you?
Do you know, my boy, | don't think
there's another man in louisiana or
out of it. could soften me the way you
have. I'm going to have you stay here,
now you've come. Oh, yes. | do re-
member now all about the time / went
to Boston, and back among the hills
where ! was born, and how | found
you and poor Amos out in the fields,
and ate your good mothers mush and
milk"
His face seemed recreated. 1t ac-
tually wore gentle smile.
"But it was long ago, and life has
been hard and cruel with me since, and
i had forgotten all these pleasant
things. Why, boy, it seems to me as if
you'd come to me from another world"
He took my hand in his own thin
hand.
"You'l stay with me, Dorr Jewett,
won't you?"
believe the tears came to my eyes
at the question. 1t was asked in
voice which was the ghost of that
hearty, resonant tone that had long
sounded in my dreams. told him
that would stay awhile.