The Washington herald., 1913-12-02
LOCAL COLOR.
by JOHN pHILIP oRrH.

tOOp9nGnI, lL3l
Outside the village Of Fair Haven. in
a half-acre field grown to weeds and
briars. stood the house OF mystery. Al
most every town and village has one. In
this case II was house that had stood
In half-hnished condition and tenant
less most OF the time for years The
property was tied up in a suit at law.
The house Of mystery had been a free
lodging place for tramps for the past
three years, when the town woke up one
morning to find that II had what seemed
TO be permanent tenant woman and
boy had taken possession during the
night. They had arrived in a wagon.
which had brought some lumber for re-
pairs and various supplies.
The woman looked to be fifty years
old. She was tall, gaunt. and defiant.
The boy was about twelve. II may have
been mother and son, but he looked half
starved and otherwise ill-treated.
Phineas Green, the grocer, was the first
one to come along and discover that the
old house had a tenant. He felt per-
fectly justified in turning aside and TAX
ing look in at the open door. He had
only got ready to peep when the woman
stepped out and seized him by the COL
lar and ran him back to the highway.
and then gave him a kick that lifted him
foot high.
The grocer didn't stop to ask any ques-
tions. He hastened on TO his grocery and
marked up the price of canned tomatoes
as balm to his feelings. and then stood
at his door and told the news to all
who came along. Among them was
Moses Jackson. the sohemaker. Moses
was not a full-page advertiser in the
county paper, but he mad an eye out for
business. That strange woman and boy
must wear shoes. He wanted them to
wear shoes Of his making. He there
fore hastened his steps TO the house Of
mystery. The woman was mailing on a
board while the boy held il.
What yer want?" was growIed at the
shoemaker.
''You-you wear shoes he replied.
81 do" she replied as she stuck out a
foot encased In a No g.
''I called to ask"
''Oh, you may have one,'
And he got 1t. II was the shoe on her
right foot. 1t wasn't removed from the
foot before he got II. He was kicked
six times before he could get a fair start.
One thinks OF a shoemaker as a mild
hammered man. Moses Jackson was
mlld-mannered, but he had been kicked
for the first time in his life. and the in
cident aroused him. He went straight
to Abraham Scott. the town constable.
and told his story.
what. a citizen OF our town kickedr'
exclaimed the officer.
1T Is true, Abe
by the jumping jeeswax but we'll see
about that! I'll go up there and see
that that woman pays you a dollar
kick in cash.
BY the time the oficer got up there
board and was cutting down a dead plum
tree.
Look here. now. who be YOU" de-
manded Abraham.
None o. your business
Don't answer me that way. woman.
By what right are you here?'
You go TO blazes'"
What. What, Do you know that YOU
are talking to the law! Woman. I de-
mand-"
Before he could finish he brought up
in a thistle patch. and he scrambled to
his feet to make them bear him away
like flying machine. This ended the
calls at the house of mystery. The people
Of Fair Haven contented themselves with
tam Once or twice a week the woman
entered the village TO make purchases
but she hadn't a word TO say outside of
her errand.
OF the churches believe that it was his
duty TO have a little talk with the wom-
an. He had heard OF the kickings and
didn't care to visit the house, but as
she had finished her purchases and was
returning home one day he waylaid her
and began:
My good woman. ! haven't seen you
at church yet"
She answered never a word. but set
ting down her basket. she picked the
man up without effort and carried him to
the fence and heaved him over. 1t is
among the records OF Fair Haven that
as the pastors body came to rest II
crushed and destroyed no less than six