The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1926-11-25
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The grocery store of c. Nj. Dabbs
at the crossroads, Peace Valley, was
astir. This was "late-closing" night
Parked before the door were vehicles
Of all sizes, sorts and description. from
motors to old-fashioned farm wagons
and buggles, the patient horses wait
ing, with dropping heads, while their
masters finished their Interminable
marketing and equally intermlnable
conversations
Marketing took long time In Peace
Valley. In the first place, on late
closing night 1t was the custom to go
down along the crossroads and do your
storing AT Dabbs" In the second
ss6aces, harE- @fs a vulgar habit That
had not yet reached Peace Valley.
One was Sin the way of knowing
what was ADDING" In the village and
the surrounding countryside by gol :,
TO the crossroads store. The news
gathering and distributing took time,
for no subject was rashly broached
or rapidly discussed. One has only
TO listen attehtively to the apparent
ly monotonous discussions In country
stores to discover that, though Hitter
ate and totally ignorant of grammar,
these solons have read deeply in the
Book of Human Nature.
Two men alighted from car just
outside the grocery.
One of them, the proprietor of the
shop, said: Leave the bags, Ned
The boy1l bring them in"
He was a dark-haired rather thick
set man. He was not tall. His fine
face was Redeemed like that of sail
or or fireman; round, full and clean
shaven. The hair at his temples was
grazing a little.
II was his eyes that made you look
twice at him. C. NJ Dabbs' eyes were
hlue as any Italian sky and as cold
as ice, or as soft and deep as the
same sky. II all depended on how
Dabbs looked at you.
They were at their softest and deep
est now, as he looked at his eompan-
ion. He was much younger man.
not more than twentyseven, with
smooth brown hair His clothes were
oil that clothes should be. and worn
nv one who thought about them be-
fore he put them on, and then tofsoi
about them. He was not the type usu'
alJy found r. a country village and he
looked about him with an interest that
proved him stranger.
"peace valleyr he said softly. 1T
looks like it, He glanced again al
the crossroads, one Of which led steep
lv unhiIl while the other wound about
the valley until It disappeared behind
tall wood. The grocery store was
great old stone house, the front part
of which had been transformed IRON
a dwelling. Next door, long low
building combined the business OF
blacksmithing. wheelwrighting ana mo
tor repairing The old and the new
were mingled peacefully together The
most office. the brightly lighted barber
shop and the cobbler's little howell were
all grouped about the crossroads.
81 didn't exaggerate. did IT. asked
Dabbs.
Tho voune man shook his head.
peace Valley" he repeated. u didn't
believe there was such place !" lie
glanced at the sign over the door ana
turned TO the older man with smile'
&C. NJ. Dabbs, General Store, ne
read aloud. "You told the truth about
that, too But why c. NJ? Come, what
Is It that distinguishes you from the
L.
rank and file OF Dabbsesf Is
Charles or Cyrus orr
The older man blushed. &c NJ
generally sign myself" he admitted
but II you really want to know what
1t stands for-why, Claude Meinotte
Dabbs S my name
The young man laughed softly re
peating, "Claude Melnotte."
Mr.. Dabbs smiled. "Do you blame
me for sticking to C. NJ, or Mister :
81 do not his companion declared
alphabetically. "Tell me-
"a travelling company. pretty good
one. too, believe Mr.. Dabbs began
burriedly, with somebody celebrated
as Pauline came to the county seal
and played The Lady of Lyons. My
mother"
81 didn't mean that" the young mar
assured him hastily. as though fearing
obstetrical details 81 meant to ash
is there Lady of Lyons 10 Peacs
Valley and is yours called Pauline
taaa'