The National tribune., 1901-03-14

POOR WOMAN SAID SEARS, AS He
LAID THE PAPER BACK ON THE DESK"
"I'll think about it, stammered the
| other. s.sI
thinks is worse off than the woman who
hesitates. Good-by5nn
The next morning Gilbert Sears left
Summerdale Moses Higbee, the village
expressman, whb prided himself on know
ing more about the past and present his
tory of every one in the place than any
one else in it, was 1oafng on his wagon,
which was backed up against the plat
-forni waiting for No. 8 to whistle on the
other edge of the cut. He was a huge,
good-natured hunk OF fat and Drawn,
largely endowed with the Yankee inclina-
tion to say his say about anything what
sOeyer, il he had anything TO say, which
he usually had Having deposited Sears's
trunk on its end before the closed door OF
the baggage-room. he composed himself
to wait for No. 3 To make up the $50 min
utes late" that was chalked on the black
board bulletin beside the telegraph Office
window. Gilbert, with the curious self
consciousness of one who knows he is rn-
der discussion, avoided the waiting room
and paced up and down the platform. At
one end of it, Higbee called cheerily to.
him:
See here, Gilbert Sears, don't go to
gettin' the notion you haven't got any
friends left in Summerdale. EverybOdy's
bettin' on you and Margret, though it is
odd they should have so much confidence
in her, knowin' how her mother changed
her mind. Seems to me / never saw two
people favor each other as they do-an',
bless ye, Matte Hubert don't seem a day
older'n Maggie Keep. l c'n hardly tell
'em apart until | git close to 'em-and
babies. There amt u prettier girl nor a
more sensible one, when you get down to
it,, than Mar'gret is. and I don't think
your aunt's leavin' all her money to Law
yer Bettson'll have any more effect on her
than the crOakin' o that old frog" Hig
bee picked up chip that lay in the bottom
of the wagon and chucked it toward a big
green batrachian, who was loudly dis
coursing from a half-submerged tie in the
ditch beside the track, some 20 feet away.
Gilbert responded somewhat absently, but
good humoredly; the startled frog took
header into the slime, and Higbee went
on: 'Of course, she can't go and fly into
her mothers face right off. but, gosh ding
my buttons, if there's ever any real
reason to do it, you mark my words, she'll
do it, or ye can call Nose Higbee a fool,
which they hain't any one ever done yet
to his face, that is. And them stories
about you-by jingo, they made me mad.
Ii it's true old BettsOn set 'em afoat I'd
sue him! And I'd put the damages high
fifty thou, at the very least. Think o
slanderin' young man jest startin' out
for himself-and rather handicapped Mt
that!' and Nose brought his fist down ON
his round knee III righteous Indignation.
Thank you, Nose; I'll try to even
things ont with Mr.. Bettson," said Sears,
laughing, but approaching the express
mans real sympathy none the less.
''EHey say Won CTIt right ont tn parnin'
liyin' as soomht his your allowance was
.. stopped? That's fright! When / see that
| treink," Jerking his thumb toward the
heavy iron-boundi trunk, which looked like
a sample case, Il knew it meant business,
and told folks ySa'd come ont all right
! never fear. But tsappese the house you're
travelling for shouldvget wind o this re-
port that. You were drunk at you aunt's
| funeral? Where'd your job be? I'd sue
him, that's what Id do in your place An
| il yc want a witness. jest s'pena me.
heard him say it, | did, say it to more'n
| 20 people" 80.
Gilbert said nothing. but Higbee, feel
ing it was an instinct of caution rather
I than anything else that kept the young
| man silent, for the depot had become
pretty well filed with people by this time,
pulled him towards him by the sleeve,
around TO he SURE no 6ne was within ear
| shot, added: 'T'wixt you an me. Gilbert.
| always thought the hoary headed, sim
perrin cuss was n hypocrite. He's jest a
| little too darn lovely to be gen-new- inc I,
Sue him for slander, an any jury in
| Berkshire'li give ye enough damages to
| set up housekeepin' on"
The young man burst into hearty
laugh, to- which Higbee 1tica in his own
sonorous style. jumping off his wagon and
slapping Sears on the shoulder.
"All right" replied the latter. I'm re-
member what you've said. Moses.''
You'll do. my boy. Where did you say
| this trunk is TO be checked for? Me fool
in round here like this; No. 3'Il come
around the curve an I'll get left. New
| York? All right"
Chuckling TO himself, Higbee half
rolled and half-waddled down the plat