Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-09-20
M
Just a Lovers
Quarrel
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(Copyright)
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BY LEETE STONE

a LOVERS quarrel In the moon
a light by white gate had sent
Ezra Hopkins away from Spoonville
and had kept Sally Lathrop there.
The man, having an income, drlfted
several times around the world, The
woman, having living to earn, con-
tinued for fifteen years to teach the
Juveniles of Spoonvllle the elements
Of almost everything. 8.
There are not many towns like
Spoonvllle left In New England; tiny,
peaceful hamlets Boosting single,
wide street lined with rows of grace
full vase elms, stately naples, and low
built, ivy-clad houses. Spoonvllle lies
five miles from the railroad town of
Ransom. ...
At forty, after years of well-bred
vagrancy, 1t was inevitable that Ezra
Hopkins should be drawn back TO his
cottage, Nesting behind an aged tam
arack in Spoonvllle.
One April night found him walk
ing the highroad between Ransom
and Spoonville. There were two taxis
at the railroad station, both anxious
for passenger; but the cool air in
splred walking, and, being con-
firmed traveller, Ezra carried only the
llghtest type Of overnight bag, His
trunk could be sent In the morning.
During all the weeks since the
Spoonville home urge had sought him
out in Shanghai, Ezra Hopkins had
perslstently refused to admit that a
compelling desire to see Sally Lath-
rop again had anything to do with
his return. She would be married,
family. Hadn't Jimmy vollens al
ways been sweet on her?
Walking brlskly now through fa-
miliar alsles, he reflected that the
time had come for him to settle
down; to cease roaming. There was
a thrill in the thought of that old
leather chair he recalled; settling
down In II before the bright glow of
his smoke-grlmed fireplace an old
time student lamp at his elbow, and
reading over again "The Anatomy of
Melancholy"
While Ezra had changed, grown
bald and bit portly, SpOOnvllle re-
manned the same. He realized 1t
keenly when he stepped into the post
office next morning TO speak to Per-
klns McCabe, postmaster, whose we'll
remembered gray chin scruff had
turned trlne whittier.
swell, Ezry-bin away quite a
spell, amt your Might "a brought
us n better day, eh2 God
frey? Winds In the nor'easti
Storm may last another day, Ezry.
Guess you won't plant any peas to-
day"
Cold II was, with a bitter, driving
rain, and just as Ezra entered the
post office he had heard a resound-
Ing thwack in the little green park
Mt the head of the street. CHANGING
over, he saw that the wind In re-
lentless and ironlc fury had blown
down the Spoonville wooden War
Memorial tablet with its twelve black
painted names.
Eyes, it's sure some storm, Perk,"
Ezra said, land see it's just torn
over the town tablet"
"Gosh !" said Perkins in dlsmay,
peerlng out the rain-sloshed window.
"Sure nOughl Well, told the Sc
lectmen those posts should "a bin set
in SEGMENT"
BY covert means Ezra soon
learned that Sally had not married;
that she was Off visiting her sister
in New York after an Illness, and
that a substitute was teaching for
her meanwhile.
This knowledge made his heart
leap strangely. All, but then Youth,
Romance and Dancing BlOod--all had
slmmered down TO the mere wish for
Sally, he felt sure. And no doubt,
she hated him still for the adventure
he could not explain that night so
long ago. Yes, 1t had been his fault.
His to suffer, now ana always.
Nevertheless Ezra threw himself
zestfulIy into the rehabilitation OF his
rundown cottage in the faint hope
that during the long winter OF teach.
ing, Sally would now and again stop
by Of an evening and chat with him
before his fire. Naturally Spoonvllle
would talk about that; but who
cared?
Ezra, recently Jaded and world
weary, helped the carpenters shlnge
the roof and tear out a partition,
making the living room larger and
more Inviting, worked with the
paper hangers, and did many lit
tie jobs about the house to make II
more llvable and more in tune with
the tastes he had acquired in roam.
ing the world.
Ezra Hopkins did not dare go to
meet Sally Lathrop at Ransom sta
tion the May day she was due to re.
turn. He decided to defer his greet
Ing until they CHANGED to meet on
Spoonvllle streets.
II happened that Sally was Just IN
front Of him at the post Office turn
next morning; the same serene sweet
Sally with a broad band OF silver In
her thick, close-cropped hair.
Hello. Ezra Nice to see you home
agalni"
81 say, Sally-wlll you-haye you
-er-d'you think"
Sally cut In severely:
"Ezra--please The post Office
window IL oppn THEY'LL Lao whiting