The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-03-15
THE DECEIT OF
DAVID SORW00D
,R57RR5l5152S25252S25152515


which had of late devoted so much
of its attention to the development
of that thriving suburb, Clayden. AS
though tired of planting bricks and
mortar that sprang up houses in the
midst of already existent terraces, 1t
had as It were gathered up its strength
and flung Laurestina Villas in a squat
row half mile from the town. There
they rested pathetic in their foneh-
ness like the first few teeth in an IN
fant's mouth, awaiting the sprouting
of their comrades from the gaps in
the gums.
The row stood in the midst of fat
expanse of doomed field land. 1t was
for this reason, perhaps, that the gar
dens back and front exceeded in
length those of similar villas in Clay
den itself. This advantage, a COM
pensation doubtless for the painless
loan and rubble that served for
road, was largely neItrahzed by the
absence of any indication OF barrier
between the respective garden plots
beyond that which few score of dy-
luS anu UGdu DilfOI DQoAOo 1hOA oSN'
Seeing that those of the latter i'll
which the sap still struggled to linger
had not succeeded in overlapping the
loftier among the thistles, one OF the
more recently arrived families, pos
sessed Of a discontinued spirit, had
with the utmost hardihood applied to
the syndicate for the protection of
TN. ~ he nv,
of the syndicate himself formed thG
sequel to the petition When he had
dilated upon the abnormal length of
the strip and had gazed reproachful.y
from the dying twigs of privet to the
countenances of the newcomers 1t
was generally conceded by the re-
naming inhabitants of Laurestina
villas that an uncalled-for attempt at
"bluff'' on the part of the Pagleys had
met with well-deserved failure.
Besides, the secretary enjoyed the
unstinted support of Mrs. Holden.
Fences and walls may suit folks
that have things to hide and such as
are ashamed of themselves and their
consciences," she had pronounced.
'T've got no objection to leading my
life in the open, seeing as it's such
that no woman need be afraid to let
a child see into-and newborn one
at that. Fences!' had shifted Mrs.
Holden. ''If some men want to be as
shut off as that why don't they turn
Roman and take to one of them there
convents?"
The question-oft repeated, never
nswered-became the acknowledged
elegy of the Pagley's reputation.
1t was shortly after the committal
of this dubious act of theirs that the
last board in the terrace fell. The
sole remaining inlet villa became
tenanted by a bachelor of middle age.
For neighbors he had the Pagleys on
his right hand, Mrs. Holden on his
left.
AS David Sorwood remained at
home when others hurried station
wards, and his rare saunterings to the
place occurred at an hour at which
no other male of the vicinity had ever
set eyes upon the building, except per-
haps on Sabbath it was evident that
he came under the category of re
tired" But from what had he retired
wondered Mrs. Holden?
The lady's disposition did not long
permit her to postpone an attempt
at discovery. She was hanging some
linen upon a line stretched between
two posts when she caught sight of
the doubtful personality of her new
vNiyN
hard by his back door.
"You must find this life bit diff
ferent from what you've been accus-
toned to-" suggested Mrs. Holden
as she attached garment by means
of peg to the line.
"That is so,' admitted David Sor-
wood.
Mrs. Holden, in the act of sorting
the bundle she held, drew a little
nearer.
Its nothing short of wonderful"
she remarked, how life changes. AS
was saying to Mrs. Pagley the other
day, we never know what's before us
nor how We'll end our days. But so
long as we've got bit put by against
ordinary comforts such as a nice
piece o. pork on Saturday nights, it's
something to be thankful for, 1 say"
The newcomer nodded in silence.
when my deceased" continued
Mrs. Hodden-the term was the most
revered, of all in which she was wont
to refer to her late husband-"when
my deceased would be in the mood
for discussin' such matters he used
to say, There's a time comm, you
mark my word, when I'll say goodby
to greengroceries and take my bitter
and my pipe a. home like gentle