Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-03-31
HIS CHARACTER SKETCH

yOu du eACuSt lOI fUu you may Dt
sure your call will be interesting, and that
you will have something interesting to
write about when you return. believe that
every newspaper man in this town, especial
ly the older ones, has interviewed Mrs.
Hasky, and they always have story when
the call is over. She is an interesting char,
acter, and especially so to the space writers
when all other subjects fail them. 1t is
your turn now, and don't forget to make her
recently received legacy your excuse for call
ing. i want to see what she will say on that
subject and if it will gain you an audience"
1t did. | found Mrs. Hasky on her knees
in her little front garden, potting plants
IN the soft black loan. She pushed green.
checked suubonnet back from her face and
looked up, redly and perspiringly, as / drew
near. Her dress was neat, but bit odd
She looked to be somewhere past so, but the
loss of husband had, judging from her ap.
pearance, brought her but few tears, foI
while her years might have been easily
guessed it was not premature age that she
showed. Before she had spoken word
realized that my friend Bailey was right,
and that Mrs. Hasky was character worthy
the interviewer's best efforts.
"Is your name Mrs. Hasky?" l inquired,
after propitiatory bow.
eyes, my name is Mrs Hasky" The tone
OF her reply seemed to add: "And that is
what it will continue to be-" while she
proceeded to stare at me steadily.
As she gave no sign of rising from her
lowly posture l felt rather at loss as to
what to do or say next. began to fear
that my ability as an interviewer was to be
sorely tested before | had succeeded in my
mission to the home of Mrs. Hasky She
was evidently waiting for something more
from me, and if | was to get a story from
this interesting character must pull my
self together and begin.
Il called-to-to-see YOU" began, hes
itatingly.
Il dare say" she interrupted, with
promptness. II did not suppose ye called to
see the gate post"
But, as you seem so busy, perhaps had
better come another time"
"Well, we won't" she rejoined, getting on
her feet with an alacrity that caused me to
retreat step or two it was so unexpected
in one of her age and stout proportions
"Yell jest trot along to the verandy an
git through. There"
She pulled forward two chairs, placing
them with thump facing each other, and
sat down in one. / took the other and held
my hat by the brim. | was only young in
the newspaper business then and had never
had great amount of experience at inter
viewing. l was sure, however, that Mrs.
llasky would have proven a match for the
oldest and wsest of the profession.
MIR Bailey said l might use his name"
handed her my card,
Mr.. Clarence Winham," she repeated,
slowly, putting on her glasses and eyeing me
over from head to foot. "Why, | don't be-
lava IL d.
Il am 81"
Mrs. Hasky laughed, but not mirthfully
Pore infant! And I'm 57.''
Thank you for telling me-" / said, CRATE
fully (the doors were beginning to open
OF themselves). 'ln fact, / came to ask
you"
"Oh, | know what ye came to ask me;
but thought it might stop ye to know my
age"
"On the contrary" said loosely, that
quite encourages me-"
What? Ye're allown' can't live very
long? Don't make no sech mistake as that,
young feller! My family amt never died
till they wuz 80-not one of en-"
Il am sure / hope you may live to be a
hundred" | answered, gallantly. "Ah-AIr
Bailey mentioned that you had received
legacy lately, and have called"
'Taint one mite of use, said Mrs Has
ky, determinedly. "Ye're the fifth what s
come around already. It's too redeck lous!"
why" | reassured her, smilingly, I'm
not a life insurance agent. Did you think
was"
Il don't keer wither ye air OF not. There
might "a bin some sense in the others
mostly widders, and older'n | be-but sech
kid! Don't ye suppose know ye're after
my money Shot,
After your money!" / exclaimed, rising
Indignantly What do you mean?"
wal, fer certain sure, ye don't expect me
to believe ye're after my beauty? An il
wouldn't make no difference if ye wuz.
amt goin' to marry no one at present. Tell
Bailey that, will ye?"
MY dear madam"
''No use-not bit!" She shook her head
firmly. Il bin a wdder 10 years, an ain t
had but one offer, an that wuz from deef
and dumb man, till this legacy come, an
there wuz five in three weeks. Course I'm
sorry to disapp'int ye-or any of ye, but
80 it's"
Why my good woman, you are entirely
mistaken in my intention"
Excuse me; no mistake at all! Do We
mean to tell me that anything under the
can 'py would "a fetched ye here if ye hadn't
heerd of that money Of mine? But ain t
sech a fool as / look, nor nothin' like the
fool I'd look an be if | married ye." She
also rose.
Mrs. Hasky, you must allow me to speak
word. | am reporter for New York
paper"
That settles it! Ye amt no sort of
responsible person for a husband, even if ye
wasn't young and silly. l wouldn't hev ye
not fer"
But interrupted her in tur-. "I -on't
wish to be anyone's husband" | said warm.
| ly; my intention was merely to write
sketch of you, as being the recipient of un-
expected good fortune"
That's all right; ye kin call it sketch or
anything we like, but know what fetched
ye here, an, as | said first off, it amt one
mite of use. | amt no idee of marryin', an,
| If | he'd We lost YOUR chanst wen We tole me