Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-26

CnrlStlan 0OltneS6 m It, not even when it fell upon his own grandfather, sit ting among the sages within easy eye shot from the big window at Norbert's elbow. However, Colonel Flitcroft was not disturbed by the gaze of his de. scendant, being, in fact, quite unaware of it. The aged men were having a busy morning.
 The conclave was not what it had been. (See Arp and all his works.) There had come as the years went by few recruits, but faces were missing.
 The two Tabors had gone. and Uncle Joe Davey could no longer lay claim to the patriarchship. He had laid lt down, with half sigh, and gone his
 way. Eskew himself was now the oldest of the conscript fathers, the colonel and Squire Buckalew pressing him closely. with Peter Bradbury no great time behind.
 Today they did not plant their feet upon the brass rail inside the hotel windows, but courted the genial weath- CT outdoors and. as their summer GUS tom was. tilted back their chairs in the shade of the western wall of the build ing.
 And who could of dreamed,' Mir.
 Bradbury was saying, with a side glance of expectancy at Eskew, ''that Jonas Tabor would ever turn out to have a niece like that.'
 MT. Arp ceased to fan himself with his wide straw hat and said grimly:
 T don't see as Jonas has turned out'-not in particular! If he's turned at all lately I reckon it's in his grave, and I'll bet he has if he had any way of hearin' how much she must of spent for clothes"
 T believe" Squire Buckalew began. that young folks memories are short" !"
 "They're luckyy' interjected Eskew. "The shorter your memory the less meanness you know"
 T meant young folks don't remem- Der as well as older people do," con tinued the squire. II don't see what's so remarkable in her comin' back and walkin' up street with Joe Louden. She used to go kitin' round with him all the time before she left here. And yet everybody talks as if they never heard of sech thing"
 Tt seems to me-" said Colonel Fit croft hesitatingly, ''that she did right. l know it sounds kind of queer thing to say. and stirred up good deal of opposition at home yesterday evening by sort of mentioning something of the kind. Nobody seemed to agree with me except Norbert. and he didn't say much, but
 He was interrupted by an uncontrol- lable cackle which issued from the mouth of Mir. Arp. The colonel turned upon him. with frown, inqulring the cause of his mirth.
 Tt put me in mind" MT. Arp began promptly, "of something that happen ed last night"
 "What was it?'
 Eskew's mouth was open to tell, but he remembered just in time that the grandfather of Norbert was not the audience properly to be selected for this recital, choked half born word. coughed loudly, realizing that he must withhold the story of the felling of Martin Pike until the colonel had talk. en his departure, and replied: ! ssNoxbfns <, rNaoIr nf 1. yv-{kh your argument"
 i've finished" said the colonel. q only wanted to say that it seems to me good action for young lady like that to come back here and stick to her old friend and playmate"
 .'0 'ck to himv' echoed Mir. Arp. "She walked up Main street with him yesterday. Do you call that stickin' to him? She's been away a good while; she's forgotten what Canaan is. You wait till she secs for herself jest what his standing in this com"-
 'T agree with Eskew for once," in. terrupted Peter Bradbury. T agee 
 "Then you better wait," cried Es. kew, allowing him to proceed no fur. ther. 'till you hear what you'rs agree. in to. l say you take q young nay like that-pretty and rich and all cul. tured up. and it stands to reason that she won't'-
 No: it don't.' exclaimed Buckalew impatiently. 'Nothing of the sort! I tell you''-
 Eskew rose to his feet and pounded the pavement with his stick. "It stands to reason that she won't stick to man no other decent woman will speak to. a feller that's been the mark for every stone throwed in the town ever since he was boy. an outcast with reputation as black as preachers shoes on Sunday. I don't care if he's her oldest friend on earth, she won't stick to him, She walked with him yesterday. but you can mark my words. his goose is cooked," Tn. old mans voice rose shrill and high. Tt ain't in human nature fer her to do it. You hear what I say you'll never see her with Joe Louden again in this Twin world, and she as good as told me so herself last night. You ran take your oath she's quit him al. ready. Don't'--
 Eskew paused abruptly. his eyes wid- sning behind his spectacles. His jaw fell. Ills stick, raised to hammer the pavement remained suspended in the ,ir. A sudden color rushed over his lace. and he dropped speeches. ia hi