Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-12-27

voice OF his. replied:
-Br-r-ra-vo
This was the form OF salutation IN.
miliarly In use between them. Raas
ley followed II by inquiring. "who,
with Us todayY
I'm Mister Swift" chirped the little
fellow. Mister Swift, IL you please.
Cousin David Beasley."
Beasley executed a formal bow.
There Is gentleman here who'd like
10 meet YOU" And he presented me
with some grave phrases commenda-
tory of my general character, address
ing the child as Mister Swift;
whereupOn Mister Swift gave me a
ghostly little hand and professed him.
self glad to meet me.
And besides me-" he added. 10
Beasley. there's BIN Hammersley and
Mr.. COrley Llnbridge."
A faint perplexity manifested itself
upon Beasley's face at this. a shadow
which cleared AZ once when I asked n
i might not be permitted 10 meet these
personages, remarklns that | had
heard from Dowden Of Bin Hammers
ley, though until now a stranger TO
the fame OF Mr.. Corley Linbridge.
Beasley performed the ceremony
with intentional elegance. while the
boys great eyes swept glowlngly from
his cousins face 10 mine aud back
agin. I bowed and shook hands with
the air. once TO my left and once to
my right.
"And Simpledorla 2" cried Mister
Swift "YouIl enjoy Slmpledoria."
Above all things" I said. Can he
shake handsf Some dogs can"
watch him." Mister Swift lifted
commanding finger. "Slmpledorla.
shake hands 2"
knelt beside the wagon ard shook
nm imaginary big paw. AT this Mister
Swift again shook hands with me and
allowed me TO perceive. In his lumI-
nous regard, a solemn commentator
and approval.
In this wise was my initiation into
the beautiful old house and the cor
diality Of It's inmates completed; and
| became a familiar Of David Beasley
and his ward, with the privilege 10 go
and come as | pleased; there was al
ways gay and friendly welcome. I al
ways came for the cigar after lunch.
sometimes for lunch itself: sometimes
! dined there instead Of down town;
and now and then when IL happened
that an errand or assignment took me
that way In the afternoon. would run
In and visit" awhile with Hamilton
Swift. Junior, and his circle OF friends
There were days, Of course, when
his attacks were upon him, and only
Beasley and the doctor and old Bob
saw him: I do not know what the boys
mental condition was at such times;
but when he was better, and could be
wheeled about the house and again re-
ceive callers. he displayed an almost
dlsmaylng activity Of mind-it was ac-
tive enough. certainly. 10 keep far
ahead of my own. Aud he was mas
terful: still. Beasley and Dowden and
were never directly chldden for In
subordlnation. though made 20 vince
painfully by the look OF troubled sur
prise that met US when we We're not
quick enough 10 catch his meaning.
The order OF the day with him al
ways began with the 'Hoo-ray" and
"Br-r-ru-vO" Of greeting; after which
we were 10 inquire. who's with us to-
dayT WhereupOn he would make
known the character in which he elect
ed 10 be received for the occasion. II
he announced himself rs Mister
Swift" everything was 90 be very
grown-up and decorous indeed. For
malities and distances were observed;
and Mr. Corley Linbridgc tan elderly
parsonage Of great dignity and distinc-
ton as a mountain-cllmber) was much
oftener included In the conversation
than BIZ Hammersley. If, however.
he declared himself 20 be Hamilton
Swift. Junior" which was his happiest
mood. BIN Hammersley and Simple
doria were In the ascendant, and there
were games and contests. (DOwden,
Beasley and / all slid down the ban
listers on one of the Hamilton Swift,
Junior. days. az which really plctur-
esque spectacle the boy almost cried
with laughter-and old Bob and his
wife. who came running from the
kitchen. did cry.) He had a third APP
pellatIon for hlmself-"Just little Ham,
nton :" but this was only when the
creaky voice could hardly chirp at all
and the weakened face was drawn TO
one side with suffering. When he told
ms he was "Just little Hamilton" we
were very quiet.
Once. for ten days. his Invislbles all
went away on n visit: Hamilton Swift.
Junior. had become interested In
bears. While this lasted, all Of Beas-
lev's trousers were. as Dowden said.
"A sight" For that matter, Dowden
himself was quite hoarse in court
from growing so much. The bears
were dismissed abruptly: Bin Ham,
mersley and Mr. Corley Linbridge and
Simpledoria came trooplng back. and
-. ~ hrnu~ht shat xNanfarful