The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-16
The Popularity
Of Joshua Push,

The little country inn had many attrac
lions for a faded Londoner whose require
ments were not too exigent. Within a
hours railway journey OF town. the hoes
stood back from the main street-all ga
ble-ends, clustered chimney stacks, an
oliEging ivy; the living rooms spiek an
span to daintiness, coy as q nest. TIL
landlord, Ben Powell, was frank-sp3ker
unsssuming young fellow. ever alert to an
tieipete ones wsnts-aDd his wife was
born cook Furthermore-and herein Ia
one OF chief charms of the place for me-
the innkeeper could frequently secure per
mission for his guests to fish in the tlol
stream flowing through the meadows an,
park lands Of Voyue Towers. OF this es
teemed privilege l did not neglect to avail
myself whenever possible.
One day. returning from my angling il
the park, 1 was accosted at lonely poin
in the lane by some b,owzy loafer o
tramp. who grew truculently assertive he
cause l did not see fit to acquiesce in hi
extrevagant claims upon my purse. H.
buster. however, amounted to nothing il
the end. On my arrival at the inn l to
Powell of the annoyance TO which l la
bseI. subjected. adding q somewhat bruta
suggestion az TO how all such ruiiian:
should be treated. had my will. Powell
politely and automatically agreed with me
in tote. Then he laughed; not his usual
fuil-throated. breezy laugh. indeed, brt
rather a kind OF spasTnodic chuckle. which
finished with an abrupt jerk.
BEG pardon, SIR said he, confusedly;
"buI II reminds me of something that hap
pened when was out West Precious ugly
fix it was for me, too. You may lay your
life ! didn't see the funny side IL il then.
By Sanes-no."
Although / had often detected the re-
currence of certain Americanisms in his
talk, my curiosity had never been hither-
to sufficiently piqued to question him as
to the origin of them. Scsnting a story
now, I straightway waxed chafngly impa-
tient. We had the bar-parlor to ourselves.
and the time being mid-atternoon, it was
probable that our solitude would not be
broken in upon for COED half-hour at
least, My pipe CHANGED to be in full blast;
but Powell's cigar, after burning al down
one side. had gone out altogether. l hand
ed him another, and mentally vowed y
deprive my tobaeconist of patron in fu-
ture, Nodding towards our empty glasses,
waited until Ben had reflled them.
Now we're in TRIM" said /. ''Fi- e
away"
ANU ne DlSdn.
Then-a-days I'd gone out to the States
like many another young chsp before and
since, hoping TO better myself-perhaps
even making my pile in time By hard and
honest work. Soon as felt my feet. 50 to
say, I'd planned to send back for Jennie,
marry her. and settle down out there.
Jennie was at that date head housemaId
ap at the Towers. and It's really through
my wife I'm able to get fishing prints
now. SIR.
Well. the programme looked a hellthy
sort on paper-only 1t never panned cut
worth Il cert in practice. Whether it was
didn't come up to the Yankee standard
in snap and 60, o. whether I'd too many
notions Of honesty ard Il
Or still left in me. or whether again 1t was
sheer bad luck all through, doesn't much
matter now. Anyway, the dollars won dn't
BY into my pockets. wbosoeyer else's they
favored. For close on three years I'd been
out there-movilg gradually father West
here job and there a job. but most han1
to mouth all the while-till at last fetch
ed up at Probity Springs, the chief town or
oountyseat OF Canovas county, Idaho. I'd
trudged over from Louisville that day,
twenty miles away. after putting in a few
weeks at the smelters there, where l get
nto slight argument with Buck Jarvis,
he deputy foreman. ard had to quit rath
Pr sudden In consequence. Come to tot up
my finances. l found il figured out at
something just under dollar and half.
with no more idea than Adam how to add
a cent TO it. nor which way to turn for a
fresh start. / tell you. sir. l felt pretty
down.
To make It worse. I'd always BEEN writ
ng to Jennie as if I'd siready got into my
stride and was forging ahead like wildfire.
eh0rvs 7 haIr ~ = hror &c, 1,.
know my disappoirtmeEts. BIT I fan-y
she must have guessed how Rack things
really were. for latterly Der ietters hadn't
larped so much about her coming out 10
ne as about my going back to her. SIZE
said she didn't feel she'd ever care for
America 10 live in; It wouldn't seem same
is hone to her, noways; and besides. ttere
vas the long. lonesome years of separa-
ion and waiting. Her last letter had
something more practical in it. too. She
wrote NE that old Barnard. who used to
seep this house in these days, talked afo1t
'etiring from the public" business alto
,ether. him getting well On in years; and
hat Lord Voyne. the owner. had hin.el
his Willingness to offer me first refusal
Il the tenancy, provided I'd little ca to
one in on. you understand Jsnnie-bIe=s
Ter heart,-hsd a few pounds put away.
rs she thought with what I'd also saved
We couldn't do better, and would thiak it
'ver end decide soon? My word, It didn't
all for any considering at ALI If things
lad only been different I'd have hurried
ack like shot But as it was-well. now
ou'n partly understand wnat was worry
1g me when l came within sight of Prob .
ty Springs.
Just before getting to the township. be- (
ag fcotsore and dog-tired / stopped for
hort rest under clump OF scrub oaks By
he roadside. While ! was squat on my
unkers there a lanky, leather faced man,
nth goatse beard and eyes like a hawk,
anne sailing past. As he went by he
tared hard and hslf-cpered his mouth as
he meant to speak. Then, seeing /
lent know him from Christopher he shut
lis face and marched straight on again.
But he hadn't gone more than fifty yards
efore he slowed sharp round and walked
aek to where l was sitting.
"Howdy, BritisheT?'' said he. chirpy rs a
parrow. Knew I'd met you somewhere
efore. Reckon il must have been back
asst week, when You an Buck Jarvis was
dustin a difference outside Brannigan's
aloon. hey. now? never could cotton
D Bucks bulyyraggin' ways myself. an it
nazed me TO think nobody in all Lotus
He had grit enough 10 tell him he wasn't
he little tin god he set up 10 be. The
Sits way VOC WsitZeu round an man
andled him, Losh. 5S:s & Vas great. sir
great"
Of course. he was referring to my scrap
p with deputy foreman. Now. / cont
~ had the best Of the tuseIe altogether.
ind you-for Jarvis was a hard nut; only
didn't have to swallow my front tie II
he he did. anyway.
The nestest piece O. fist play ever
Sc in att" the man went on. Il was a
rivate spectator all the time My own
ersonal affairs had taken me over to Lc-