The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-11-16
SYNOPSIS
,ABOOTH HARRINGTON


PART i-Newcomer In a small town,
young newspaper man. who tells the
story. 10 amazed by the unaccountable
sctions OF q man who. from the window
u q nns house. apparently has converse
With invteible persOnages, particularly
mentioning one "simpledoria The youth
goes TO his boarding house. the home of
Mrs Apperthwaite. next door to the scene
OF the strange proceedings. bewildered.
Can you tell me-" he said. leaning
forward and following up the inter.
ruption ~ hastily ms possible. "what
the farmers were getting for their
wheat when you left Spencerviller
zone twenty five" answered. and
felt my ears growing red with north.
cation. Too late. I remembered tina,
the newcomer In q community should
guard his tongue among the natives
until he has unrnveled the skein of
their relationships. alliances. feuds
ind private wars precept net un.
like the classic Injunction:
TIES. my darling daughter;
Hang your clothes on the hickory nmb.
But don't TO near the water.
However, In my confusion ! warmly
regretted my failure TO follow H. and
resolved not TO blunder again.
Mr.. Dowden thanked me for the in
formation for which he had no real
desire. and. the elderly Indies again
taking UP with all too evident relief
their various mild debates. he inquired
II ! played bridge. hut ! forget" he
added. "Of course you'il he ut the
Despatch ONCE In the evenings, and
can't be here" After which he i'm
mediately hegan to question me about
my work, making his determination Ia
give me no opportunity again 20 men
ton the Honorable David Beasley un-
necessarily conspicuous, rs ] thought.
could only conclude that some un.
pleasantness had arisen between him
self and Rcasiry, probably Of political
origin. since they were both In poll.
tics. and Of personal land consequent
~ hitter> development; and that Mr..
Dowden found the mention 81 Beas
ley not only unpleasant TO himself but
a possible embarrassment to the ladies
twho, ] supposed. were aware OF the
auarreD on his account.
After lunch. not having to report al
the office Immediately. ! took unto my
self the soiace Of cigar. which. kept
me company during n stroll about Mrs
opportunities capacious yard. In the
rear I found an oldfashioned rose
garden--the bushes long since bloom
less and now brown with autumn-and
I paced Its graveled paths up and
down. NJ the same time favoring Mr.
that would have done credit To n
porch climber. for the sting of my
hlunder at the table was quiescent. OF
Of least neutralized, under the itch Of
curiosity for from satisfied concerning
the Interesting premises next door
The gentleman In the dressing gown.
was sure. could have been no other
than the Honorable David BeasleA
himself He came not In eyeshot now
neither he nor any other; there wa
portion Of his yard which lay behind
the house was not within my vision II
il true. his property being here sepn
rated rom Mrs. opportunities by q
board fence higher than n tall man
could reach but there was no sound
rom the other side NJ this partition
save that caused by the quiet move
ment OF rusty leaves In the breeze.
Nv cigar was ut half-length when
the green lattice door Of Mrs. Apper
thv sites hack porch was opened and
Miss Apperthwaite. bearing n saucer
~ milk. issued therefrom. followed
hastily. nv very white, fat cat, with
a pink ribbon round it's neck, vibrant
nose, and fixed, voraclous eyes up
lifted 10 the saucer The lady and her
eat offered 90 view n group as pretty
as popular painting IL was even I'm
proyod when. stopping, Miss Apper
thwalte set the saucer upon the
ground and, continuing In that pos
ture. stroked the cat To bend 50 far
is a test Of woman's grace, | have
observed.
She turned her face townrd me and
smiled I'm almost at the age, you
see"
"what age'" asked, stupidity
enough.
"When we take 10 eats" she said.
rising. 'Spinsterhood we like 10 call
n. 'Slngle-blessedness y"
"That Is your kind heart. You DE
cline 10 make one Of MS happy to the
dcspair Of all the rest"
She laughed AT this, though with nc
very genuine mlrth. I marked. and lei
my 1870 attempt at gallantry pass
without retort.
"you seemed Interested In the old
Mace yonder." She Indicated MI
Beasley's house with nod.
"Oh. I Understood my blunder,'
said, quickly. ~ wish ] had known
the subject was embarrassing or un'
AZ. nnmIap