Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-03-06

BY EARL REED sIlvEHs.

claim.f Nobody knew where he came
I from or why he selected the quiet Ut
tie house on the outskirts Of Merchant
Vile. Even Mrs. Mary Springer, the
pretty young widow who kept the
boarding house, could not elicit any
news as to his business. He sat in,his
room writing for the greater part OF
! the day. and in the evening he mingled
with the other boarders on the front
porch, or In the living room. listening
10 their idle conversation, and ventur-
ing now and then quaint suggestion.
After he had spent month In the
house, the others knew no more about
| him than they had known on the eve
ming Of his arrival. But they learned
| 10 like him and to court his quiet
friendship.
Because he was In the house all day.
Mrs Springer grew to know him well.
There was something vaguely familiar
about his soft voice; certain manner.
isms awoke vague recoiIectiohs, as II
she had seen him before. He reminded
her. in some way. Of someone she had
known. In the little western town
where she had spent her girIhood.
Gradually he won place In the
hearts of the members OF the house
hold. His little acts Of kindness were
everywhere apparent.
But, most Of all, he became invalu-
able in Mrs. Springer's daily routine.
When the cook left suddenly, he per-
mitted the landlady to tie Bingham
apron around his waist, and for two
| days. until the new cook arrived. he
| took entire charge of the kitchen. BE
| seemed to have genius for housework
and when there was nothing to do in
the way of cooking he pottered about
the yard. repairing an old fence which
had been broken for months. putting
new wire on the chicken coop and
painting the back porch until the
boarders did not recognize 1t as an
old friend.
They fell into the habit of sitting on
the porch and talking. She told him
about her youth how she had lived in
Wisconsin, the only daughter of the viii
I lage doctor; how she had been self.
willed and headstrong. Then she men,
TONED a boy, Arthur Howell, with
whom she had kept company" us she
said. for year or more. only to for
get all about him when Dudley Spring
er, citifed and supposedly rich. had
visited the town. She had finally run
away with the stranger. and then her
enlightenment had begun.
He died two years after we we're
married." she said. land since then !
have kept this boarding house."
Have you never thought of going
back to- the people al homer" He
spoke softly. and his sad~eyes looked
into the distance.
1--we thought about IT," she an
swered. "But couldn't bear the idea
Of going back there. want the town
folks, and especially Arthur. to think
that am happy"
And aren't your" His voice was
hardly more than a whisper.
No" she answered. "I'm houesics
for the West-fOr him"
do you know what has become of
hlmT"
He went AWAY and the girls with
whom he kept In touch do not know
where he has gone"
What would you do IL you should
meet HIM" asked the man teusely. In
the depth of his brown eyes giowed a
smoldering fire.
Nothing" She spoke disconsolately,
He has probably forgotten all about
me by now" II
but II he hasn't and he should
come TO you. what would you doy"
I'D do anything In the world he
wanted me to-"
The mans hand was shaking; his
voice trembled slightly.
do you think you would know him
II you saw him?"
IL don't know. II has been ten years
since went away with the other man.
and they say that Arthur took II hard
and changed"
What did you say his name was7"
Arthur Howell"
The man opened the magazine Which
he held In his hand.
Here is something which might In.
terest you." he said. Look on page
ninety-lve."
She turned to the place Indicated, |
and there. In big black type she read
the name Arthur Howell.
SWhyi" she gasped. "he has written
a story y
Eyes" the man spoke sadly. "T have
seen his name countless times in the
big magazines. He is a famous wri.
ter Il
I'm glad; he deserves all the sue.
cess he has won."
DO you know that he is In Mer.
chantvile?"
She started.