The Delta independent., 1909-12-17

the clatter. Day
and night it is the
same noises, the same smells, the
same wines. almost the same women
and no song at all worth hearing. I
nave q mind to chuck 1t all and go out
into Gods country, out into the sub
urbs"
With Hickson to think was to act
and this is how it happened that the
good people of Horton Hollow were
curious almost to crucial point OF the
the antecedents and personality of the
dapper young society man who came
among them so reservedly to superin-
tend the construction of pretty
Queen Anne cottage on Lake Shadows.
That he was a veritable catch was
soon agreed upon by the spisters, but
how to break his reserve and teach
him to worship at the feet of Aphro
dite was a difficult problem. For, be-
sides admitting to Amos Squires, the
'busman, that he was not married.
Hickson had met the persevering ad-
vances of the natives with a stern
frigidity.
There amt a blessed woman that
kin git within gun shot O. him." COM
planned Mirandy Hodges. "exceptin'
Marty Brown-an' she amt Interested
in nothin but raisin' money fer a new
parsonage fer that new preacher an
his stuck-up wife"
At last the cottage was finished and
Hickson selected his furniture and
fittings. On the goth OF December 1t
was ready. With a glad heart he rode
gayly homeward from the city, and
slipping the key into the lock, stepped
into the nest that was to be the heart
of his simple life. The evening was
spent in gloating over his new toy
and even though 1t did seem strange
ly quiet and lonely. Hickson's spirits
were SO light the joy bulb stood high
in the glass tube Of pleasure.
But solitude wears on the best of
us after a time, and to Harrison
Honeywell Hickson. Injured to clatter
and bang and the busy whirl Of socie-
ty. the continued silence fell like a
pail.
"Of course, could get married."
sighed Hickson, as he sat on the edge
of his bed and pondered. THAT would
help some and-no." shaking his head
determinedly. mo laces and tantrums
for mine!"
Satisfied in his decision, he lay
down to sleep.
Then, all at once there entered that
vacuum of stiffness. strange and sin
lister, the cracking of veneered
joint. the settling of beam. AS Hick-
son sat bolt upright in bed, he dis
tinctly heard a sound as of running
water Dashing madly down the
stairs he found leaking water pipe
and what was worse. he discovered
that the hot-water plant was simply
boiling its head off. The servants had
not yet arrived. but Hickson managed
to check the furnace and turn off the
water Then he returned to bed
Suddenly a hoot-owl set up his weird
call. the soughing wind whistled with
sepulchral meaning. misguided cock
mistaking the bright moonlight for
morning awoke and set up an unearth-
ly din. while pair OF stray cats
meeting in sanguinary combat under
the west window. added to the hor-
rible intensity of the night.
When he bounded out of bed. Hick-
son was determined man. He looked
at his watch and then at his time
table. Thirty minutes later a dark
form scurried through the shadows of
the shaded street and dashed madly
up to the three o'clock train as II
puffed and snorted at Horton Hollow.
The next day. Martha Brown, sweet.
white-haired. motherly Martha Brown.
received a letter. 1t said:
My dear Miss Brown: 1 have decided to
surprise you by making your church a
Christmas present of my Queen Anne
cottage. My man will deliver the KEYS
tomorrow. 1t is furnished complete and
l hope that sweet-faced little wife O. the
preacher will not find an old bachelor's
tastes too broad for her sanction have
always wanted to do some good in the
world-and by presenting the cottage
am meremly gratifying myself Please
accept the gift without demonstration
beg to remain humbly yours
HARRISON HONEYWELL HICKsON.
That night on State street Hickson.
bowling swell. walked gaily In the
glare Of the lights. In the heart Of the
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