Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-11-21

WIN /" iooN vi uuHlOrOuS HliscUIei. We
often thought he would. and perhaps he
may tonight. Who knowsi'
Hepzibah made no answer. but having
secured II light. trooped the children out
Of the room. bestowing a passing nod
upon the arrival, who was In the net of
entering the kitchen, and stood on one
side TO let her pass. Shndrnch. who had
long. meek face. and habitually wore
his mouth little open, was dressed In
his Sunday black.
He entered with propitatory and
apologize aspect. smoothing his hair as
IL he were entering chapel. and. sitting
on the extreme edge Of the chair assign
ed to him. hid his fingers In the volumin-
Gus cuffs Of his coat. and concealed them
further between his knees, as II II were
a point Of etiquette. painfully to be oh
served. that the hands should be invisi-
bile. His eyes. wonderngly wide open
rs baby's. were carefully directed to
objects which did not come well within
their sphere: as the shells on the high
mantelpiece, the clock face to his left,
anh an almanac tackled TO the wall on his
right. Since he made Il n point Of honor
with himself not to move his head while
he regarded these things. the effect to a
sympathizing observer was n little EN-.
barrassing. The greetings extended to
Jim he answered In n deprccntory peace.
making sort Of murmur. and altogether
he was most exaspcratingly humble and
unobtrusive.
by and by. however. he thawed so far
rs to observe that 1t was deadly cold.
and bitter seasonable for the time Of
year; but Hepzibah's entrance froze the
conversational fount again. and he re-
sumcd his sheepish examination Of the
shells. the clock face and the almanac.
Edward glanced now and again at him
and Hepzibah with an outer seriousness.
which was bclied by the twinkling Of
his eye; and after pause. In which lit
tie was audible except the click. of the
knitting needles and the r,imbling of the
winter wind In the chimney. the widow
cleared her throat ms II to speak. hut
Hepzibul held up the ball Of worsted
with IN air Of warning. and Shadrach
spoke In her stead.
THE night" snid Shadrach. 'is dark.
the snow comes down. The wind IL like
a persons frown; II stops the heart and
chills the blood, An does no mortal mon
no good"
"rheer" said Hepxibah. dropping her
work into her lap. and laying her hands
upon 1t with look Of answered expcc.
tation and wonder. Did you mex thee
up a. you come along. ShndrachY'
"Finisled II that instant minute" re.
turned Shndrach. mildly. ITS a gift"
he added. las l wouldn't tex no credit
for. not II It was offered me. The high.
dcars IL put into the head. That's how
II II. They'm put there"
REALLY" said Edward, and then holt.
ell with haste which. to a bard less
simple minded, might have looked s,spi.
cious.
When he returned shadrnch had some.
what recovered from the sccrlike trnpcc,
and was talking humbly and with nm oh.
vions fear of trespass to Hepzibah and
the widow.
THAT'S how It seems to he. Hcpzi.
BAH" he was saying. young Mr.. Hack
ett's snid 10 have surrounded the old
mons scruplcs. and he's glen In his
consentmcnt. and his promise to as much
us five hundred dollars on the weddin'
day."
"Will Hackett?' said Edward rather
sharply. "Will Hackett isn't going to be
marricd!"
THAT'S how it's gi'en out. Mister Ed.
ward, the village over returned Shad.
rach.
II the bard had been less concerned
with the clock face and the shells he
would have seen that Hepzibah was sig
Mailing to him. and had been from the
moment of the young mans return. Ed.
ward stopped over the table and turned
tho figured papers about with au assump-
ton Of carelessness.
".And who may he the young lady
that's been no happy as to win viii
Hackett?" he asked.
Hepzibah dropped her signals. and.
plunging back into her chair. took up u
dozen false stitches with hcr knitting
needles. and stopped the rapid clicking
to undo them.
Its said to be Miss Mary Howarth,
Mister Edward" replied the unsuspsct-
Ing Shadrach.
There was silence again for the space
of minute or two. The young man
bent over his papers, took up his pen,
dipped 1t In the Ink pot. and made au
unmeaning sign or two amongst his fig.
ures. Then he spoke In voice OF COM
monplace with the faintest touch OF
scOrn:
"That sounds a likely story, shadrach.
Where did You get III"
why" said Shadrach, ''it's not looked
on for likely sort o. story. Mister Ed
ward, but it's known to be true. Mr..
Hackett's been rackety sort Of u chap,
and Miss Howarth has allnys been that
quiet and chapcl-gOing, it's bit of Il
shake for folks"
Him. said Edward. ~ should think
So" He laid his pen down carefully
after wiping 1t on the skirt of his coat,
and taking the papers In both hands
shook them delicately into order. II am
going out for while, mother" he said
as he bestowed the papers In a drawer
below the table. II shan't be long"
lie stopped over her ana kissed her
and said good night. He left the room.
and a moment later the front door was
heard to close behind him. The widow
dispatched Hepzibah for candle, and
on its arrival babe the domestic aud the
visitor good nighS aud withdrew.
"Well," said Hepxibah In bitter
whisper when her mistress back was
turned, "of all the wool-gathering fools
as ever wool-gathcred l do believe as
you're the king and captain"
"Why?" asked Shadrach. what have
! done nowT'
Couldn't you see what Everybody else
In the village could see, as Edward wor-
SHIPPED the very ground as Mary How
arth tr0d on? And you must come and
blurt out afore him as hers going to
xvad TINT conmn ~ N Will Hock orr aa'll