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

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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
condded the astounding news. Clnse
locked behind his compressed lips was
hidden secret that would have pro
vided the people of Little River with
measursless 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 lie 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 thrfftless Nickols family,
who lived on the edge of the village.
and finally when the minister dropped
a word In the midst of the Ladies' Aid
society's Wednesday sociable then Lit
tie River sat up very straight and took
notice.
"Yes,' said Mr.. Beeman. thoughtful
ly sroking 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 viii
lage. He says he's lived here fifteen
years and he isn't much better ac-
qualnted than when be 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 could to make 1t pleas
ant for him in church and outr 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 at
the gigglers.
That is very true. Miss Pollard"
soothed the minister peacefully. ~
am sure we have all done our best to
make Joel feel at home in our midst"
Mrs. Deacon Spinning bit her thread
with a sharp click of her false teeth
and folded up the glngham 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 hes
dreadful shy. and it's a setback to
him."
He was terrible noncomnfittal," an
nounced Fanny Pollard, with the air
of one who is treading familiar ground
"Many's the time I've sat and pom
dered what Joel meant when he said
such and such a thing"
Most times | reckon he didn't mean
nothing at ALL" said Mrs. Spinning
cheerfully II take II Joel was shy.
But. land why are we all talking about
him as II he was dead and waiting
to be buried? II Joel Tykesbury don't
like the way he's been treated here
he's not going to stay In Little River
for nobody. I'm 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 II was threatening
storm. and another time when Lin
ny had the measles he went clean over
to the Ford after DIR. Mitchell and
didn't want to hear word Of thanks
either"
"And giving away his furniture
amt that the qleerest 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 II shouldn't
wonder a mite II that was the secret
of his going He's going TO get mar
ried to widder, maybe. and she, hay-
ing a houseful Of furniture left BY
her first husband. won't have no need
for Joel's things" Mrs. Spinning
beamed around the busy circle "I'm
mighty glad to think he's going to get
married. He's just the incest kind OF
man. He'll make some girl good
husband I'm disappointed though.
kinder hoped he'd pick n 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 ut whose
house they had met, announced that