Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-04-21
CHAPTER XIII.
Exuent Omens.

why limit II TO the country! ne
asked II should say you were too
parsimonious in your judgment"
Mrs. Quimby, detecting in the old
mans words a compliment, flushed
an even deeper red as she bent above
the stove.
Its so seldom anything really
happens around here" she said, Il
Just been hungering for news of the
strange goings on up there. And 1
must say Quimby amt been none too
newsy on the subject. l threatened
to come up and join the proceedings
myself, especially when heard about
the book writing cook Providence had
sent you"
You would have found us on the
porch with outstretched arms" Mr..
Magee assured her.
1t was on Kendrick that Mrs.
Quimby showered her attentions, and
when the group rose to seek the sta
ton, amid a consultation of watches
that recalled the commuter who rises
at dawn to play tag with fippant
train, Mr.. Magee heard her say to
the railroad man in a heartfelt aside:
II don't know as 1 can ever thank
you enough, Mr.. Kendrick. for put
ting new hope in Quimby. You'll
never understand what it means
when you have given up and your life
seems all done and wasted, to hear
that there's a chance left"
Wont II" replied Kendrick
warmly. Mrs. Quimby, it will make
me a very happy man to give your
husband his chance"
the sky when the hermits of Bald
pate filed through the gate into the
road, waving goodby to Quimby and
his wife, who stood in their dooryard
for the farewell.
In the station Mr.. Magee encounter
ed an old friend-he of the mop OF
ginger colored hair. The man who had
complained of the slowness Of the
village, gazed with wide eyes of Ma
gee.
hC SeilN, SiiSN wv -
come this way again. Well, l must
say you've put a little life into this
place. If I'd known when l saw you
here the other night all the exciting
things you had up your sleeve I'd
- a-gone right up to [Ratdpste with
you"
But l hadn't anything up my
sleeve" protested Magee.
Maybe" replied the agent, wink
ing. There's some pretty giddy
stories going around about the car
rying on up at Baldpate-shots fired
and strange lights flashing. Doggone
it. The only thing that's happened
here in years, and 1 wasn't in on 1t.
1 certainly wish you'd put me wise to
it."
Two dropping figures entered the
station-the mayor and his faithful
lieutenant, Max. The dignity of the
former had faded like flower, and
the same withered smile might have
been applied with equal force to the
accustomed jauntiness Of Lou.
They filed out upon the platform,
Mr.. Magee carrying Mrs. Nortons
luggage amid her effusive thanks.
On the platform waited a stranger
equipped for travel. 1t was Mr.. Max
who made the discovery.
by the Lord Harry" he cried
Its the hermit Of Baldpate noun
tain"
And so it was, his beard gone, his
hair clumsily hacked, his body garbed
in the height of an old and ludicrous
fashion, his face set bravely toward
the cities once more.
Yes" he said, II walked the floor.
thinking it all over. knew it would
happen. and it has The winters are
hard and the sight of you-it was too
much. The excitement. the talk-it
did for me. did for my oath. So I'm
going back to her-back to Brooklyn
for Christmas"
"A merry one to you" growled
Cargan.
Maybe replied Mr.. Peters
VERY likely. if she's feeling that
way. | hope so. 1 amt giving VI
the hermit job altogether-Pll come
back in the summers to my postcard
business. There's money in it if it's
handled right. But I've spent my
last winter on that lonesome hill"
LAS author to author" asked Ma
gee, "how about that book?"
There won't be any mention OF
that" the hermit predicted. 'ir
Brooklyn. I've packed it away. May
be l can work on it summers if she
doesn't come up here with me and in
sist on running my hermit business
for me- I hope she won't. it woulc
sort of put a crimp in it. but If she
wants to l won't refuse. And may
be that book'll never get done
Sometimes as I've sat in my shack a
night and read it's come to me thai
all the greatest works since the
world began have been those tha
never got finished"
The Reuton train roared up t(
them through the gray morning anc
paused impatiently at Upper Asque
wan Falls Aboard it Clambered the
hermits, amateur and professional
Mr. Magee from the platform waved
goodby to the agent standing forlorr
in the station door. He watched the
building until it was only blur ir
the dawn. A kindly feeling for il
was in his heart. After all it haC
been in the waiting room Then ht
started for the smoker. On his way
he paused at the seat occupied by the
ex-hermit of Baldpate aand fixed hi:
eyes on the pale blue necktie Mr.
Peters had resurrected for his return
To the world of men.
Pretty, amt it?" remarked the
hermit. seeing whittier Mr.. Magee'!
gaze drfted. "She picked it.
didn't exactly like it when she frs
gave it to me, but 1 see my mistake
now I'm wearing it home as sor
Of a white flag of truce-or almos