Evening star., 1928-09-10
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE
BY WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS

hardly thinking Of the uselessness OF IT,
he asked:
DO you happen to know anybody
on this street by the name OF Hapford?"
why, no. not III this town." said the
boy; but he added that there was
street by the same name in neighbor-
ing suburb, and a Hapford living on 1t.
"By Jove!" thought the writer. this
is more like fiction than ever!"
Next day, early, hoping to find Julia
Tinker and be able to surprise Jonathan
Tinker with the good news, the writer
went to seek the Hapford living on the
street of the same name in the nearby
town. The sweetness Of singing birds
made the writer's heart light as he
climbed the hill and rang at Mr.. Hap
ford's door.
The door was opened by young girl
of Is OF 16, whom he knew at a glance
for the second mates daughter. but OF
whom, forms sake, he asked II there
were a girl named Julia Tinker living
there.
my names Julia Tinker" answered
the maid, who had rather disappoint-
well" said the writer, "your fathers
got back from his Hongkong voyage"
"Hongkong voyage?" echoed the girl,
with a stare of helpless inquiry, but no
other visible emotion.
"Yes. He had never heard of your
mothers death. He came home yester-
day morning, and was looking for you
all day"
Julia Tinker remained -mouthed
but mute: and the other was puzzled at
the want of feeling shown. Perhaps
there's some mistake" he said.
"There must be- answered Julia.
INV father hasn't been to sea for
good many years. My father" she
added, with a diffidence indescribably
mingled with sense of distinction, Is
in States Prison. What kind of look
ing man was thiS?"
The writer mechanically described
him.
laugh. Eyes, it's him. sure enough.
And then, as If the joke were too good
to keep: Mrs. Hapford fathers got
out. Do come here!" she called into
back room.
When Mrs. Hapford appeared, Julia
fell back, and, having deftly caught
fly on the doorpost, occupied herself In
plucking it to pieces while she listened
to the conversation Of the others.
ats all true enough" said Mrs. Hap
ford. when the writer had recounted
the moving story OF Jonathan Tinker,
80 far as the death of his wife and
baby goes. But he hasn't been to sea
for a good many years and he must
have Just come out Of States Prison,
where he was put for bigamy. There's
always two sides to story, you know;
| but they say he broke his first wifes
heart, and she died. His friends don't
want him to find his children, and this
| girl especially"
Hes found his children in the city"
said the writer. gloomily, being at loss
what to do or say. in view of the
wreck of his romance.
"Oh, he's found 'em, has hep" cried
Julia. "Yhen he'll have me next, If
don't pack and CO."
I'm very. very sorry" said the
writer, secretly resolved never to do
another good deed, no matter how
temptingly the opportunity presented it
self, "but you may be sure he won't find
out from me where you are. OF course,
I had no earthly reason for supposing
| his story was not true"
"Of course" said the kind-hearted
Mrs. Hapford, mingling drop of honey
! with the gall in the writer's soul, you
only did your duty"
| AS for Jonathan Tinker-he failed
| to reappear according to appointment,
thus adding the final and most agree
able charm to the whole affair, and
completing the mystery from which the
man emerged and which swallowed him
up again.