The Delta independent., 1897-05-12

the lowest Of the rocky ledgcs. To the
west the land was level. but not marshy,
and the line Of long abandoned wagon
track could he traced straight across to
the hill from which Lamar had gained
his first view Of his refuge. Rodney.
town was considerably more than .
mile distant. but about halfway be-
tween the village and the knoll werc
three or four farmhouSes. Their occu-
pants would be Iamar's nearest neigh
bors, at least on the land side. To the
south. perched on another rocky point
about q quarter of q mile away. was the
hut of family of fishermen. who were
not likely to be intrusive.
Az has been said. the business Of TAX
ing possession was simple matter, and
the night after our arrival We passed
in the house by the bay. Lamar showed
amazing energy in making the place
habitable, and within q week wonders
were accomplished. a wagon-load of
furniture and fitting was secured from
the village; turned glazier to replace
the broken window-panes, whose alb
sence had served At least to save the
place from the reproach Of musti-
ness; and my employer developed
no mean ability as q carpenter. To
be sure. it was . mere box OF
house, making our labor 20
good deal of pride in the results. On
the ground-fioor was . living-room,
with n kitchen behind Il, and . small
room opening from the kitchen. Above
we're two rooms OF fair size. both Of
which, Lamar told me, he should re-
quire for his own use. II had been
agreed, soon otter our arrival. that I
should find quarters in one of the farm
houses between the refuge and the vii
lage-nn arrangement entirely 10 my
liking. for the prospect Of dwelling under
the same roof with Lamar was not al.
Turing. He was as unsympathetie a.
AN iceberg. hardly more loquacious,
md the mystery he maintained was
not of the fascinating sort In the
week we passed together came 70 dis
like him exceedingly. Sometimes, when
n days labors were ended he would sit
for hours putting away at his cigar.
watching the wreaths Of smoke. but
speaking not word. and hardly honor
ing me with q glance. What his re-
Elections might be was beyond my
power Of conjecture; yet ! managed.
with considerable satisfaction. to con-
vince myself that he had committed
some crime Of particular atrocity. and
that he WINS no common political exile.
Never. however. did he give me cause
to suppose him to be n sufferer FROM
remorse. Whatever his reasons for
flight might have been. he seemed now
TO regard himself as respited FROM
pursuit. and his look lost something OF
It's restlcSsnesx, though IL was evident
that he did not feel that his peril was
ended. He had strengthened the d0ors
Of the house and fitted them with heavy
bcltA, while stout bars were ready TO
be stretched across the lower wiDdows
st . moments notice.
In these early days Of our sta0. = I
Rodneytown my aequainenrce Win -.
townspeopIe stood us In GOOD stead
OF course our coming and the purchasc
Of the old house set the tongues Of the |
village gossips waGgipg. but tie eha:-
ter was not very ill-natured. and the |
explanation that I, an old RodDeyto~n
boy, had brought IN invalid 70 the shore
for the benefit of the sea air was accept-
ell with even less demur than had
looked for. for the villagers were proud
of the heaithfulncss Of the place. tn:
additional statement that the sick mnn
required complete quiet, and for tic
present wns unable 70 receive visitors,
was successful in its object Lamar was
not molested by inquisitive callers, AMI
after little the people whom met
ceased 10 question me about him, save
at rare intervals. A basn-burning
about that time did us q great service
in giving the townspeople more vitally
interesting topic than . sick stranger
forced by his malady 70 lead . solitary
existence.
Among the most delicate tasks fall
ing to my lot was the securing Of .
servant for the invalid. but, here again.
fortune Icing kind. nm old negre-.
was installed AZ nominal nurse and
actual housekeeper. She had been
born . slave, according 70 village talk,
but had secured her freedom and mi.
grated north. She wns IN excellent
cook, but 70 surly and Grabbed was her
dispositiou- she was very
deaf-that at Inst nobody would en-
pioy her. A recital Of her disabilities
sent me pnst-haste after her; for, 10 |
she was ~ unsociable as she was Fepre-
sented 70 be, she was the woman In
thousand for ms. When she took charge
Of the kitchen we were relieved Of one
point at least; there would be no gos-
sipinR mt that end Of the house.
Meanwhile. had contracted for food
and lodging at one Of the fsrInhousea,
and had put out my shipgIe In due
form-much TO the satisfaction Of NY
hostess, who confessed that Il pleased
her TO have evidences given that there
WINS - grown man bout the place" She
was Mrs. Elvira Weston, . widow. aad
the mother af fHo hnYs r,eiAhes ol