Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-01-02
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|Old Blazers Hero
BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.


ing to the left. saw Hepzibah approach
ing him with basket on her arm. He
made himself n little bigger than usual,
and stepped ponderously into the road.
Hcpzibah at once displayed an inclina-
ton toward detour. and struck out In
to the middle of the horse rond. How
arth. comfortably understanding that a
person of Hepzibah's social position
would naturally be humble In his pres
encc. took step or two into the horse
road to encourage her In accosting him.
Either Hepzibnh's humility or her de-
sire to avoid the honor Of passing
good morning" with the builder. sent
her back to the fOotpath. Hownrth. by
n sort Of majestic chance. returned to
the footpath also. just in time to inter
cept the gaunt domestic.
"Nfornin'," he said. Fine weather II
Il holds"
Hepzibnh. thus arrested. stopped short.
with an eminently unconventional as.
poet. "Yes; the weathers right enough"
"Ah." said HOwarth. tits fine likely
weather. and it's pushin' the fruit on
beautiful"
He lifted the edge Of the snowy nap.
kin which partially covered the con.
tents Of 1fepzibah's basket. and conde.
scendinely selecting n particularly ripe
gooseberry, tasted It and nodded approx.
nj.
II suppose" he asked. "you've been
up to Mother Jorlan's garden for these!"
That's So" said Hepzibah. making n
movement TO get past him.
"How's the young master?" asked
Howarth. "1've heerd say ~ he's got a
medal o. some sort for savin' Shadrach
ltnndnl's life. Il that truef'
Hes got the medal right enough"
said Hepzibah. with the same forbidding
aspect. "and dear enough 1t might ha'
cost him."
YES. yes," assented Hownr,h. "Denr
enough II might ha' cost him. to be sure.
He's a valiant chap, Ii young Blame.
and fine Teller altogether. Between
you and me-" he continued. taking out
his confidential stop. ITS begun to seem
to me to be bit Of a pity as l hadn't
found that out earlier"
oh" said Hepzibnh. shifting her has.
kct from one arm to the other AMI look.
ing straight before her. THAT'S come
to be the opinion of good many people,
let me tell YOU"
That's likely. too" said Howarth
there's few men o sense rs I'm not nj
one with In regard to most questions"
IT'S pity you weren't Mt one wi
most men o sense wi regard to that
question some months ago. Mr.. How
arth.' returned Hepxibah.
II suppose folks are a.talkin'," said
the builder.
"They generally nre." replied Hepzi
| t,ul. sscl, kas
some on EN-" she added. making for
ward move again. las has got nothin
better To do"
what ARE they saying now" asked
Howarth. lifting up the napkin agail
and selecting another gCo.ebsrry.
ASK EN-" returned Hepsibah, grim
~; "there's some on 'em II tell You"
| Every WE'LL" said HOwarth. II nsl
the first ] come across. ask you"
"Oh. WE'LL" replied Hepxibah. Omin
ously, "when a things asked for 1,
doesn't take much Of a bold face Z offeI
II. Mr.. Howarth. They're saying thu
most OF 'em--since you will have it--a,
It's nigh on a fortnight now since YOU
daughters husband left the place
marry a villain with your eyes open
And thcy's a-sayin' az you and your wife
az ought to he the only ones l. the worlt
M the poor things got to look to. hav,
left her thereto starve for all 70,
know, or seem to care. And there's som,
Of 'em saying it'll be hit Of a pity 4
Jack Howarth isn't stoned I the marke
place next Friday. Now you've got wha
you asked for. Mr.. Howarth. and In
glad OF Il, for It's a weight OF my mint
az I'd a deal rather have OF than on Il
and Ill say good mornin'."
Herewith Hepsibah departed. bolt up
right. and HOwarth. with his finger and
thumb ut his clean.shaven chin, looket
after her with an expression altogsthel
piteOus aud crestfallen.