The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1917-07-26
TheWayJoeI
Said F areweII
And Then Changed His Mind
About leaving.
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE

on his mothers side had died with,
ont near relatives and had left him
the comfortable sum Of $4,000 in
cash there was not a soul TO whom
he coniided the astounding news,
Close locked behind his compressed
lips was hidden secret that would
have provided 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 be closed the
little harness shop aud spent sew
cral days in New York. But when
lac returned from the city and pro-
ceeded 10 sell the contents Of his
shop at auction prices, when lie pre-
scented the furniture contained in
his lonely bachelor abode 10 the
thriftless Nickols family, who lived
on the edge Of the village, and final
II when the minister dropped q
word in the midst Of the Ladies'
Aid society's Wednesday sociable
then Little River sat up very
straight and took notice.
YES, said Mr. Beeman, thought
fully stroking his scanty beard.
Joel says he's tired Of LATHE Riy-
er, 50 he Is going 10 New York 10
live. He seems 70 feel rather bitter
about the way he's been received
in our village. He SAYS he's lived
here fifteen years aud he isn't
much better acquainted than when
be came"
Ihat's every mite his own fault,
them" cried Miss Fanny Pollard
warmly. "lIe's the most nnsociable
man 10 Little River. Ny conscience
i clear about Joel Tykesbury. I've
done the best could 10 make IL
pleasant for him in church and
ont" A suppressed giggle from the
young girls in a distant corner clos
ed Miss Fanny's lips into q grim
frown. Her small brown eyes shot
little angry sparks At the gigglers.
THAT Is very true, Miss Pollard ?
soothcd the minister peacefully. Il
am sure We have ell done our best
10 make Joel feel at home in our
midst
AIrs. Deacon Spinning bit her
thread with a sharp click Of her
false teeth and folded up the ging-
ham apron she had completed.
Seems like I'll never forgive my
self II Joel Tykesbury goes away
from Little River feeling sore about
the way he's been treated. | don't
believe any Of you really know just
how kind hearted he Is. Only he's
dreadful shy, and It's a setback 70
him.
Maybe he l. going to get mar
RED. Now I come to think Of il /
shouldn't wonder a mite il that was
the secret Of his going. He's going
to get married 10 a wilder. maybe,
and she. having houseful Of furni-
ture left by her first husband. won't
have no need for Jocl'e thinga"
Mrs. Spinning bcamed around the
busy circle. 'I'm mighty glad to
think he's going to get married.
Hes just the incest kind Of man.
He'll make some girl a good hus-
band. I'm disappointed, though.
kinder hoped he'd pick a wife
from Little River
There was long silence after
this, until at last Mrs. Willowell,
at whosc house they had met, an
nounced that refreshments would
be served in the dining room. and
70 for alic time being Joel Tykes-
bury and- his affairs were forgotten.
Joel himself, having given away
bis furniture and disposed Of his
sat in his lonely room in |
the best hotel the village afforded !
and wondered what he would do |
next.
~I'll shake the dust Of this here |
village from my feet said Joel |
eyeing his reflection in
the wavy mirror with a gloomy |
frown. "Thcre won't be one per-
ION that will miss me when I'm
zone. II I'd been treated decent
here I'D never thought Of leaving |
Little River. It would have done
he village good to spend my money |
lere. / could build a house as fine
Is Lawyer Beggs and live on my in
Gerest money. The women, amt
never noticed me much, and | amt
! bad looking feller." Joel REDEEM
Il as he lifted shy eyes at his re-
lection in the mirror. Good look
nr in spite Of the Irregularities in
he glass. In fact, Joel Tykesbury
vas a handsome man, and although
ie was forty years old there was
,ot a thread Of white in his album
liant hair.
II