The Washington times., 1907-07-28

IOnQilnE the WdTul pONi VI
his long pipe. and awaiting
with an almost youthful Inn
patience the slow warming of mug
OF beer on the hob.
He had Just given unasked-for sta
tistics to the visitor at the Inn who
was sitting the other side OF the
hearth. His head was stored with the
births. marriages, and deaths of Clay
bury, and with a view Of being enter
taining he had already followed. from
the cradle TO the altar and the altar
to the grave the careers Of some OF
the most uninteresting people that
ever breathed.
NO. there amt been great sight
o. single men hereabouts." he said. In
answer 90 a question. "Claybury as
always been a marrying sort O. place
mot because the women are more
good Hooking than others. but because
they are sharper"
He reached forward. and. taking up
his beer. drank with relish. The gem
erous liquor warmed his blood, and
his eye frightened.
I've buried two wives, but ave
to bo careful myself. old as ! am" he
said, thoughtfully. There's more
than one woman about ere as would
Ike to change 'er name for mine.
Claybury's got the name for being a
marrying place. and they don't like
10 see even 4 widow-man.
Now and agin we've 'ad a young
feller as said as e wouldn't get mar
ried. There was Jem Burn, for one.
and It amt a month ago since four OF
is grandchildren carried him TO the
church-yard; and there was Walter
Bree: e used To prove as 'ow any man
that got married wasn't In rs right
mind, and e got three years in prison
for wot they call bigamy.
But there used to be one man In
these parts as the Claybury women
couldn't marry. try as they might
He was a ugly little man with red
air and foxy face. They used to
call i'm Foxy Green, and e kept 'appy
and single for years and years.
He wasn't a man as dlsliked being
In the company o. women though, and
that's wot used to aggeravate 'em-
He'd take 'em out for walks. or give
'em a lift in rs cart. but none of 'em
could get old OF I'm, not even the
widders. He used to say e loved 'em
all too much 10 tie hisself up TO any
one OF 'em. and e would sit up ere
Of a night at the Caulifiower and send
men with large families Almost crazy
by celebrating 'ow many pints o.
beer their children wore out every
year IN the shape o. boots
Sometimes rs uncle. old Fbenezer
Green. used to sit up ere with I'm
He was a strong, 'earty old man, and
ed sit and laugh at Foxy till is chair
shook under i'm. He was a lively
sporting sort o. man, and when Foxy
talked like that e seemed 10 be keep
ing some Joke 70 hisself which nearly
choked I'm.
You'll marry when I'm gone.
Foxy he'd say.
Not me- ses Foxy.
Then the old man 'ud laugh again
and talk mysterious about fox hunts
and say e wondered who'd get Foxy's
brush. He said ed only got to shut
rs eyes and e could see the pack in
full cry through Claybury village, and
Foxy going rs 'ardest with is tongue
'anEing out.
Foxy couldn't say anything to i'm.
because II was understood that when
the old man died e was 10 ave 'is
farm and rs money; so e used to sit
there and smile az ~ . liked g.
when Foxy was about forty-three
rs uncle died. The old mans mind
seemed TO wander at the last. and e
said what a good man ed always
been, and wot comfort II was to i'm
now that e was EoIn' And e men
toned a lot o. little sums O. money
owed I'm in the village which no
body could remember
I've made my will. Foxy he ses,
and schoolmaster's taISln' care Of It;
I've left II all to you
"'All right. ses Foxy. 'Thankee.
He's goin' TO read II arter the
funeral ses is uncle. which Is the
proper way to do It. I'd give anything
20 be there. Foxy. and see your face.
Those were his last words. but e
laughed once or twice. and for a long
time srter ed gone Foxy Green sat
there ana wondered at is last words
and Eot there was to laugh about.
''The old man was buried a faw
days after, and Foxy stood by the
grave 'olding n handkerchief 10 els
eyes. and behaving as though e ad
lost money instead OF coming in for
IT, Then they went back TO the farm.
and the first thing the schoolmaster
aid was 10 send all the women off be
fore reading the will.
'Wot's that for? ses Foxy, star
ing
You'll see ses the schooImastsr
them was my instructions. It's for
your sake. Mr. Green: to give YOU a
chance-st least. that's wot your un-
Gle said.
He sat down and took out the VIII
and put on is spectacles. Then e
spread It out on the table. and took a
glass o. gin and water and began to
read.
1T was all straightforward enough
The farm and stock. and two cottages.
and money In the bank. was all left
to Josiah Green. commonly called
Foxy Green. on condition
There was such n noise o. clan
ping. and patting Foxy on the back.
that the schooimaster 'ad 20 leave off
and walt for quiet.
On condition. ne ses. In a loud
voice. that he marries the first Clay
bury woman. single or widow. that
asks I'm to marry her in the presence
of three witnesses. If ne refuses. the
property is to go to 'er instead