The Washington herald., 1910-08-08
DENDYS LOVE AFFAIR.


page upon which the history Of this I'M
happy passion was inscribed is now
closed, and time has sealed il with the
impression Of the Great Seal by which
the end of all things is made known.
Nevertheless. the story lives IN my men,
DRY, upon which the pathetic picture OF
the helplessness Of the old man is stiH
engraved.
Dendy came TO Bats Corner when IL
was a wilderness Of sand and acacia
shrub. The present settlement had no
name in those days, and Dendy carried
a pack between Thornton. the nearest
township, and the coalfelds. It was not
until the local authorities determined to
connect the mines with railway at Thorn
ton that the idea occurred 10 Josiah Bait.
a Thornton dry goods store keeper, TO
open a mixed store in connection with
the railway and mining encampment.
One establishment met the requirements
OF the two settlements. and. as this
branch Of Bats was the pioneer house.
the place became recognized as Bats
Corner.
Dendy, well known to the mining camp
and the men upon the railway section.
was given charge, and. stocking his
shelves with apparel for the men and
useful commodities in the grocery and
hardware lines, he soon proved his abil-
ity to cater for the needs Of customers
The turnover at the end Of the year was
too small TO attract competition, and
Bats Corner even now remains an abid-
ing illustration Of a "one-horse show %
There was little business except from
the mining and railroad camps. so that
BDendy's shanty, as far as neighbors were
concerned, stood IN a state OF splendid
isolation year in and year out. During
these years Dendy lived quite alone, oc-
cupied with his business, and the render
ing. after laborious effort. OF monthly &C
counts When DENLY went forth upon his
weekly trips to the camps his store was
closed, practice which he followed until.
after a chance meeting upon the road. he
offered me board and lodging in return
for such services as could render him.
We made our compact without refer
ence TO Josiah. and II continued without
interruption until the time when Dendy
severed all connection with Bats Corner.
This was the upshot OF his love affair:
but from the beginning IT had seemed TO
me 10 be inevitable
Several crossroads 10 Thornton from
outlying sheep stations converged upon
Bats Corner; and. since It lay midway
between the township and the coalhelds.
the railway company constructed a cat
tie siding and goods depot as a conces-
sion TO local interests This act OF
grace appealed 10 those who had to rail
sheep and cattle TO market. while fur
Their, the facilities which Bats Corner
thus offered made the siding an impor.
tant center in the shearing season.
II was in due course that a railway
porter from Thornton. promoted to. the
dignity OF stationmaster, appeared upon
the scene. WEIGH was accompanied by
his wife. a rOtund. red-faced. buxom
woman. and their daughter. Elsie. who
established complete contrast TO her
mother. Dendy now had society: but
at first the old man paid no heed 10 the
newcomers. and still figured UP his books
by night and busted himself in the store
by day. His life. indeed. had run so
long in one groove that il seemed i'm
possible for the advent OF the station
master 10 make any difference TO Dendy.
In the end II made a very serious diff
ference. but Il was not until Welch
brought from his wife one Sunday fore
noon an invitation TO tea for DENLY that
the trouble began.
Dendy accepted his offer OF hospitality
with grave elaboration, explaining 10
me afterward that II he opened an inter
course between the Welches and himself
It would be 10 my advantage to main
tain il. He had spoken TO me so often
Of the time when he would be unable
any longer TO superintend Bats store
that I knew intuitively the trend Of his
thoughts. But marriage for me even
with Welchs daughter. was out Of the
question.
When Welch departed. carrying with
him bundle OF cigars for himself and
a gracious message for his wife. Dendy
began to prepare for his visit Demands
were made upon the stocks in the store.
and pair Of high boots, a suit OF mole
skin. and a gray flannel shirt were
requisitioned for his adornment Tall and
gaunt, with face tannei by the sun and
lined with exposure, his appearance was
striking. The general effect moreover.
was increased by his quiet dignity and
deliberate speech. Distinguished by its
gentleness. Dendy's attitude toward his
new neighbors at the same time dis
played much courtesy. He conducted his
preliminary visit to the Welch house
hold from the point Of view OF a man
who. having passed his life in the wilder
ness, feels it incumbent upon him 10
prevent those who come after him from
realizing the bitterness OF their desola-
ton. With this initial call paid. DENLY
contrived 10 show numerous attentions
to his neighbors, expressing to me upon
occasion his sOlicitude for their comfort.
II was at later. date that I learned the
true significance OF this condescensian,
for, although I was the innocent medium
Of his message. his gifts OF vegetables
and garden seeds. and his loan OF kitchen
~0Nii'i'9' 9Oiii0 'liiIS eldpSeu oeioIe ne HA-
parted his confidence to me. BY then
matters had proceeded apace. and there
was naught to do but 70 listen 20 him
with sympathy.
The presence OF the stationmaster thus
began to relieve the monotony Of ex-
istence at Bats Corner: and as the
intimacy increased We grew TO expect
WEIGH, after the labors Of the day had
terminated. to drop in for an evening
chat. Upon occasion the stationmaster
was accompanied by his wife, when
Dendy. carried away by an exuberant
hospitality. rarely allowed his guests TO
leave without some small token OF his
goodwill This graciousness aroused a
similar spirit, and Mrs. Welch or he1