Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
full and CHEEKY as the eyes of settel

pup.
"Hoo-ray"
Thus the Honorable Mr.. Beasley
waving handkerchief thrice around
his head and thrice cheering.
And the child, in that crickets
voice of his, replied: .,
"Br-r-ra-vo!"
This was the form of salutaton ia
miliarly in use between them. Beas-
ley followed 1t by inquiring, "Who's
with us today?'
I'm Mister Swift" chirped the little
fellow. Mister Swift, If you please,
Cousin David Beasley."
Beasley executed a formal bow.
"There is a gentleman here who'd like
to 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, to
Beasley. there's Bill Hammersley and
Mr.. Corley Linbridge."
A faint perpleXity manifested itself
upon Beasley's face at this shadow
which cleared at once when ], asked II
! might not be permitted to meet these
personages, remarking that l had
heard from Dowden of Bill Hammers
| ley. though until now n stranger to
the fame of Mr.. Corley Linbrdge.
Beasley performed the ceremony
with intentional elegance, while the
boys great eyes swept glowingly from
his cousins face to mine and back
agin | bowed and shook hands with
the air. once to my left and once to
my right.
"And Simpledora !" cried Mister
Swift. you'll enjoy SfmpIedoria,"
"Above all things" said. "Can he
shake hands? Some dogs can"
watch him." Mister Swift lifted
a commanding finger. ''Simpledoria,
shake hands! ~
/ knelt beside the wagon and shook
an imaginary big paw. At this Mister
Swift again shook hands with me and
allowed me to perceive, in his lumi-
nous regard, solemn commendation
and approval.
In this wise was my initiation into
the beautiful old house and the cor
A diality of its inmates completed; anc
I became familiar of David Beasley
and his ward, with the privilege to &c
and come as I pleased; there was al
ways gay and friendly welcome. / al
ways came for the cigar after lunch
sometimes for lunch itself: sometimes
| dined there instead of down town
and now and then when it happened
that an errand or assignment took mi
that way in the afternoon, would rui
in and "visit" awhile with Hamilton
Swift. Junior. and HIS circle of friends
There were days, of course, whel
his attacks We're upon him. and onl.
Beasley and the doctor and old Boi
saw him; do not know what the boy
mental condition was at such times
but when he was better, and could b.
wheeled about the house and again re
ceive callers, he displayed an almos
dismaying activity of mind-it was ao
tive enough, certainly, to keep In
ahe4d of my own. And he was mas
terful: still, Beasley and Dowden an
l were never directly chidden for il
subordination, though made to wine
painfully by the look of troubled SUI
prise that met us when we We're ne
quick enough to catch his meaning.
The order of the day with him a
ha WI on
"Br-r-ra-vo" of greeting; after whic
we were to inquire, who's with us t.
day?" Whereupon he would max
known the character in which he elec
ed to be received for the occasion.
ne announced himself as Mist,
" Swift" everything was to be vel
" grown-up and decorous indeed. Fo
malities and distances We're observed
in and Mr.. Corley Linbridge Can elder
,r parsonage of great dignity and distin
ID ton as mountain-cl -climber) was mu
" oftener included in the conversatit
1T than Bill Hammersley. If, howevt
he declared himself to be "Hamit,
Of Swift, Junior" which was his happie
or mood, Bill Hammersley and Simpl
III doria were in the ascendant, and the
IN were games and contests. (Dowde
C Beasley and l all slid down the ba
al listers on one of the Hamilton Swi
Junior, days, at which really pict,
- esque spectacle the boy almost cri
" with luughter-and old Bob and
70 wife, who came running from
en -, kitchen, did cry) He had third {
h' pellation for hmsek-"Just little Ha
'" ilton;" but this was only when t
~, ~ creaky voice could hardly chirp Mt
~ and the weakened face was drawn
one side with suffering. When he t,
nc us he was "Just little Hamilton"
- were very quiet.
or- Once, for ten days, his Invisibles
re- went away on visit: Hamilton Sw
SAT Junior, had become interested
bears. While this lasted, all of Be
lat ley's trousers were, as Dowden Sc
n.y. "a sight" For that matter, DOVE
dly himself was quite hoarse in co
ea- from growing SO much. The be
er- were dismissed abruptly: Bill Hi
tic mersley and Mr.. Corley Linbridge /,
INK Simpledoria came trooping back.
yer with them they brought that wonder
family, the Hunchbergs.
lSt- (TO BE CONTINUED.)