Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26

Widows Interests
81 wouldn't have to feed him on salt
pork" unused the widow, because I've got
plenty of chickens. and the garden is doing
first rate this year Then, after 1 got a
little money / could buy fresh meat sup
pose l might get trusted. but 1 should hate
L. do that"
| remarked that it would be good thing
for Carries prospects.
Yes indeed" said Carrie: Il could go to
the normal school then, couldn't 1, NAM
MAJ"
Yes. dear and we could get another cow
in the spring. The house needs shinging
badly and a few payments on the mort
gage wouldn't hurt. Five dollars a week.
If / only thought | could suit him. Does
h Sem to be very particular man.
Frank
Why. no. ma am, I don't know as he
Goes. l am sure you could suit him. Mrs.
stanwood, or l shouldn't have mentioned
it"
wen. all right, then I'll try it, You can
tell him to come up and look at the spare
room any time. We get it ready to
morrow. can't we. Carrier
'Oh. yes. indeed, mamma. easy; I'll work
at it ali dry
We'll. then, Ill tell you what to do
Frank. You ask him to come here to sup
per tomorrow evening. aud he can look at
the rom afterwarl.'
1 agreed and. bidding them good even
iHg. buried home. Father and mother
hHh congratulated me an my days luck,
and iGGthtr said she did hope poor Mrs
Stdnwucd would get the boartter.
While ! was milking. after supper. Ed
penniSen, fellow about year older than
/, leaned over the baTnyard bars and asked
if | W. going to the meeting.
nat meeting - | asked.
why amt you heard of the mass meet
iHg That's called for tonight at Melton
town hEiiH'
No: what's it about?"
about the railroad. You know, Judge
Davis and all the big guns want the reed
TO g through Melton; they saw if will Ii.
the making of the place. and the Grey
town1rI are Just as anxious to have il 90
through there. for the ane reason Mel
ten IS On the direct line. bat it seems a
railroad company don't cHTe anything about
that. They'll 60 away cut Of their road to
accommodate their friends. Judge Davis
wants oar folks to offer such strong in
ducerr9nt5 to the company thst they won't
DE- abe H. afford to go through Greytown.
That's Why he called the meeting and
there's likely to be some lively speaking"
I'd Ike to go. first-rate, 1 told him.
Out don Know as l can; I've got all my
chores to do yet. and l have to get up
early tn 90 to work
wi no else is going?'
oh, lot CT the fellers all along the
road: come on. lets get these chores done
We Jumped in. and the way wood and
water fieW there for while was a caution
TO lazy boys. Ed got the trough filed be-
Tore | was ready. and sat on the fence
whistiinS ifnDatiently. The evening was
pleasantly cool. a full moon shone brightly
on the white road. and hurried along,
as II was already getting late
We found Melton greatly excited peor,a
Were standing in groups, or hurrying to the
hail all arguing he aIl-imporrant question
We We're III ample time, and followed the
crowd ~ a ST. he ,,II
:. We obtained seats in the gallery enabling
us 10 see and hear all that passed.
Judge Davis. large. handsome, gray
haired gentleman president of the local
bank, and by all odds the biggest man in
the place, occupied the central seat on the
platform There were half dozen other
gentlemen with him, but they cut no figure
at all. The judge was the man whom all
had come to see and hear
When the hall was full he arose. coughed,
blew his rose, took a drink of water
thrust his hand in the breast of his coat
and struck Daniel Webster attitude The
applause having subsidized. he began to
speak.
He told us that the day he had looked
forward for and earnestly longed for all
his life. had now arrived Melton was about
TO be connected with the outside world by
that great power of modern civilization,
the railroad
Industry would be stimulated and CAPITAL
would be attracted. He dweit on the beau
ties and advantages of the p ace. astonish-
local pride and stimulated their ardor by
his e1oqUence. until each individual felt
that the railroad was personal necessity
he startled them by asserting that there
was imminent danger of their being de-
prived of .his great boon.
Should the railroad company decide to
leave Melton and pass through Greytown-
as II mad perfect right to do-tIreytown
would become the county METROPOLIS and
Melton barren waste. desert, with
weeds and thistles growing in her public
places.
1t would cost but little more to defect the
road to Greytown than IL would to 90
straight through Melton. AMI if the resi-
dents of the former place offered sufficient
Inducements the road would certainly be
built through their town. entailing all the
disasters to Melton previously enumerated
by the speaker. Would they permit this
As one man they made the rafters ring
with Stentorian No
He said he was prepared to make great
personal sacrifice. He would go down In
ms pocket fetch up his good dollars and
contribute them to this cause. He had been
unable to learn the extent of Greytown's
oHer-the company were keeping their own
counsei-but he had been credibly informed
That 1t was very handsome one. In order
that Melton should win. it would be neces-
sary to outbid Greytown. II was not a
matter in which they could afford to econo-
miZe or take any chances Greytown must
be effectualy driven from the field or Mel
ton would pass from the face of the map
The judge was succeeded bv other speak
tiS, put as ne nau thoroughly covered the
ground. and II was growing late the au-
dience discourteously filed out
/ slept but little that night and next
morning at the breakfast table repeated
as nearly as could remember the gist of
the judges speech. He said Melton would
be ohliterated from the face of the map"
said !. by way of impressive peroratfon
who cares If 'tis?' replied father IT.
reverently. IF Ike Davis wants it to re-
main on the face Of the map. or on the face
Of the earth. either, let i'm put I'D the
money himself. He's more interested than
anybody else: he owns about everything
In Melton. and on the ridge. too. for that
matter, that's worth having and that's
where his shoe pinches."
I was shocked
As was passing the widows on nv way
to work Carrie hailed me from the gate
She gave me a great bunch OF llacs for
Dave. and sent her and her mothers com
pliments. with an invitation for him to take
tea with them that evening. and to look at
the spare room She thanked me prettily
for having thought of them in the matter
and said she'd never forget me
That's all right. Carrie. replied, but
You needn't be sending flowers to Dave
Willoughby: why. he's an old man.
oh go on with you" said she, laughing
and biushing: you're Jealous because
didn't give them to you. Never mind
Frank IN give you some next time
For the next few months work on the