Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-03-24


York tomorrow night. and now. after
I've had my supper. I'll say goodby
to some Of the folks that I've had ac-
quaintance with"
Joels scowl was quite black when
he rang the doorbell at Spinning's;
therefore when the portal swung wide
and the hall shed a stream Of light
over his form be blinked and WINGED
like an owl.
ITS Joel Tykesbury, as liver cried
Mrs. Spinning heartily. Now, this is
real neighborlyl Come right In and
have a bite to eat We've Just sat
down to supper Henry. here's Joel
come to supper"
Henry" she said. addressing her
husband. "eat your supper quick and
be about what planned. Tonight at
0 o'cloek-everybody. you understand?'
Mrs. Spinning nodded and frowned and
smiled at her husband.
I'm see to IT, Maria" be chuekled
softly. Then. addressing their guest,
he said, when you going to leave
Little River. Joelf"
Tomorrow night" said Joel. helping
himself to another biscuit
Wish you was going to stay" said
the deacon cordially. You'll be miss
ed. JOEL
"Missedr' scoffed Mr. Tykesbury,
forgetting his difiidence in his aston
ishment who'll miss meg"
Everybody in Little River" said
the deacon quietly There's few here
but what you've done good turn for
some time or other. You've forgotten
'em. suppose. but folks haven't!
They like to see you around. and II
you wasn't SO bashful you'd be the
most popular man in the village. not
even excepting the postmaster. Eh.
Mariar
"Of course he would You look so
stern. Joel. that It seems to some folks
that you're a stony pillar of the church
lin deed as well as namer Mrs
Spinning laughed heartily. while Joel
smiled in surprised manner.
me bashful7" be stammered. why,
l never thought about that. | guess
| thought folks wasn't cordial enough
when they thought | wasn't
you've got to meet folks half way
In everything. HTaint fair to expect
some to do all the being pleasant and
sociable. Well. Maria, I'll go on that
errand IL Joel viii excuse me. See
you later" With that the deacon dis
appeared. and joel helped Mrs. Spin
ming clear away the dishes.
do you recoliect my niece, Char
lotte Wayland?" she asked as she step
ped into the front parlor and lighted
the prism hung lamp on the center
table. "she was visiting me ten years
ago."
Joel flushed hotly. Indeed. be did
remember the pretty girl at whom he
scarcely dared glance in church, yet
to whom he had irrevocably lost his
heart. Much OF the silence and lone
illness of the past ten years might be
laid at the door Of his heartsickness
after pretty Charlotte had returned to
her distant home He heard after
ward that she had married.
Il remember" he said family.
she's in Little River. Come to
visit my sister. Charlotte's a widow
and as pretty a one as ever saw. |
declare. it don't seem proper for a
widow to be quite so good looking as
our Charlotte Mrs. Spinning smiled
innocently as she thrust a photograph
into Joel's hand. That's Charlotte.
She's coming around tonight. and
you'll have TO see her home"
AT that instant the bell rang ciamor-
ously. and, with a slight chuckle OF
delight, Mrs. Spinning FASTENED to an
swer 1t. while Joel devoured the pic
ture with his eyes. now hopeful. no
longer shy or diffident Their depths
contained a new purpose, new light.
a new courage. Here was something
to fight for and win-Charlotte Way
land that was,
The door opened. and into the room
streamed merry crowd Of men. wo-
men and children. All the folks in
Little River seemed gathered together
under Deacon Spinning's hospitabIe
roof. Surprise. Joel TykesburyT
they cried in unison as they crowded
around him.
In that brief moment OF excitement
Of meeting all these old acquaintances
In this genial atmosphere they drop
ped the old guise and became friends.
Joel swallowed sob as he realized
that they had gathered to say goodby
to him. TO say how sorry they were
he was leaving Little River. 70 give
him sendoff and to say 10 him that
every latchstring in Little River was
always out for Joel Tykesbury.
That was the beginning Of the hap
piest evening Joel had ever known.
Before Il ended he had forever drop
ped his cloak of reserve. and he found
that his fellow townsmen met him
more than half way. A strange new
Joy sang in his heart. for the widowed
Charlotte had blushed beautifully
when their eyes met and he had ask
ed the pleasure OF her company home
and been accepted. All at once his
plans changed with lightning rapidity
He would remain, In Little River. He
would build the house. and Charlotte
he would win her, He was glad that
his inheritance was still a secret.
"Joel Tykesbury seems to have
found bis tongue at last" said Miss
Fanny Pollard rather acidly. Seems
like he's all took up over that flighty
widow l guess Maria Spinning
knew what she was talking about
when she said he was going to marry
a widow"
Mrs. Spinning overheard the remark
and smiled mirthfully Il didn't know
a thing. Fanny. Charlotte's coming
now was a dispensation of provi-
dence"
"Dispensation Of providence. assist;
ed by Maria SpInning- sniffea Miss
Pollard. quite unconvinced.
Chi1drou H~r