The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-03-31

their depths: a fine nose and a wssss
well cut mouth showing reserve &c 1an
| frmness. In fact. Joel Tykesbury 0Ax
| handsome man. and although he asaa
forty years old there was not 1hxxsn
| Of white I'm his abundant hair.
Suddenly he arose and, approachrF
the glass, brushed his hair int sxzz=
semblance of order. I'll 60 % Msx
York tomorrow night. and now, af.sr
I've had my supper, I'll say gsrEiaT
to some of the folks that I've hal ~
quaintance with."l
Joel's scowl was quite black W1aEE
he rang the doorbell at Spinnkxatxs
therefore when the portal swnng @abs
and the hall shed stream OF EaEsE
over his form he blinked and Mna-aS
like an OWL
'Its.JOel Tykesbury, as liver" c,cxE
Mrs. Spinning heartily. "Now, this y
real neighborly! Come right an ssa&
have bite to eat. We've guxt x1r
down to supper. Henry, herese Ls.i
come to support"
Henry" she said, addressing iae-
be about what ! planned. TonsgaE IL
8 o'clOck-everybody you underSt1nn"
Mrs. Spinning nodded and frowDeE Ex
smiled at her husband.
"I'll see to II, Maria" he chuctszK
softly. Then, addressing their sgBsSe.
he said, when you going to ksESss
Little River, JoelT ~.
Tomorrow night" said joel. he2SSh7e
himself to another biscuit.
wish you was going to stay" za5s
the deacon cordially. You'll he nnS~
ed, Joel"
Missed" scoffed Mr. TylzeS5nxy.,
forgetting his diifidence in his 2aHSnzs
ishment. who'll miss me?"
Everybody in Little River GsSl
the deacon quietly. There's few 9ssrs
but what you've done good turn Ea-,
some tine or other You've feCsofesL
'em, / suppose, but folks b2SssnSa
They like to see you around 1zza II
you wasn't so bashful you'd SOe Exgs
most popular man in the village. TAI
even excepting the postmaster E&,
Maria?
"Of course he would! You t0s&s ~
stern, Joel, that it seems to sGnxB 6IifA
that you're stony pillar Of the cAsEss.e
in deed as well as Manner hr1E.
Spinning laughed heartily, whlSe 2Sst
smiled in surprised manner.
''Me bashful?" he stammered- -'MEy.
I never thought about that I fsaxE
thought folks wasn't cordial ezAEzsEn
when they thought I wasn't"
you've got to meet folks haN SsEz-
In everything. 'Tain't fair to saE,He.@
some to do all the being pleasant izEnn
sociable. Well. Maria, I'll go en- tszz1
errand if Joel will excuse me &=ss
you laterw With that the deacon o.
appeared, and Joel helped Mrs Safr-
ming clear away the dishes.
'Do you recollect my niece. CS2s'
lotte Wayland?" she asked as SHE gszF--
ped into the front parlor and Kg1fE.D
the prism hung lamp on the causH,
table. "She was visiting me ten pzazE
ago."
Joel flushed holly. Indeed, fe dh-
remember the pretty girl at when dss
scarcely dared glance in church., wei
to whom he had irrevocably Loaf artg
heart. Much of the silence aE& SHps,~
iness of the past ten years uigzlS aze
laid at the door of his heartsicSHgA
after pretty Charlotte had returned 81
her distant home. He heard af1ae
ward that she had married.
81 remember" he said family.
"She's in Little River. Caxe M
visit my sister. Charlottes a w5eGx
and as pretty a one as 1 ever SAW 4
declare, it don't seem proper Isr &C
widow to be quite so good looking ~
our Charlotte" Mrs. Spinning snalrSs
innocently as she thrust a pbobasrSlA
into Joel's hand. That's CharkxsE
She's coming around tonight, aE1E
you'll have to see her home"
At that instant the bell rang claEsg
ously. and, with slight chuckae Sek
delight, Mrs. Spinning fastened SOS ms
swer 1t, while Joel devoured tSse ess-
ture with his eyes. now hopet1. utc
longer shy or diffident. Their degs4zs
contained a new purpose, a new Ecgtxt,
new courage. Here was somcsefug
to fight for and win-Charlotte MzE-
land that was!
The door opened, and into the seanl
streamed q merry crowd Of men, wv
men and children. All the fslsz as
Little River seemed gathered toguGner
under Deacon Spinning's hosHx1xssAe,
roof. Surprise, Joel TykestCry7~
they cried in unison as they cncxsSaH
around him.
In that brief moment OF excstsgneD.
Of meeting all these old acQuafnEzrnex
In this genial atmosphere they '&Tsss
ped the old guise and became drsessiz-
Joel swallowed sob as be rre2,EwG
that they had gathered to say sgs~li1Y
to him. to say how sorry they 'uer.
he was leaving Little River, to sfsc'
him a sendoff and to say TO him tans
every latchstring in Little River Ssnz
always out for J Eel Tykesbury-
That was the beginning OF the "hJSa-
piest evening Joel had ever knoww-
Before 1t ended he had forever drag
ped his cloak of reserve, and he fNg1sc
that his fellow townsmen met 4axt
more than half way. A strange nSer
Joy sang in his heart, for the wi61wte
Charlotte had blushed Beautifully
when their eyes met and he had san
oh tho ,loo c,,ra of bar oornna t<nUx,