The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-03-14

When Joel Tykesbury opened the let
ter and read that his step-uncle on
his mothers side had died without
near relatives and had left him the
comfortable sum Of $4,000 in cash
there was not soul to whom he
confided the astounding news. Close
locked behind his compressed lips was
hidden a secret that would have pro-
vided the people Of Little River with
a measureless source Of interest for
the coming winter months.
Joel kept his secret, and no one was
the wiser when he closed the little
harness shop and spent several days
in New York But when he returned
from the city and proceeded to sell
the contents Of his shop at auction
prices, when he presented the fur
niture contained in his lonely bachelor
abode to the thriftless Nickols family,
who lived ON the edge Of the village,
I'd finally when the minister dropped
u word In the midst of the Ladies' Aid
society's Wednesday sociable then Lit
tie River sat up very straight and took
notice.
Eyes," said Mr.. Beeman, thoughtful
ly stroking his scanty beard; "Joel
says he's tired of Little River, so he
is going to New York to live. He
seems to feel rather bitter about the
way he's been received in our vii
lage. He says he's lived here fifteen
years and he isn't much better ac-
quainted than when he came"
That's every mite his own fault,
Them cried Miss Fanny Pollard
warmly. Hes the most unsociable
man in Little River. My conscience
is clear about Joel Tykesbury. I've
done the best l could to make it pleas
ant for him in church and outp' A
suppressed giggle from the young girls
in distant corner closed Miss Fanny's
lips into a grim frown. Her small
brown eyes shot little angry sparks al
the gigglers.
"That is very true. Miss Pollard,
soothed the minister peacefully. q
am sure we have all done our best to
make Joel feel at home in our midst"
Mrs. Deacon Spinning bit her thread
with sharp click of her false teetI
and folded up the gingham apron she
had completed Seems like I'll never
forgive myself if Joel Tykesbury goes
away from Little River feeling sore
about the way he's been treated.
don't believe any of you really know
just how kind hearted he is. Only he's
dreadful shy, and it's setback Il
him."
HE was terrible noncommittal," an
nounced Fanny Pollard, with the ali
of one who is treading familiar ground
'Many's the time I've sat and pom
dered what Joel meant when he sale
such and such a thing"
Most times / reckon he didn't meaI
nothing at ALL" said Mrs. Spinnin,
cheerfully. 81 take it Joel was shy
But, land, why are we all talking abou
him as If he was dead and waitin,
to be buried? If Joel Tykesbury don
like the way he's been treated her,
he's not going to stay In Little Rive
for nobody. I'm sorry he's going, To-
l do like him. Once he shut up hi
shop and came over and helped Henri.
get in his hay when it was threatening
storm, and another time when Lin
ny had the measles he went clean owe
to the Ford after DIR. Mitchell ant
didn't want to hear word of thank
either
"And giving away his furniture
amt that the queerest thing? s'pos
likely he's going to board when he get
to the city" murmured Annie Baker
Maybe he is going to get married
Now l come to think of it l shouldn'
wonder a mite If that was the secre
of his going. He's going to get mar
ried to widder, maybe, and she, hav
ing houseful of furniture left b!
her first husband, won't have no nee,
| for Joers things" Mrs. Spinnin,
beamed around the busy circle. "Tn
mighty glad to think he's going to ge
married. He's just the incest kind o
man. He'll make some girl goo,
husband. I'm disappointed. though.
kinder hoped he'd pick a wife from
| Little River"
There was a long silence after this
broken only by requests for the 'sixt.
white thread or the forty black,
until at last Mrs. WiIIowell, at who's
house they had met, announced tina
refreshments would be served in tn
dining room, and so for the time beinl
Joel Tykesbury and his affairs wer
forgotten.
Joel himself, having given away hi
furniture and disposed Of his business
sat In his lonely room in the best hote
the village afforded and wondered wha
he would do next.
'I'll shake the dust of this here vi
lage from my feet" said Joel morosely
eying his reflection in the wavy mil
ror with gloomy frown. ether
won't be one person that will miss m
when I'm gone If I'd been treate
decent here I'd never thought of leay
! ing Little River 1t would have don
the village good to spend my none
here. / could build a house as fin
as Lawyer Beggs and live on my In
terest money. The women amt neve
noticed me much, and l amt ba
looking Teller" Joel Redeemed as b
lifted shy eyes at his reflection in tn
mirror Good looking in spite of tn
Irregularities in the glass-thick grow
ing brown hair, brown eyes, stead
and trustworthy in their open gaz
and yet with a certain diff1dence
their depths; a fine nose and a wide
well cut mouth showing reserve In it
6rmness In fact, Joel Tykesbury wal
handsome man, and although he wa
forty years old there was not threat
Of white In his abundant hair.
Suddenly he arose and, approaching
the glass, brushed his hair into som,
semblance of order. I'll go to New
York tomorrow night, and now, afte
I've had my supper, I'll say goodb.
to some Of the folks that I've had &C
quaintance with"
Joeps scowl was quite black whel
he rang the doorbell at Spinning's
therefore when the portal swung Wld
and the hall shed a stream Of ligh
over his form he blinked and wince'
like an owl.
Its Joel Tykesbury, as livep' crie'
Mrs. Spinning heartily. Now, this /
real neighborlyl Come right In an
have a bite to eat. We've just sa
down to supper. Henry, here's Joe
come to support
Henry" she said, addressing he
husband, 'eat your supper quick an
be about what planned Tonight a
Q o'clock-everybody, you understand?
Mrs Spinning nodded and frowned an
smiled at her husband.
"I'll see to it, Maria" he chuckle
softly. Then, addressing their guest
he said, when you going to leav