The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-14

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
In The Captains Toll-Gate" the post
humous novel by the late Frank r. Stock
ton. published by the Appletons last week
there is so rich a mine OF the genuine and
distinctive stockton humor revealed in
character. incident and situation as to de-
light those who have zestfully appreciated
the peculiar charm of that writer.
The last story We shall have from Stock
ton. 1t may be classed without reservation
as among his best.
The quietly whimsical opening of the
novel is essentially Stocktonian. We are
introduced to the home of one Captain John
Asher, near the considerable town Of Glen
ford" About two miles from the town."
runs the tale. "and at the top OF the first
long hill which was climbed by the road,
tall white pole projected upward against
the sky. sometimes perpendicularly, and
sometimes inclined at n slight angle.
This was a turnpike gate or bar, and
gave notice to all In vehicles or on horses
that the use of this weil-kept road was not
free TO the travelling public. At The ap-
preach of persons not known. or too wvn
known. the bar would slowly descend across
the road. az If 1t We're a musket held hor-
iZontaily while sentinel demanded the
password"
marine. found great delight in this toll
gate. There were some people who said
that he had taken the position of toll-gite
keeper because OF the house. and there were
others who believed that he had bought the
house on account of the toll-gate. But, nc
matter what people thought or said, the
good Captain was very well satisfied with
his home and his official position. He fixed
TO meet with people, and he preferred that
to i'm no han hot
he should go TO them.
He was interested in most things that
were going on in his neishborhood. and
therefore he liked 10 talk 10 the people VINO
were going by. Sometimes a good talking
acquaintance or an interesting Traveller
would tie his horse under the shade of thu
maple tree and sit while with the Cap
tain on the little porch. Certainly 1t
was the most hospitabe toll-gate in that
part of the country"
Pretty Olive Asher. the Captains niece.
the daughter of an officer in the United
States Navy. and born in Genoa and edu-
Gated abroad. loved the tollgate and its du-
ties even as did the Captain himself. She
watched approaching fares through her
uncles old sea telescope. Field glasses are
ever so much better she said To herself
you can screw them TO any point you wish.
But now I've got it. IT'S very near that
fIOSS-ludu II tIL i!ot tuiii '4''''' ~
is coming along the pike. and there will be
toll to pay. one horse. cents
And. even though the fare in this in
stance was the terrible Maria Port. sat
urnine spinster who had determined 10 mar
ry the Captain whether III would or not.
Olive. in her ignorance. braved this indomt-
able female. whose face was small and
pale its texture and color suggesting
boiled apple dumpling.
''-Thi; srrnpyyhaf SrnhpI- nerSOp leaned for
ward in the seat and steadily stared nj
Olive. When the horse had passed the toll
bar the boy stopped it so that his passenger
and Olive We're face TO face. and Very near
each other.
Seven cents. please said Olive.
THE cleft in the dumping enlarged it,
self. and the woman spoke. Bless my