Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-02

brler pipe from his pocket and, after
filling and lighting the pipe, twirled the
pouch mechanically about his finger,
then, suddenly regarding it, patted it
carcssingly 1t had been giddy little
bag long ago, gay with embroidery In
/ the colors of the EDITORS university,
and, although now it was frayed to the
verge of tatters, it still bore an air of
pristine jauhtiness, an mir of which its
owner in nowise partook. He looked
from it toward the village in the clear
distance and sighed softly as lie put
the pouch back In his pocket and. rest
ing his arm on his knee and his chin on
his hand, sat blowing clouds Of smoke
out of the shade into the sunshine, NIB
sently watching the ghostly shadow on
the white dust Of the road.
A little garter snake crept under the
fence beneath him and disappeared in
the underbrush; rabbit. progressing
pn its travels by series Of brilliant
lashes and terror smitten halts, came
within few yards Of him. sat up with
luiyerine nose and eyes aiight with
fearful imagilings and vanished, n fash
Of fluffy brown and white. Shadows
grew longer: cricket chirped and heard
answers: there was woodland stir OF
breezes, and the pair Of robins left the
branches overhead in eager flight, va
eating before the arrival of q flock Of
biackbirds Fastening thither ere the
eventide should be upon them. The
blackbirds came, chartered, gossiped,
quarreled and beat each other with
their wings above the smoker sitting
on the top fence rail.
But he had remembered. A thousand
miles to the east it was commencement
day, seven years to day from his
own commencement.
Five years ago. on another June aft
ernoon, a young man from the east had
alighted on the platform Of the station
north of Plnttville and, entering the
rickety omnibus that fingered there
seeking whom 1t might rattle to deaf
ness, demanded to be driven to the
Herald building. 1t did not strike the
driver that the newcomer was pre-
cisely gay young man when he climb
ed into the omnibus, but an hour later,
as he stood in the doorway Of the edi-
fee he had indicated as his destination.
depression seemed to have settled into
the marrow Of his bones.
Plattville was instantly alert to the
strangers presence, and interesting con-
lectures were hazarded all day long at
the back door of Martins Dry Goods
Emporium (this was the club during
the day., and ut supper the new ar
rival and his probable purposes were
discussed over every table in the town.
Upon inquiry he had informed Judd
Bennett, tho driver Of the omnibus.
that he had come to stay. Naturally
such declaration caused sensation.
as people did not come to Plattville to
live except through the inadvertency Of
being born there. In addition the young
mans appearance and attire were re-
ported to be extraordinary. Many Of
the curious. among them most OF the
females OF the place. took
occasion to pass and repass the sign Of
the Carlow County Herald during the
evening.
Meanwhile the stranger was seated
In the dingy Office upstairs with bis
head bowed low on his arms. Twilight
stole through the dirty window panes
and faded into darkness Night filled
The room. He did not move. The young |
man from the east had bought the Her
aid from an agent-had bought It with
out ever having been within hundred
niles Of Plattville. The Herald was
IN alleged weekly which had some
lines appeared within Ave days Of its
date OF publication and come
lines missed fire altogether. 1t was a
horn In the side Of every patriot Of
Carlow county. and Carlow people. aft
II supporting the paper loyalty and
ong, had at last given It up and sub
Icribed for the Gazette. published in
he neighboring county Of Amo. The
ormer proprietor Of the Herald. q
gentleman with q goatee,
lad taken the precaution Of leaving
olattville forever on the afternoon pre-
.eding his successors arrival. The
'oung man from the east had vastly
verpaid for his purchase. Moreover.