The Green Forest tribune., 1907-01-04

that wonderful May afternoon, MT. J. Spencer Parker seemed to accomplish Ro mDre than a hunting dog chasing rabbit in the tall rye, continually jumping up and down and never get fling anywhere A dozen times ne walked resolutely toward the brass gtaar Knob of 1916, and as many times he concluded to saunter languldly past, as if he had no other reason for appearing in that nelghborhood thaB simply to sun himself. But finally he summond up courage enough to 1sall the bell-knob and an imitation cow+teT tinkled in the back Of the house
 'sJ- Spencer Parker, upon my word! exclaimed the middle-aged woman who came to the door. And pray what brings you here today"
 She spoke in a sweet, musical tone, in pleasing harmony with the diff dent aemeanor of her guest, whose every motion was quiet and respect. able, aud whose voice sounded strange 3y like hers, as he replied: Just Yls- 5tiaE, maa I wished to pay you TDy regards, Mrs. Simpson, and to con gratRlate you upon MT Watkins. who is coming to board with you.
 "S3ungratulate mel" cried Mrs. Simpson. 'Why, am indeed delight ed So hear that. Do you know, l have never seen him yet"
 'Yes?" The look in MT. PaTker's eyes was far away as he replied, and his body bent forward attentively, T hare known MT. Watkins-Jeremiah Walhins, ma a'am-from boy. l am giass De is come to such home as ynAys"
 Indeed, you please me, Mir. Parker" returned Mrs. Simpson. T shall be especially happy to tell our boarders what sort of person they may ex- perl"
 MY. Parker gave a sudden start, but carefully recovered himself. "Ah," he saiH, that's what I came to tell you of
 "3naeed?"
 "Yes. MT. Watkins Is a-a-a gen fleEsgan."
 Again the courteous speaker leaned YorBarg1 as he spoke, struggling awk- warmly for the next word-"but l want yeD 59 know that he is a-a gentle mRG~
 ~AA,7 returned Mrs. Simpson, with gea3y 5ntuition. Then he is perhaps ecesNtFie?"
 ''NUs exactly" replied MT. Parker, fhDDghtfully and sweetly, "but he looks, let me say, he looks rougher tbaH As is.'
 NRut he is"
 Yes" s,aid MT. Parker. "He Is a gentleman"
 BIalf an hour later the door closed s3fily, and J. Spencer Parker came dswn the front steps of 1916, at first smiling, and then sadly, walking with slDg, unsteady step. AS he passed by 1he little corner grocery store, he paused and smote himself pathetically oH sse breast
 ''g.iarY" he said, grooming. Liar! Ass3 yet-it had to be done God forgive mel"
 Anyone who had happened to see My Parker's friend, MT. Jeremy Wat kfnB, on the next day, when he came wifb his trunks to 1916, might have bhe8 excused for cherishing the sus yic59n that he was not exactly a Beau BsEIZnmel or a Lord Chesterfield. He essYSed the baggage man for letting his drunk fall roughly to the ground, aBa quarreled with him over his fee; and, t9 farther give vent to his feel jags, he strode to the door and gave ahs bell knob a vicious jerk. There wss not a look on his face or a ges- 1a1re of his body that did not reveal him a coarse, ill-mannered young man, PFaFeFly of the stable, rather than the house. His square, rough face. Bjih it's loose mouth and broad nose his burly shoulders and big hands, anS his clothing, inviolate with re- spect to any previous contact with the wkTsk broom, bespoke vulgarity of Bssxsan that he did not attempt to con eeal 1t seemed almost impossible xbEs Re should be friend or acquaint- ange of such a person as J. Spencer Parker
 Nfrs Simpson, radiant, sweet and
 
 al bim for a moment. Then, seeing si5s trunks, she extended her hand aga said:
 MT. Watkins, suppose?"
 Yes" J. Watkins was on the point ni asking her who in h-l she thought bR was, with two trunks right there before her eyes; but something in her Iaay5ike manner evidently different from what he had been accustomed to, ebecked him.
 -s am so glad to see you," she we7a On "So glad to know that we are to have you here. We are almost Mks a family here, and so you can -mazSne how much was pleased to searn Vhat our new lodger was a cul- tiyateA gentleman"
 Watkins flushed angrily, supposing ehsS she was making sport of him, but one glance at her frank, ingenious face convinced him of her sincerity. ..Soxne one must have been here-' be stammered, uncomfortably, telling y0u about me-"
 Yes" replied Mrs. Simpson, MT. Parker was here yesterday. He thinks highly of you"
 Again the surging suspicion that Mrz Simpson was mocking him-and again the sweet and straightforward RDok from her.
 . '~.1 have known him number of years, ma'am," replied Watkins. in