Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-07-07

1 $500
that's one reason why, happening to
come to London, wished to have the
pleasure of seeing you; l really did
want to thank you, SIR
Chapter Ill.
| Topham was closely observing this
singular visitor. He had always
taken Abraham Wigmore' for
youth of 10 or so, some, not over
bright but plodding and earnest clerk
Or counter man in the little Glouces-
| tershire town from which the CORE
| spondent wrote; it astonished him to
see this mature and most respectable
person. They talked on. Mr.. Wig
more had a slight west country ac-
cent, but otherwise his language diff
| fered little from that of the normally
educated; in every word he revealed
a good and kindly, if simple, nature.
| AT length slight embarrassment in
terfered with the flow of his talk,
which, having been solely of tuitional
| matters, began to take a turn more
personal. Was he taking too much of
Mr.. Starkey's time? Reassured on this
point he begged leave to give some
| account of himself.
81 dare say, Mr.. Starkey, you're
| surprised to see how old I am. 1t
| seems strange to you, no doubt, that
| at my age l should be going to
| school" He grasped his beard and
| laughed.
well, it is strange, and I'd like to
| explain it to you. To begin with, I'll
tell you what my age is; I'm seven
and forty. Only that. But I'm the
father of two daughters-both mar
ried. Yes, l was married young my
self, and my good wife died long ago,
| more's the pity"
| He paused, looked around the room,
stroked his hard felt hat, Topham
murmuring a sympathetic sound.
Now as to my business, Mr. Star
key. I'm a fruiterer and green grocer
| might have said fruiterer alone; it
sounds more respectable; but the hon.
est truth it, l do sell vegetables as
well, and l want you to know that, Mr.
Starkey. Does it make you feel
ashamed of me?"
my dear sir. What business could
be more honorable? l heartily wish |
had one as good and as lucrative"
We'll, that's your kindness, sir"
said Wigmore, with a pleased smile
THE fact is, l have done pretty well,
though I'm not by any means rich
man; comfortable, that's all. | gave
my girls a good schooling, and what
with that and their good looks they've
both made what may be called better
marriages than might have been ex-
pected. For down in our country,
you know, sir, a shopkeeper is one
thing and a gentleman's another Now,
my girls married gentlemen
Again he paused, and with en-
phasis. Again Topham murmured, |
this time generalization.
"One of them is wife to young So
licitor; the other to a young gentle
man farmer. And they've gone to live
in another part Of the county. | dare
say you understand that, Mr.. Star
key
The speakers eyes had fallen; at |
the same time twitching OF the |
brows and hardening of the mouth |
changed the expression of his face |
marking it with an unexpected sad
ness, all but pain.
DO you mean, Mr.. Wigmore, p |
asked Topham, that your daughters |
desire to live at a distance from your
well, I'm sorry that's what | do
mean, Mr.. Starkey My son-in-law, the |
solicitor, had intended practicing in
our town where he was born; instead |
of that he went to another long way |
off. My son-in-law, the gentleman
farmer, was to have taken a farm
close by us; he altered his mind and
went into another county. You see,
sir? It's quite natural; 1 find no fault
There's never been an unkind word
between any of us. But"
He was growing more and more en-
barrassed, Evidently the man had
something he wished to say, some
thing to which he had been leading up |
by this disclosure of his domestic af |
fairs; but he could not utter his
thought. Topham tried the common
places naturally suggested by the sit
uation; they were received with graft !
tude, but still Mr.. Wigmore hung his
head and talked vaguely, with hesita-
ton, pauses.
I'VE have always been what one
may call serious minded. Mr. Starkey |
Ae boy | liked reading and I've al
ways had book at hand for my lei
sure time-the kind of book that does
one good. Just now I'm reading 1.-The
/ Christian Ear And since my daugh- |
tiers married-well, as / tell you, Mr..
Starkey, I've done pretty well in bust |
ness-there's really no reason why /
should keep on in my ShOp if | chose