Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-06-08
Joel Tykesbury's Farewell.
-Eben E. Rexiord.

When Joel Tykesbury opened the let
ter and read that his step-uncle on his
mothers side had died without near rela-
tives and had left him the comfortable
sum OF SIS. 900 in cash there was not a
soul to whom he confided the astound-
ing news. Close locked behind his COM
pressed lips was hidden secret that
would have provided the people OF Little
River with a measureless source OF inter-
est for the coming winter months.
Joel kept his secret, and no one was
the wiser when he closed the little har-
ness 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 pre-
sented the furniture contained in his lone
ly bachelor abode to the thriftlesS Nick
OILS family, who lived on the edge OF the
village, and finally when the minister
dropped a word in the midst OF the La
dies Aid Society's Wednesday Sociable,
then Little River sat up very straight and
took notice.
"Yes," said Mr.. Beeman, thoughtfully
stroking his scantY beard: 'Joel says
he's tired of Little River, so he is going
to New York to live. He seems to teel
rather bitter about the way he's been re-
ceived in our village. He says he's lived
here fifteen years and he isn't much bet
ter acquainted than when he came"
"That's every mite his own fault, thenl"
cried Miss Fanny Pollard warmly. "He's
the most unSociable man in Little River.
My conscience is clear about Joel TykeS-
bury. I've done the best could TO make
it pleasant for him in church and out !"
A suppressed giggle from the young girls
in distant corner closed Miss Fanny'S
lips into grim frown. Her small brown
eyes shot little angry sparks at the gig
glers.
THAT is very true, Miss Pollard, !"
soothed the minister peacefully. 81 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 teeth and
folded up the gingham apron she had
completed. "Seems like I'll never for
give myself if Joel Tykesbury goes away
from Little River feeling sore about the
way he's been treated. ] don't believe
any of you.realIY know just how kind
hearted he is. Only he's dreadful shy,
and it's setback to him."
"He was terrible noncommittal, " an
nounced Fanny Pollard, with the air OF
one who is treading on familiar ground.
"Many's the time I've sat and pondered
what Joel meant when he said such and
such thing"
"Most times reckon he didn't mean
nothing al ALL" said Mrs. Spinning cheer
fully. 81 take it Joel was shy. But,
land, why are we all talking about him as
if he was dead and waiting TO be buried ?
If Joel Tykesbury don't like the way he's
been treated here he's not going 10 stay
in Little River for nobody. Pm sorry
he's going, for do like him. Once he
shut up his shop and came over and
helped Henry get in his hay when it was
threatening a storm, and another time
when Liuny had the measles he went
clean over to the Ford after DR.. Mitchell
and didn't want to hear word OF thanks
either"
"And giving away his furniture-ain't
that the queerest thing? s'poSe likely
he's going to board when he gets to the
city," murmured Annie Baker.
maybe he is going to get married.
Now come to think Of it, | shouldn't
wonder mite if that was the secret OF
his going. He's going to get married to
widder, maybe, and she, having q
houseful of furniture left by her first hus-
band, won't have no need for JoePs
things" Mrs. Spinning beamed around
the busy circle. "I'm mighty glad to
think he's going to get married. He's
lust the incest kind OF man. He'll make
some girl good husband. Pm disap-
pointed, though. | kinder hoped he'd
pick a wife from Little River"
There was a long silence after this,
broken only by requests for the "sixty
white thread" or the forty black" until
at last Mrs. Willowell, at whose house
they had met, announced that refresh
ments would be served in the dining
room, and so for the time being Joel
Tykesbury and his affairs were forgot
ten. -
loci himself, having given away his
furniture and disposed of his business,
sat in his lonely room in the best hotel
the village afforded and wondered what
he would do next.
"Pll shake the dust of this here village
from my feet" said Joel moosely, eyelng
his reflection in the wavy mirror with a
gloomy frown. "There won't be one
person that will miss me when I'm gone.
If I'd been treated decent here I'd never
thought of leaving Little River. ltwould
have done the village good to spend my
money here. could build house as
fine as Lawyer Beggs and live on my in
terest money. The women amt never
noticed me much, and | amt bad look
ing feller." Joel redeemed as he lifted
shy ewes at his reflection in the mirror.
Good looking in spite of the irregularities
in the glass-thick growing brown hair,
brown eyes, steady and trustworthy in