Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-05-10


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 secret that would have pro-
yided 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 Nichols 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 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 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
Il clear about Joel Tykesbury. I've
done the best could to make It pleas
ant for him in church and out! 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. II
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 gingham apron she
| had completed Seems like I'll never
forgive myself II Joel Tykesbury goes
away from Little River feeling sore
about the way he's been treated. I
don't believe any Of you really know
just how kind hearted he b. Only he's
dreadful shy. and it's 4 setback to
him."
HE was terrible noncommittal," an
nounced Fanny Pollard, with the air
Of one who Is treading familiar ground.
"Nany'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 1t Joel was shy.
But. land. why are we all talking about
him ~ II he was dead and waiting
to be buriedl 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
I do like him. Once he shut up his
shop and came over and helped Henry
get In his hay when 1t was threatening
storm, and another time when Lin.
ny had the measles he went clean over
to the Ford after DR.. Mitchell and
didn't want to hear q word Of thanks
either"
And giving away his furniture
amt that the queerest thing? I s'pose
likely he's going to board when be gets
to the city" murmured Annie Baker
Maybe he is going to get married.
Now l come to think Of It I shouldn't
wonder mite II that was the secret
Of his going He's going to get mar.
ried to wilder, maybe. and she, hav-
ing a houseful Of furniture left by
her first husband. won't have no need
for Joels things" Mrs. SPINNING
beamed around the busy circle. "rm
mighty glad to think he's going to get
married. He's Just the incest kind Of
man. Hen make some girl q good
husband. I'm disappointed. though. I
kinder hoped he'd pick q 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. Willoweil. at whose
house they had met. announced that
refreshments would be served In the
dining room. and so for the time being
Joel Tykesbury and his Affairs were
forgotten.
Joel 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