The Ordway new era., 1910-01-14

and night 1t is the
same noises, the same smells. the
same wines. almost the same women
and no song at all worth hearing.
have mind to chuck it 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 we're
curious almcst to n 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 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 difficult problem. For. be.
sides admitting to Amos Squires. the
husman. that he was not married.
dickson had met the. persevering ad.
vances of the natives with stern
nigidity.
There amt blessed woman that
kin git within gun shot O him." com.
Dlained Mrandy Hodges. "exceptin'
Marty Brown-an' she amt interested
in nothin' but raisin' money fer 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 it
was ready. With 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. H'cksons spirits
were SO light the JOY bulb stood high
in the glass tube of pleasure.
But solitude wears on the best Of
us after time. and to Harrison
Honeywell Hickson. Injured to c!atter
and bang and the busy whirl Of socie.
ty. the continued silence fell like a
pail.
"Of course. I could get married."
sighed Hickson. as he sat on the edge
of his bed and pondercd THAT would
help some and-ro." 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 a beam As Hick.
sen sat bolt upright in bed. he dis.
tinctly heard sound as of running
water. Dashing madly down the
stairs he found leaking water pipe
ard what WAS worse. ne 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 a pair of stray cats
meeting in sanguinary combat under
the west window. added to the hcr.
rible intensity of the night.
When he bounded out of bed, HEX.
son was determined man. He looked
at his watch and then at his tine
table. Thirty minutes later dark
form scurried through the shadows OF
the shaded street and dashed madlv
up to the three o'clock train as IT
puffed and snorted at Horton Hollow.
The next day. Martha Brown, sweet,
white-haired. motherly Martha Brown.
received letter. 1t said:
My dear Miss Brown: I have decided to !
surprise you by making your church n |
Christmas present of my Queen Ann. |
cottage. My man will deliver the keys |
to morrow. 1t is furnished complete and |
| hope that swc3t-faccd little wife of the |
preacher will not find an old bachelors |
tastes too broad for her sanction I have |
always wanted to do some good in the |
world-and by presenting the cottage l |
am meremly gratifying myself. Please |
accept the gift without demonstration
l beg to remain humbly yours
HARRISON HONEYWELL HICKsON.
That night on State street Hickson.
a bowling swell. walked gaily in the
glare OF the lights. in the heart of the
din, and was glad! I