Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-04-17

and clear between the
Il struggling fences. A num-
AE8ll tl9)l Der of men, a dozen. per-
haps, We're coming up the
hill from the village in the valley with
Its twinkling lights. They were plod-
ding along in little group and busily
talking as they advanced. Presently
they paused at a gateway and crowded
little closer. The house within the
yard was old and weather beaten. 1t
was story and half building. There
was porch along the front with two
windows beneath 1t, one for each side
of the door. Through the window at
the left shonc a faint and Pickering
light. ~.'a!@4i'
The group of men at the gate fingered
irresolutely for few moments. talking
in eager whispers. Then tall young
man with smooth and kindly face
broke from the party and led the way
up the graveled walk to the front door,
When he reached the little porch he
paused and held up his hand. Then lie
went to the window through which the
faint light flickered and went In.
That Abner Moxham was hard man
nobody in Winterfield doubted. He
was unsociable. He was close in his
dealings; he lived quite alone in the
old cottage on the south hill. He was
tall and lean and yellow. and his sixty
years had touched his hair with white,
and filed his lean cheeks with wrinkles.
He cared nothing for the matters that
interested the villagers. He took no
interest in politics nor in public i'm
provements, and very little in religion.
Occasionally he would stray into the
white church whose steeple was the
tallest in the village, and sit quite by
himself through the service. Then he
would hurry away without word to
his fellow worshipers. The young pas
tor had called on him once, but it was
not believed that he had repeated the
visit. In fact. he never stated clearly
what occurred while he was there. 1t
was said that Abner was the possessor
of small library of books that were
calculated to destroy all faith in ortho-
dox views, and that he pored over them
great deal of his time. Where the
old mans income came from no viii
lager knew. That it was limited every
body felt sure. His way Of living was
so simple, his clothes were thread
bare, and the purchases he made in the
village were not of a character TO sug-
gest the possession of even moderate
income. He came and went and both
cred no man. yet was thorn in the
flesh of the gossipy hamlet.
And then his standing as an object of
neighborly interest was suddenly and
greatly increased by the rumor that he
had brought boy home to live with
him. Abner had a habit of disappear
ing for a week or more at time
He might have been supposed to be
In his cottage during these absences
II 1t hadn't been for the fact that he
was seen to take the train But where
he went Wintertield didn't know.
1t was reported once by Ezra Kim
ball. whose business took him to the
great city every month. that he ran
across Abner there one morning but
that the old man didn't look ut him
ana hurried along.
And what's queerer," said Ezra sis
that he was talking to two swells at n
carriage door as came up. and the
lady gave him her hand and the man
took off his hat to him. Then thev
drove away"
But Winteriield pooh-poohed this MIC
ture and assured Ezra that he must no
dreaming.
When the boy arrived ii was early
evening and he was so muffied up that
his face could moi be seen. He was N
little fellow of perhaps eight. and Alb
ner had hurried him away before the
curious stationmaster could get good
look at him. 1t was full mile from
the station to the old cottage on the
hill and in the dusk of the evening
Jim Perkins had met the tall old man
trudging up the hill with the lad on his
back.
When Winter6eld heard of this add;
ton to the Moxham household IT
frowned ominously and shook its sa-
gacious head. 1t was no place for n
boy. 1t couldn't be home for any
body. The boy was TO be pitled. In
fact, the village must keep sharp
lookout for his welfare.
1t was a day or two later that the
child and old Abner appeared at the
postoffice and the postmistress got
good look at the little fellow.
She stared at linn out of her little
window.
THAT delicate appearin child you
have there she said.
"Yes," Abner replied. as he reached
for his letters. If 1t hadn't been for his
mail the old mans visits to the village
would have been greatly decreased in
number He received more letters