Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-05-28

A nearby practitioner gladly agreed
to give room TO my books until they
should be sent for, and junllman drove
an easy bargain for my furniture A
valise was caPacious enough to receive
the few effects l cared To take away,
and even its contents might have been
parted with without great sorrow.
There were no patients 20 worry about,
and few questions to answer. To such
as were put replied that had secured
an appointment in the country; and
even my professional brother did not
think il worth while to push the in
4uiry further. In short my neighbors
manifested no more curiosity about me
than about the vanished builder of
last years birds nest still swinging
on a bough OF the half-dead tree at the
corner.
1t would have been easy 20 return
TO Merton long before the appointed
time, but I tArried in town to enjoy
luxury which had charmed nv fame
on many a day when the cravings of
taurant, famous far and near, q gas
tronomic Mecca TO which many pill
grims journeyed joyously, under whose
roof l was determined to dine. Often
had 1 surveyed its glories from the
pavement without, prowling about the
place in fascination at the picture of
good cheer visible through its windows.
Now I was privileged to enter, strong
in the consciousness that IA roll of bills,
still of goodIy size in spite of the pay
ments made from ii, nestled in my
pocket. Let 1t be confessed, how
ever, that as I stepped through the
doorway my hand was clutched about
the money, as if In fear that 1t might
vanish Not until had dined and the
account had been hquidated did the
dread of an awakening from so pleas
brance of that solitary feast will be
always with me; for it brought the,
first convincing proof that the old
period of stress was at an end.
A suburban train bore me to Merton
early In the evening 1 went at once.
TO my employers room. Before leaving
the city l had secured timetables of
the road on which we were to make our
journey, and had found that a through
express stopped at the town at ten
o'clock. Lamar was well pleased with
this bit of information. He had not
quilted his quarters IN my absence, he.
said, and none of the hotel servants.
except the somnolent porter who ad-.
mitted us, had had O. glimpse of his,
face, for he had kept out of sight
when food and drink were brought to
his room. A little before ten o'clock,
Isettlcd our reckoning, and we left the
hotel by a side door, reaching the sta
tion just as the train rolled up to the.
platform. My companion chose coach
in which there were few passengers
and, picking out a dark corner, buried
his face in his upturned coat collar
and pretended To sheep. one OF his
hands was clasped about the strap Of
his little valise, and not once In the
course of the journey did he loosen his
grip upon 1t.
There was a weary ride of several
hours, and then an equally weary walt
lat u db WI We Wt4C W lciAO
q train over q branch line; but long
before the lazy folk-if there were
any sluggards in that workaday region,
were stirring, our travel by. rail had.
been completed. We left the cars ati
Bassettville, the station nearest Rod
neytown, which was separated from the
railway by a ten-mfle stretch of coun-.
try. AS it happened Sam Carpenter, the
owner of livery stable near by, who
usually supplied conveyances to per-.
Sons desiring TO reach the village, was
an acquaintance of my boyhood days.
With him was soon IN friendly dis
course.
"rve got a patient with me, San"
said 1, "and he wants to breathe pure
sea-breezes. I'm taking him down to
the old place. He needs good air and
quiet"
"Wall, he won't gitmuch else, i guess"
said the man, with all the contempt of
the railroad town for place less blest.
"Want steady nag, don't YEP Take
boy along, or drive yerself?''
Never mind about the boy; ] know
the way,"I answered. "Pll see that the.
team gets back to you this afternoon"
A little later drove up to the station
where Lamar had been awaiting me.
He climbed into the buggy with an,
agility which was surprising, consider
ing his appearance of illness, and settled
down beside me with the yalise still In
in his hands. offered TO stow it away
with my sole piece of luggage back OF
the seat, but he shook his head.
1T is my preference TO keep it," said
he. 'It is not burden"
The morning was fresh and clear, and
as We drove along the charm of 1t.
gained possession Of my senses. for
got the fatigue of the night In stuhy