The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-10
ABsENr-MINDED $. rWAwSkLER.
One of Col. Cailiper's Old-Time Friends in
StorkvIlle Centre, Vt.

Il suppose" said Col. Calliper. that the
most abse Mt minded man that ever lived was
nv old friend. Stephen Twawnkler. who for
merly lived In Storkville Centre. VT. stephen
was a dreamy sort OF a chap. forever dream
ing dreams and hoping hopes and seeing ro-
nance In the most comm onplace things. han
py In n far-oH sort Of way with every breath he
drew, but absent minded very. He would
often forget when he started out what he had
gone for. and when he was bound for home it
was a common thing for him to walk past his
own house without realizing lite existence.
But after a while IL would coms to him that he
had walked past it. or that he was in some
way out Of his latitude. and then he'd wake
up and keep awake long enough to get home
and get inside the door. stephen was mar
ried. hut childless. He and his wife were the
greatest friends that ever were. When no
would come in after one OF these experiences
in walking by he always used to ask her. three
quarters Joking. but with Ii little touch OF seri-
Well: Martha. 10 this where I live?'
irgikvn ina I'M Mrs w,it uW . Yittf. iW w9u az 4 say syy; very :, snail 6nr
Yes. Stephen, this is where you live and
then Mr.: Twawnkler would take off his hat and
stay a while. Mrs, Twawnkler used to say to
where he'd fbs's sure to Come Oh saw away So and forget
II; but she was careful never to say ANYTHING
OF TINS sort TO stephen. she was almost over
him. and however often his absent minded.
ness was brought to view she never joked
him about IL but once.
One day when Stephen had como in after
part serious way. Well. Martha. is this where
live| Mrs. Twawnkler answered. BY some
freak OF the mind. r,erhaps a sort OF inyolun-
tary protest against lcnC-rontlnued routine:
No. sir: don't think IL is
Upon that stephen. looking sort OF dazed.
as. though he had got INTO tho wrong house by
mistake. turned and walked toward III. door
ened at the thing she had unwittinRly, done
not angry. but put ont. too. to think that
Stephen could think even for a moment. or in
the densest ut OF absent minde dness. that
be aught but a Ioke, But Stephen kept going,
aud before she knew it he was outside the
door, and when she came to herself. as she
did then. and rushed to the door to call him.
for thirty years? Never. Mrs. Twawnklsr
STAYED right there In the house waiting for
him. and grew old there: that Is. old as far as
gray hair could make an old woman Of her,
but otherwise she kept her youth remarkably
well. She said she must wait for Stephen. so
he would know her when he came back. And
he did come back.
They had nsver heard a word OF him, where
he went or what he did or anything about him
at all: but one day thirty, years, after he had
Ter walked down the street and on past hi.
house, lie, wasa gray, haired. gray-bearde
man, now. but he was lust the. same absent-
minded stephen Twawnkler. He turned in
walkad In and saw somebody waiting for him.
Well. Martha. he said as he advanced to-
yard her. quite 10 his usual way. is this whore
Yes. Stephen said this gray-hairsd wo-
man. her, face as calm and smiling ms ever;
this is where you live