Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-23
By IRVING BACHELLER
2 COPYRIGHT. 1905 BY PUBLISHING COMPANY
Author of "Eben Holden "D'ri and l." Et

"Dear, dear child!' said the tinker, rising and batting her head. "The chaplet on thy brow an thee weep ing. fairest flower of all!'
 ssI have wished that 1 was dead!' The words came in little moan be- tween sobs.
 Because love hath led thee to the great river O tears? Nay. child: 'tis a winding river an crosses all the roads" :"
 He had taken her handkerchief and with tender touch dried her eyes.
 'Now can see thee smiling. an thy lashes, cnild-they are like the spray O the fern tip when the dew is on it."
 Polly rose and went away into the house. Darrel wiped his eyes. and the widow sat, her chin upon her hand, looking down sadly and thoughtfully Darrel was first to speak. it ever occur to ye, Martha Vaughn, this child O thine is near a * woman, but has seen nothing O the <. world?'
 s, T think of that often," said she. the \ mothers feeling in her voice.
 Well, if I understand him, it's a < point of honor with the boy not to x pledge her to marriage until she has ' seen more O life an made sure of her town heart Now, consider this: Let Ther go to the school at Hillsborough, an I'll pay the cost
 The widow looked up at him without !; speaking.
 ''Tm an old man near the end O the Journey, an ye've known me many syears," Darrel went on. There's noth- st1ng can be said against it. Nay; I'll yhave no thanks. Would ye thank the money itself, the bits O paper? No; nor Roderick Darrel, who in this busi- ness Is no more worthy O gratitude. Hush. Who comes"
 It was Polly herself in short red skirt, her arms bare to the elbows. She began to busy herself about the house.
 ''Too bad you took of that pretty dress, Polly" said Troye when he re- turned.
 She came near and whispered to him.
 '.This." said she, looking down sad iy, lis like the one wore when you first came"
 "Well. first thought of your arms" said he. "They were so lovely! Then of your eyes and face and gown, but now I think only of the one thing Polly
 The girl was happy now and went on with the work, singing, while Trove lent hand.
 A score of people came up the hill from Pleasant valley that night. Funk went after the old maids and came Eith them in the chaise at suppE time. There were two wSg0n Hads oFyoung people, and before dusk men and their wives came sauntering up the road way and in at the little gate.
 Two or three of the older men wore suits of black broadcloth. the stock and rolling collar-relics of .old decency" back in Vermont or Massachusetts or Connecticut. Most were in rough homespun over white shirts with no cuffs or collar. All gathered about Darrel, who sat smoking outside the door. He rose and greeted each one of the women with bow and a .compli- ment The tinker was a man of unfall- ing courtesy, and one thing in him was extremely odd-even there in that land of pure democracy-he treated a scrub woman with the same poiiteness he would have accorded the finest lady. But he was in no sense a datterer. None that saw him often were long in ignorance of that. His rebuke was even quicker than his compliment, as many had reason to know
 Half an hour before dark the yard swas thronged with people They lis- tened, with smiles or faint ripple of merry feeling. as he greeted each.
 Good evening. Mrs. Beach, he would say. "Ah. the snow Is falling on thy head. An the sunlight upon thine. dear girl" he added, taking the hand of the woman's daughter.
 An here's Mir. lilly back from the far vest" he continued. How fare ye. sorT'
 I'm well, but a little too fat" said Thurston lilly.
 Well. sor. unless it make thy heart heavy. be content.
 Good evening Mrs. Hooper. That 10 cunning hand with the pies. i. "Ah. Mrs. Rood. may the mouse nev- CT leave thy meal bag with tear fin his eye.
 Not a gray hair in thy head, Miss Tower. nor even a gray thought.
 An here's Mrs. Barbour. Twill make me sweat to carry me pride now. How goes the battleT'
 The Lord has given me sore sf- fiction said she
 Nay. dear woman" said the tinker in that tone so kindly and resistless.
 B ' 1T