Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-06-08
CHAPTER xXxvII.
A CONFESSION.

Martins first return and wooing of
Angie naturally interested all Green
vale, but the news of his discovery OF
the long-lost Amzi was, as he expect
ed, a veritable bombshell. No one ex-
cept Aunt Comfort and Angle learned
Of 1t until the next day, and then DR.
Sol, so to speak, was the one to sound
the alarm. And no medicine he ever
gave had quite such an electrical eff
feet. Men driving on the highway were
halted by others and told; women
scurried across fields to neighbors'
squire Phinney Sstore Became a local
point where dozens gathered to hear
the joyful tidings told and retold again
and again, and Angie, on her way to
school, had to give up and tarry for
congratulations. And so cordial were
they, SO warm spot did she hold in
Greenvale's heart, that women insist
ed on embracing and kissing her in tho
street, and when she finally reached
the schoolh ouse, one of the committee
was there awaiting her and declared
the school closed for that day. She
had walked there as her duty called.
but she rode home, the cynosure of all
eyes along the way. with most of her
pupils following.
Martin also received an ovation
VIII erever he went, and when he halted
to describe the hermit home of AMI,
and tell the tale over and over again,
as perforce he had to, men left their
work, and women and children their
houses. to gather close land listen. He
was really the hero Of the hour, and his
efforts to save Angie her heritage
now known to all--his wisdom in not
even limiting his suspicious of who the
hermit was until proved true, and
forethought in taking old Cy into the
wilderness to care for him, were all e.
matter of comment.
BY night the public sentiment had
crystalliZed into a general invitation
to all to meet in the town hall, and
listen to Martins telling his story in
cob erent order and in full. He rather
laughingly consented, and for an hour
held the unique gathering spellbound.
At its close Parson Jones was called
upon, as might be expected, and ut
tered a fervent prayer of thankful
ness, and in it ascribing Martins intui-
tions and actions, as pertinent ex-
ample of divine interpretation. and
when amen was reached, called upon
all to join In Praise God from whom
all blessings flow"
1t was rendered with unusual fer
vency, while Aunt Comfort wiped her
tears away,Sand when the audience dis.
persed Martin walked home with her.
Angie was not present, for she was
in state of almost mental collapse.
and for ample reason.
Collectively 1t was an exhibition OF
public sentiment and kindly feeling,
the like of which could nowhere else
be found. Greenvale had for many
long years felt that a blemish rested
upon it, and, like poor dog Tray,
realized the stigma David Curtis was
responsible for. He had met just
and well-merited fate, and the general
belief was that conscience had driven
him insane. Angie, Well beloved, had
come into her rights, and at the hands
of a long-faithful lover, who now hoped
to become citizen OF that village.
Aunt Comfort, too, was II fair way
to receive due reward for aer unfailing
charity and general benevolence. and
all In although slightly bigoted-