The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-12-07

dow. NOW ana then ne would give me
n mild and drawing word or two, not
brilliantly iIiuminatiye. II may he re-.
marked. "well-about that" he be.
gnn once. and then came Immediately
to q full stop.
sy.,- 7 ..t, ,oo.,,u. M, o.,cu
o,,so,
-, i,
Tvs MT he"s'e'' e",o"rase"
"in' 'o' I'VE see'"e" !" nave Univ" ny
P''n'""e"''s'
"eh' SIT guess haunt you
better see some one else ABOUT thatf
ms with the air OF man VINO
would be but too fluent ana copious
upon any subject In the world except
the one particular point.
never met anybody else who looked
so pleasantly communicative and man
aged to say so little. In fact, he didn't
say anything at all; and ! guessed
that this faculty was not without Its
value In his political career. disastrous
as II had proved 10 his private happi-
ness. His habit OF silence. moreover,
was not cultivated: you could see
that "the secret of it, was that he was
born quiet.
NV notebook remained noteless,
and finally, Mt some odd evasion OF
his, accomplished by monosyllable,
I laughed outrlght-and he did. too
He Joined ordinations with me
heartily, and with n twinkling quizzi-
calness that somehow gave me the
idea that he might be thinking (rather
apologetically) to himself: Yes, sir.
that old Bensley man Is certainly
mighty funny critter"
When l went away. few moments
later, and left him still internationally
chuckling, the impression remained
with me that he had some such depre-
cntory and surreptitious Thought.
Two or three days after that. as
started downtown from Mrs. Apper-
thwaites, Beasley came out Of his
gate. bosnd In the same direction. He
gave me look of gay recognition and
offered his hand. saying, We'll! UP
In this neighborhood y ms IL that were
matter Of considerable astonishment
! mentioned that | was neighbor,
and We walked on together. don't
think he spoke again, except Tor
well. sirG ar two OF genial surprise
ut something | said and, now ana
then. You don't tell me' which he
had a most eloquent way OF exclaim'
ing; but he listened visibly to my own
talk. and laughed AT everything that
! meant Tor funny.
never knew anybody who gave one
n greater responsiveness; he seemed
Ia be with you every instant; ana no"
he made you feel II was the true mys-
terry Of Bcasley, this silent man who
never talked. except Gas my cousin
said) To children.
II happened that thus met him. as
we were both starting down town, and
walked on with him, several days In
succession; in word, II became a
habit. Then, one afternoon. as ]
turned to leave him at the Despatch
office, he asked me II woSld drop In
at his house the next day for a cigar
before started. did and he asked
me II l would come again the day
after that. So this became "A habit
too.
A fortnight elapsed before I met
Hamilton Swift. Junior: for he, poor
little fsther of dream.chlIdren, could
be no Spectator of track events upon
the lawn. but lay In his bed upstairs
However. he grew better Mt last. and
my presentation took place.
We Ind inst finished our cigars In
Beasley's airy. old fashioned sitting
room" and were rising 10 go, when
there came the faint creakIng Of small
wheels from the hall. Beusley turned
to me with the apologize and mono
syllable chuckle that was distinctly
his alone.
"Tve got n little chap here he