The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-24

Wen. ten years rolled around, and those
oi US VINO had been young once were grow
hs oid, Lucinda among the rest. The
savings bank had failed that spring. busi-
ness was almost at standstlH, aud Eden
centre was in bad way generally. Right
Ia tne midst OF the stagnation a stranger
suddenly appeared in town He was a
mld1le-aged gentleman. with irou-gTay
hair and beard. and had the air OF a pos
porous business man. He engaged board at
tne hotel. saying he was from California.
and was looking around for some quiet
Eastern village in which to spend the
summer 1 told him I thought he would
md Eden Center quiet enough Just ths==.
and he said in a sort OF absent-minded
way:
Yes. it does seem quieter than it used
to-
Why. when were you here before% /
ASKED him. giving him quick look, and
vainly trying 10 place him.
he eolored UP and said he had been
thinking OF something else when he
spoke and the matter was dropped.
Wei, the first night he was there he
sat around, listening TO every word that
was said by the villagers who dropped in,
Dnt taking no part in the conversation
4 after a While the crowd began TO discuss
tEe bank trouble and one OF the party
said:
Too bad about Lucinda Peek isn't 1t?
Ihey say she lost every cent she had by
the savings bank failure, and IL is only a
question of time when she will have to
give UP her cottage and go out to work
for living
Before the sentence was fairly ended,
the stranger was standing at the desk be-
lore me, with face white as a sheet.
For Gods sake tell me quickr he
gasped-fs Lucinda Peek alive?
Why of course she's alive said l.
And her father and mother? he asked
next. ''oN
They're both dead replied.
And she no longer lives in the big
house on the hill-in her old home? ne
questioned eagerly.
No. said l; she is now living in
small cottage out near the
Excuse me for interrupting,' he broke
in, impaticltly. My name is Randeu. I
used to know Miss Peek must see her at
once Have you some one you can send
with me to show me the way 10 her
house%
i called in Joe. my man of all work:
( and, by the way, Joe is still in my employ.
ana think I'd better let him tell the rest
of the story"
stepping into the door opening into the
Motel storeroom, the landlord sung out.
Here, Joe; come in and tell the ladies
ana gentlemen what happened the night
you showed the stranger from California
the way to Miss Peek's cottage
wen, began Joe, apologetically, as he
stepped INTO the room, II reckon yell all
De dlsap lnted, because there didn't any,
thlnG happen wuth mentionin scarcely.
IN tne hrst place, the gentleman didn't
say word all the way to the cottage
jest walked; that's allan I had to run
purity hlgh all the way TO keep up with
him.
An when we got to the gate, an told
MN that was the place, he went f1yin' up
lhe walk. an began knockin' at the door
as II he was there on some mighty urgent
business. In mint or so Miss Peek
opened the door, an I heard him saw
LUCINDA, don't you know me?' An she
held out both hands an said, WHY. it's
Henry. And the next mint thew wore
hanGfn' onto each other and Iaughin' and
cryin' both at onct. like a pair of softies
and | seen I had no further bizness there
so come away an left 'em-an' that's all
there was to it."
You have forgotten one important
Item In your story, Joe, and that is the
present Mr.. Randell gave you for showing
him the way 10 the cottage" suggested
the landlord. smiingly.
on, yes" said Joe. "the gentleman
handed me a ten-dOllar gold-piece the
next day. an when | told him it was too
much, he said, No, stree, you earned
every cent OF II, an more besides Ny
conscience troubled me considerably for
taking ii, though, for day or so, but
when | heard that he gave the village
dominic so for marryin' him an Lucinda
that same night | showed him the way to
her cottaee-an' only a five-minutes lob at
that-l made up my mind that Mr.. Ran
dell must be a millionaire an quit wor-
ryin' over it."
Copyright, 1900, Daily Story Publishing Company