The Ocala evening star., 1922-12-23


Beasley offered Mr.. Hunchberg a cigar
and struck match for him to light it,
But whar." exclaimed the old
darky, "whar in de name o. de good
Gawd do de chile get dem names2 Hit
lax to skeer mel"
That was a subject often debated
between Dowden and me: there was
nothing in Wainwright that could have
suggested them, and 1t did not seem
probable he could have remembered
them from over the water. In my opin-
ion they We're the inventions of that
busy and lonely little brain.
/ met the Hunchberg family. myself,
the day after their arrival, and Beas-
ley, by that time, had become so we'll
acquainted with them that he could
remember all their names, and helped
in the introduction. There was Mr..
Hunchberg-evidently the chiId's IA
yorite, for he was described as the
possessor of every engaging virtue
and there was that lively matron, Mrs
Hunchberg; there were the Hunchbefg
young gentlemen, Tom, Noble and
Grandee; and the young ladies, Miss
Queen, Miss Marble and Miss Molanna
all exceedingly gay and pretty.
There was also Colonel Hunchberg, an
uncle; finally there was Aunt Cooley
Hunchberg, a somewhat decrepit but
very amiable old lady. Mr.. Corley
Linbridge happened to be calling at
the same time; and, as it appeared to
be Beasley's duty to keep the cOnver-
sation going and constantly to include
all of the party in its general flow, 1t
struck me that he had truly Gas Dow
den said) "enough to keep him busy"
The Hunchbergs had lately moved
to Wainwright from Constantinople, 1
learned; they had decided not to live
in town, however, having purchased
fine farm out in the country, and, on
call at Beasleys only about eight
times a day, and seldom more than
twice in the evening. Whenever a
mystic telephone announced that they
were on the way, the child would have
himself wheeled to a window and
when they came in sight he would cry
out in wild delight, while Beasley has
tened to open the front door and ad-
mft them
They were so neal to the child, and
BeasleV treated them with such con-
sfstsat seriousness, that between the
two Of them sometimes began to feel
that there actually were such people,
and to have moments of half-surprise
that couldn't see them; particularly
as each Of the Hunchbergs developed
character entirely his own to the
last popularity, such as the aged
Aunt Cooley Hunchberg's deafness, on
which account Beasley never forgot to
raise his voice when he addressed her.
Indeed, the details of actuality in all
this appeared to bring as great de-
light to the man as to the child. Ger
tainly he built them up with infinite
care. On one occasion when Mr..
Hunchberg and I happened to be call
ing, Hamilton remarked with surprise
that Simpledoria had come into the
usually did, and had crept under the
table Mr. Hunchberg volunteered the
information Through Beasley) that
upon his approach to the house he had
seen Simpledoria chasing a e.;t. 1t
was then debated whether ch9stise-
ment was in order, but finally decided
that Simpledoria's surreptitiou" man
ner of entrance and his hiding under
the table were sufficient indication
that he well understood his baseneSs.
and would never let it happen again.
And so, Beasley having coaxed him
out from under the table, the offender
'sat up," begged, and was forgiven. I
could almost feel the splendid shaggy
head under my hand when, in turn,
patted Simpledoria to show that the
reconciliation was unanimous.
Autumn trailed the last leaves be-
hind her flying brown robes one night;
we woke to a skurry of snow next
morning; and It was winter. Down
town, along the sidewalks, the mer-
chants set lines of poles. covered
them with evergreen, and ran stream
ers of green overhead to encourage the
1SSI6t Shopping. SdISuI1Ou ATluy Suu-
ta Clauses stamped their feet and rang
bells on the corners, and pink-faced
children fixed their noses immovably
to display-windows. For them, the
season of seasons, the time Of times.
was at hand.
To a certain new reporter on the
Despatch the stir and gayety Of the
streets meant little more than that the
days had come when 1t was night In
the afternoon, and that he was given
fewer political assignments. This was
annoying, because Beasley's Candidacy
for the governorship had given me
personal interest In the political situa-
ton. The nominating convention Of
his party would meet I'm the spring
the nomination was certain to carry
the election also, and thus far Beasley
showed more strength than any other
man In the field. Things are looking
his way" said Dowden- Hes always