Middletown transcript., 1922-11-25
li---Continued.

p
"One twenty-five" I answered, and
felt my ears growing red with mortifi-
cation. Too late, l remembered that
the newcomer in a community should
guard his tongue among the natives
until he has unraveled the skein Of
their relationships, alliances, feuds
and private wars-a precept not un-
like the classic injunction:
Yes, my darling daughter;
Hang your clothes on the hickory limb,
But don't go near the water.
However, in my confusion warmly
regretted my failure to follow it, and
resolved not to blunder again.
Mr.. Dowden thanked me for the in
formation for which he had no real
desire, and, the elderly ladies' again
taking up (with all too evident relief)
their various mild debates, he inquired
If played bridge. But forget" he
added. "Of course you'll be at the
Despatch office In the evenings, and
can't be here" After which he i'm
mediately began to question me about
my work, making his determination to
give me no opportunity again to men
tion the Honorable David Beasley I'M
necessarily conspicuous, as l thought.
I could only conclude that some un-
pleasantness had arisen between him
self and Beasley, probably of political
origin, since they were both In poll
tics, and of personal (und consequent
ly bitterr development; and that Mr..
Dowden found the mention of Beas-
ley not only unpleasant to himself but
a possible embarrassment to the ladies
(who, l supposed, were aware Of the
quarreD on his account.
After lunch, not having to report at
the office Immediately, took unto my
self the solace of a cigar, which kept
me company during stroll about Mrs.
Apperthwaite's capacious yard. In the
rear l found an old-fashioned rose
garden-the bushes long since bloom
less and now brown with autumn-and
l paced its graveled paths up and
down, at the same time favoring Mr..
Beasley's house with a covert study
that would have done credit to a
porch climber, for the sting of my
blunder at the table was quiescent, or
at least neutraliZed, under the itch of
curiosity far 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 Beasley
himself. He came not In eyeshot now,
neither he nor any other; there was
no sign of life about the place. That
portion of his yard which lay behind
the house was not within my vision, II
is true, his property being here sepa-
rated from Mrs. Apperthwaite's by O
board fence higher than a tall man
could reach but there was no sound
from the other side of this partition
save that caused by the quiet move.
ment of rusty leaves in the breeze.
My cigar was at half-length when
the green lattice door of Mrs. Apper
thwaite's back porch was opened and
Miss Apperthwaite, bearing a saucer
of milk, issued therefrom, followed
hastily, by very white, fat cat, with
a pink ribbon round its neck, Vibrant
nose, and fixed, voracious eyes up
lifted to the saucer. The lady and hel
cat offered to view a group as pretty
as a popular painting; 1t was even i'm
proved when, STOPPING, Miss Apper
thwaite set the saucer upon the
ground, and. continuing in that pos
ture. stroked the cat. To bend so fal
Is test of a woman's grace, have
observed.
She turned her face toward me ant
smiled. "I'm almost at the age, yor
see."
"What age?" I asked. stupidly
enough.
"Nhen we take to cats" she said
rising. 'Spinsterhood' we like to cal
II. .Single-blessedness!" ="
.sThat is your kind heart. You de
cline to make one of us happy to tn,
despair of all the rest"
She laughed at this, though with n,
very genuine mirth, l marked, and lie
nv 1890 attempt at gallantry pas.
without retort.
"You seemed interested in the oil
place yonder." She indicated Mr.
Beasley's house with nod.
"Oh, understood my blunder,"
said, quickly. II wish had know
the subject was embarrassing or un
pleasant to Mr.. Dowden."
"What made you think that?"
"Surely," l said, ''you saw hov
pointedly he cut me off"
"Yes," she returned thoughtfully
"He rather did, it's true. At least,
see how you got that impression" Sh
seemed to muse upon this, letting he
eyes fall; then, raising them, Above
her far-away gaze to rest upon th
house beyond the fence, and said, u
is an Interesting old place"
-And Mr.. Beasley himself b.
gan.
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