Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-13

lord Cummins and Billy Bosistow, and the
great jealousy there was between them. No?
Well, / see you going about Ardevora and
making a study of us; and know you can
read. because I've seen you doing 1t down
to the institute. But sometimes when 1
ask you simple little question like that,
you force me to wonder what you've been
doing with yourself all these years. Why,
1t got into the law courts
| know all about it, being related to them
both. after fashion, you might say.
Landlord Cummins-he that used to keep
the Welcome Home-married an aunt of
mineson my mothers side, and that's part
Of the story. The boys used to call him
'Calves-in- front" because of his legs being
put on in an unusual manner, which made
him walk slow all his days, and that's an
other part of the story. And Billy Bosis-
tow. Uncle Billy, my fathers faith
er's stepson. You needn't take any trouble
to get that clear in your mind, because our
family never owned him after he came
home from the French war prisons and
took up with his drinking habits; and that
comes into the story, too.
As it happens. the occasion that took
their quarrel into the law courts IS one
of the first things L can remember. 1t
in the year %. Landlord Cummins,
by dint of marrying woman with means
Chat was my aunt and walking the paths
or Tepute Tor eleven years WIN MS funny
shaped calves. got himself elected mayor
Of the borough. You may suppose it was
proud day for him. In those times the
borough used to pay the mayor 100 year
to keep up his office, and my mother had
persuaded my father to hire a window for
p election day opposite the town hall, so that
she might have the satisfaction of seeing
SO near relative in his robes of dignity.
Well. there in the window we were gath
cred on that July forenoon for the mayors
in those back-a-long days weren't chosen
in November as they are now and the sun
1t was a bright day-slanting high down our
side Of the street. and my mother holding
me light as leaned out, for l was just
rising five And out upon the steps of the
town hall stepped Landlord Cummins
mayor. with the town crier and maces be-
fore him, and his robes hanging handsome
ly about his calves, and his beaver hat and
all the rest of the paraphernalia, prepared
to march to church
While he stood there bowling TO
score of people, and looking as big as bulls
beef. who should step out from the pave
nent under us but Uncle Billy Bosistow.
He a ragged old scarecrow. turned
hit gray and lean with Ubiquitous living,
but not more than half drunk: and he step
ped into the middle of the roadway and cut
a low reverence to his worship fiing1ng out
his leg like dancing master. And says he,
in a high cackle, very solemn, but mock
ing:
81 salute thee oh mayori Do justice, love
merCy and walk humby before thy Cod
Put that d-n fool in the stocks.' cried
his Worship very red in the gills and
spe aking vicious. And Uncle Billy was
ColIared and marched off between two con-
stables, while the procession formed up to
lead The new mayor to church.
Well. that. as it happened, wasn't lucky
start-pff for Mr. Cummins year of office,
for no sooner was Billy let out of the
stocks than off he went to Lawyer Men
near. who was young man then just set
up in practice. and keen for job as
huer for pichards: and between them they
patched up an action for false impTison-
ment.
The case came on at Bodmin, and the
mayor cast in damages f2o- He paid,
of course. though with very long face.
But Billy's revenge didn't stop here. In
stead Of putting the money by. the old var
mint laid it out in the best way he could to
annoy his enemy, and the way he contrived
1t this: Every free Saturday he put
sovereign in his pocket and started the
round of the public houses, always begin
ming with Cummins own house, the We'll
come Home. Cummins. you see. couldn't
refuse to serve him-the law wouldn't allow
II. So he'd pull out brand-new sovereign
and slap 1t the counter and eye 1t.
''Ah" he'd say st was a dear friend gave
me that there coin. His hearts in the right
place. which is mOre'n can be said for his
calves Two-pennyworth of gin, please.
your worship. The mayors dignity
wouldn't let him serve 1t, so the first day
he called his wife down. Mrs. Cummins
began by trying argument. William. she
said. the Lord knows you wouldn't have
this money If there was justice in England.
But got it you have, and now be sensible
man and put 1T by for rainy day.
MRS. Mayor" answers Billy. slow and
vicious. If there was any chance of pre-
sentin you with silver cradle. I'd save 1T
up and subscribe" After that there
nothing more to say. 1t hurt the poor soul
terrible, and she went upstairs again and
cried she went Billy sat and
soaked. and the mayor, across the counter.
sat and watched his condition, quiet-like.
till the time came for refusing any more
liquor and turning him out. When that
happened the old sinner would gather up
his change and make off for another pub
lie. and the end was that he'd be up before
the mayor on Monday morning, charged
with drunkenness. No use to fine him: he
wouldn't pay, but went to Jail instead.
Ten years was l in prison" he'd say.
addressing the bench. "along with his wor-
ship there. I don't know what 'twoud ap-
pear 20 him who came back and got the
Welcome Home: but I didn't and ten days
don't brighten me-"
Landlord Cummins would listen to this
looking as unnatural a blue cat in
thunder storm. He fairly hated those ap-
pearances Of Billy. and they spoiled his
term of Office. l do believe. But all the
same he turned out a very passable mayor.
The toSTnsfolk respected him so highly. I've
heard my mother say. that they made him
ex-mayor the year following.
Now. you'll be wanting to know what
made these two men hate each other for
friends they had been as two men ought
TO be who had been taken prisoners to-
gether and spent ten years in captivity to
the French. and came home aboard the
same ship like brothers The bigger the
love The bigger the hate, and no dlmculty
70 guess there was a woman In the case
So there was; but the way she came be-
tween them was curious, for all that
First OF ALL you must know that up to
the year 'o3 Abe Cumnins and Bill Rosis-
tow hadn't known what 1t Is to quarrel or
miss meeting each other every day They
went TO school together. and then to the
hshing. and afterward they sailed together
with the free traders over to Mounts BAY
ana good seamen the both, though not a
bit alike In looks and ways Abe the
elder by year, was bit slow and heavy
on his pins, given to reading. too though
he seemed to take II up for peace and
ouiet1eSs more than for any show he made
OF his learning. Bill was smarter alto
sether. and better looking: bit boastful
after the manner Of young chaps He could
read, too, but never did much of It, though
We heard that on Saturday nights he was
1ond or ranting verses-stuff about drink
and such Nke-out of book of Robert
Burns poetry he'd borrowed off Abe
You'd hardly have thought two young
fellows so different in every way could
have hit 1t of together as they did. But
.hese We're like two figures in a puzzle
blOCE, their very differences saa,,a5 q,