The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-19
WANTED-AN APOLOGY.
BY HENRY ABBOTT.

BY HENRI
Gadsby Jones was a peppery man Of
about fifty years who lived in the village
uu o. uMou4 UsM SUN II 'sI9psuIoH 10
the inhabitants that he was pep
perry and carried a chip on his shoulder
and they TOOK good care not TO stir him
up. In the village OF Winston. four
miles away, there lived another peppery
man Of about the same age. His name was
Talbot. and he vas 50 touchy that he
had 20 be handled with gloves. These
two peppery old men had known each
ether by name for ten years before they
were introduced Mr.. Jones happened
10 be over at Winston one DAY, and while
at the hotel Mr.. Talbot came in They
awhile. instinctively seeming danger but
when that feeling had finally worn of
bit the peppery Mr. Jones remarked:
It's my opinion, from what I have
seen so far this season, that we are 60
ing TO have a plague OF later bugs.
shouldn't wonder II ne lost the whole
crop"
We'll. I dunno replied the peppery
Mr.. Talbot. In my opinion all the in
dications point to a return Of the grass
hoppers."
4 differ with YOU sir.
And ] differ with you.
There isn't the slightest indication Of
grasshoppers.
Nor the slightest Indication OF later
bugs"
You seem. sir. 10 be a c0nceited man.
And I wouldn't guarantee that you
had an ounce OF brains"
Il demand an apology at once.'
And demand the same"
las neither would apologize, they sep
rated IN a spirit of bitterness. As they
lived four miles from each other. and
a. they had managed to get along fairly
well Cor years without knowing each
other, their feeling w I'd have made no
difference but for Oh thing. Gadsby
Jones had a son tweny years Old, and
Mr.. Talbot had a daughter nineteen. The
young people had met and admired each
other before the meeting Of their fathers
and the fact was dimly known 10 their
respective parents. When Mr.. Talbot
went home from the hotel it was to say
to his daughter:
Ruth. are you acquainted with young
Jones. of HornsdaIe?'
Why. yes, / have met him." admitted
Ruth. with "a blush.
Then don't meet him any more. Hes
horse thief
Why, father, how YOU talk"
That is 10 say his father is the biggest
old fool in the State and I'm sorry now
that I didn't call him liar. IT I catch
the son hanging around here I shall kick
him out in short order
And Gadsby Jones returned TO Horns
dale. getting madden ever rod OF the way,
TO say TO his SON.
Homer, 60 YOU know a girl over at
Winston named Talbot
Talbot? Talbot" unused the young
man, as he tried TO appear Indifferent.
Yes, sir, Talbot Seems to me / heard
you say YOU took her TO the circus"
oh, yes; Ruth Talbot"
Well you drop her like q hot later
l met her father over there to-day ana
% ali the cantankerous old cusses I ever
ran up against, ne takes the cake He
owes me an apology, and until he makes
IL no son Of mine can enter his house"
The son and daughter could not look
upon the matter as the two fathers did
and neither OF them felt obliged 10 obey
the parental injunction. While they id
not openly defy il, they continued TO meet
at intervals. and admiration and friend
ship finally Tipened into love Tn this they
were secretly supported by Mrs Jones
and Mrs Talbot The two peppery old
men, who had lived for fifty years with
out knowing each others existence.
seemed fated 10 meet AT brief intervals
after the disagreement. Within a month
both found themselves at the same black
smith shop TO have repairs made 10 their
buggies. and, after glaring and snorting
at each other for a time, Mr.. Jones sar-
castically said:
I haven't seen anything OF them grass
hoppers yet
They are probably waiting to come
along with your later bugs
TIN! Mr. Talbot, il that is your name. ]
pity the folks in this village who have 10
put up with your ways"
I'm, Mr.. Jones, and that Is undoubt-
eddy your name. for | never saw a Jones
who didn't look like mean man. il 7
was you To go hang myself and let my
town take a rest"
Apologize. sir, Apologize at ouce.'
Not until you apologize first"
They met again on tho highway. and
again at funeral and d town meeting.
and each meeting made them long 20
Kill each other. The son and the daugh-
ter were forbidden under all sorts of
pains and penalties even to bow 20 each
other, but their lOvc-making could not
be stopped by such edlcts There was
no question Of love, bat that Of mar
riage was held in allegiance In hopes that
their respective fathers might undergo
change of opinion. \ mutual friend
undertook TO bring this about. He called
upon the peppery Mr. Jones first. He
started out with lot of swell oil. but he
hadn't talked over half a minute when
Mr.. Jones interrupted with:
That viii do sir. year ago I told
that old fool of a Talbot that It looked
Ike good year for later bugs. and he
up and insultcd me"
"But there were no 'tater bugs last
gear"
Makes no difference. I have met him
two OT three times since. and / tell you