Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-11-14

place, and it was rumored that she
had refused many fattering offers OF
marriage.
"Well, ten years rolled around, and
those of us who had been young once
were growing old, Lucinda among the
rest. The savings bank had failed
that spring, business was almost at
standstill, and Eden Center was in
bad way generally. Right in the
midst of the stagnation a stranger
suddenly appeared in town. He was
a midde-aged gentleman, with iron
gray hair and beard, and had the air
of a prosperous business man. he
engaged board at the hotel, saying
he was from California, and was look
ing around for some quiet eastern
village in which to spend the summer.
l told him l thought he would find
Eden Center quiet enough, just then,
and he said, in sort of absent-mind-
ed way:
ayes, it does seem quieter than 1t
used to-
"'Why, when were you here be-
fore?' l asked, giving him quick
look, and vainly trying to place him.
"He colored up and said he had
been thinking of something else
when he spoke, and the matter was
dropped.
"Well, the first night he was there
he sat around, listening to every
word that was said by the villagers
who dropped in, but taking no part
in the conversation. After awhile the
crowd began to discuss the bank
trouble, and one of the party said;
"'Too bad about Lucinda Peek,
isn't it? They say she lost every
cent she had by the savings bank
failure, and it is only question of
time when she will have to give up
her cottage and go out to work for
a living
Before the sentence was fairly
ended, the stranger was standing at
the desk before me, with face white
as a sheet.
"'For Gods sake, tell me quiekl'
he gasped-is Lucinda Peek alive?
"'Why, of course she's alive said 1.
"'And her father and motherT he
asked next
They're both dead 1 replied.
"'And she no longer lives in the big
house on the hill-in her old home?
he questioned eagerly.
"'No,' said L; she is now living in
q small cottage out near the
"'Excuse me for interrupting,' he
broke in, impatiently. My name il
Randell. l used to know Miss Peek.
l must see her at once. Have you
some one you can send with me to
show me the way to her house?
81 called in Joe, my man of all
work; and, by the way, Joe is still in
my employ, and 1 think I'd better
let him tell the rest of the story"
Stepping to the door opening into
the hotel storeroom, the landlord
sung out:
Here, Joe; come in and tell the
ladies and gentlemen what happened
the night you showed the stranger
from California the way to Miss
Peek's cottage"
WELL" began Joe, apologe
as he stepped into the room, 81 reck-
On yell all be disappointed, because
there didn't anything happen with
mentionin' scarcely. In the first
place, the gentleman didn't say a
word all the way to the cottage-jest
walked; that's all; an 1 had to run
purity nigh all the way to keep up
with him.
An when we got to the gate, an
l told him that was the place, he
went flynn up the walk an began
knockin' at the door as If he was
there on some mighty urgent bust
ness. In a minute or so, Miss Peek
opened the door, an heard him say:
Lucinda, don't you know me-? an
she held out both hands an said:
why, it's Henry an. the next min
ute they were hangin' onto each 9TH
err, laughin' an eTyin' both at onct,
like pair of softies, an l seen had
no further bizness there, so l come
away an left 'em; an that's all there
was to it,"
you have forgotten one important
item in your story, Joe, and tbat~is
the present that Mr.. RandeIl gave
you for showing him the way to the
cottage" suggested the landlord
smilingly.
ooh, yes" said Joe, "the gentleman
handed me ten-dollar gold piece the
next day, an when told him it was
too much, he said: No, stree, you
earned every cent of It, an more be-
SIDES My conscience troubled me
considerably for taking it, though,
for day or so, but when l heard
that he gave the village dominic $50
for marryin' him an Lucinda, that
same night l showed him the way to
her cottage-an' only a fve-minutes'
Job at that made up my mind that
Mr.. Randell must be a millionaire an
quit worrying over it,
STRANGE FOOD OF AMERICANS