The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-12-14


him. for he seemed 20 have dried ~
permanently.
swell. sir guess Hadn't you
better See ~ome Que else about thatf
THIS with the air of a man whs
would be but too fluent and copious
upon any subject IN the world except
the one particular point.
fnevcr met anybody else who looked
~ pleasantly communicative aud man
aged 20 say 80 little. In fact. he didn't
say anything NJ all: and guessed
that this faculty was not without n.
value In his political career. dlsastrou.
~ II had proved 60 his private happi
ness. His habit Of silence. moreover
was not cultivated: you could see
that ''the secret Of IT. was that be was
born quiet.
Nv notebook remained noicless
and finally. M some odd evasion II
his. accomplished by a monosyilahle
I laughed ou'righs--and he did. too
Tie Joined ordinations with me
heartily. and with n twinklins quixxi.
cnlncss that somehow gave the the
idea that he might be thinking trather
apoloCeticnliy) 10 himself: "Ye~. sir
that old neasiey man IL certainly a
mighty funny crifterl"
When ! went away. few moments
later. and left him still Internationally
chucklIng. the impression remained
with me that.he had some such depre.
caiory and surrcIrltious thought.
Two or three Asys after that. as |
started downtown from Mrs Apper.
thwaitc's. Bcasley came out ~ his
gate. bound In the same direction. lie
gave me n look of gay recognition and
offered his hand. saying. well, up
In this neighborhocdi ." as II that were
n matter ~ considerable establishment.
mentioned that I was q neishbor.
aud We walked ON together I don't
think he spoke again. except for q
"well. SIR or two of genial surprise
nj something I said. and. now and
then, "You don't tell me-" which he
had n most eloquent way of exclalm-
lag; hut he listened visibly 20 my own
talk. and laughed nj everything that
meant Tor funny.
never knew anybody who gave one
u greater Responsiveness he secnsd
Ia be with you every instant: and how
he made you feel II was the true mys.
terry % Bessley. this silent man who
never talked. except las my cousin
sald) 20 children.
II happened that thus met him. a.
We were both starting down town. aud
walked on with him. several days Ia
successlon: In word. II became a
habit Then. one afternoon. as I
turned 10 leave him Mt the Despatch
Office. In asked me n would drop la
~ his house the next day for a cigar
before ! started. I did: and he asked
me n would come again the day
after that. So this became a habit
too.
A fortnight elapsed before met
Hamilton swift. Junior: for he. poor
little father 81 dream-chiidr-n. could
he no spectator Of truck events upon
the lawn. hut lay In his bcd upstairs.
However. he grew better nj last. and
my presentation took pIsee.
We had Just finished our cirsrs IN
Beasley's airy. old-fashioned sitting
room" and were rising To IN. when
there came the faint ,reakine 81 small
wheels from the hall. Beasiey turned
IN me with the spologetlc and mons"
syllable chuckie that was distinctly
his alone.
1--WE got q little chap herr-.. he
said: then went 20 the door. -Bobi-
The old darky appeared In tho door.
way pushing = little wagon like ~
eiining- chair on wheels. and In u sai
Hamilton Swift. Junior.
Ny first impression Of him was that
he was all eyes ! couldn't look at any.
thing else for n time. and was hardly
conscious of the rest Of that wea-
xcned. peaked little faee and the under
sized wlsp ~ body with It's pathetic
adiuncts % metal and leather. think
they were the brightest eyes ! ever
saw--as keen and Intelligent n n
wicked old woman's. withai as trust
full and CHEEKY ms the eyes % setter
pm.
..Hoo-rny."
Thus the Honorable Mr.. Beasl~y.
waving n handkerchief thrice around
his head aud thrice cheering.
And m. child la that crickct's
voice Of his. replied;
"Br-r-rp-yo'"
This was the form of sniufntlon fa-
military In use between them. Beas-
ley followed II by inquiring. -who's
With us iodayT"
"I'm Mister swift" chirped the iiitl.
fellow. Mister swim. II you please.
Cousin David Beasley."
Beasley executed a formal bow
There IL gentleman here who'd like
to meet you" And he prese,ied me
with some grave phrases colnmenda-
tory Of my general character. address.
Ing the child ms "Mistcr swift:
whereupon Mister swift gave me n
ghostly little hand and progressed him
self glad To meet me.
"And besides me-" he added. to
Beasley. "therr's nm Hammersley and
Mr.. coriey llnbridge."
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