United States or South Africa ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
When he came out of the tent he had narrowly examined the ticket-seller, who seemed unaware of his scrutiny, and, when not engaged with his tickets, applied himself to a dirty law-looking book. It was Joseph Louden, reasserted Eskew, a little taller, a little paler, incredibly shabby and miraculously thin.
But it was a bright morning to which he emerged from the outer doors of the factory, and he made his way towards Main Street at a lively gait. As he turned the corner opposite the "National House," he walked into Mr. Eskew Arp. The old man drew back angrily. "Lord 'a' mercy!" cried Joe, heartily. "It's Mr. Arp! I almost ran you down!" Then, as Mr.
Thus did Eskew Arp on the verge of parting this life render justice. The gate clicked, and Ariel saw Eugene approaching through the shrubbery. One of his hands was bandaged, a thin strip of court-plaster crossed his forehead from his left eyebrow to his hair, and his thin and agitated face showed several light scratches. "I saw you come out," he said. "I've been waiting to speak to you."
Out of the confusion of report, the judicious were able by evenfall to extract a fair history of this day of revolution. There remained no doubt that Joe Louden was in attendance at the death-bed of Eskew Arp, and somehow it came to be known that Colonel Flitcroft, Squire Buckalew, and Peter Bradbury had shaken hands with Joe and declared themselves his friends.
Eskew himself was now the oldest of the conscript fathers, the Colonel and Squire Buckalew pressing him closely, with Peter Bradbury no great time behind. To-day they did not plant their feet upon the brass rail inside the hotel windows, but courted the genial weather out-doors, and, as their summer custom was, tilted back their chairs in the shade of the western wall of the building.
The Colonel and Squire Buckalew were making their way toward him, but Joe, holding the dog to his breast with one arm, threw the other about Eskew. "It's a town it's a town" the old fellow flung himself free from the supporting arm "it's a town you couldn't even trust a yellow dog to!" He sank back upon Joe's shoulder, speechless.
That seemed to make it more difficult for the others; the three white heads bent silently over the fourth upon the pillow; and Ariel saw waveringly, for her eyes suddenly filled, that the Colonel laid his unsteady hand upon Eskew's, which was outside the coverlet. "It's it's not," said the old soldier, gently "it's not on on both sides, is it, Eskew?" Mr. Arp moved his hand slightly in answer.
Eskew paused abruptly, his eyes widening behind his spectacles; his jaw fell; his stick, raised to hammer the pavement, remained suspended in the air. A sudden color rushed over his face, and he dropped speechless in his chair. The others, after staring at him in momentary alarm, followed the direction of his gaze.
"I think you always will be." "But, oh! I wish," she went on, "that Mr. Arp could have lived to see you come down the Court-house steps." "God bless him!" said Joe. "I can hear the 'argument'!" "Those dear old men have been so loyal to you, Joe." "No," he returned; "loyal to Eskew." "To you both," she said.
"Stick to your bet, Eskew, stick to your bet." "My bet!" cried the outraged Eskew. "Who offered to bet?" "You did," replied the Squire, with perfect assurance and sincerity. The others supported him in the heartiest spirit of on-with-the-dance, and war and joy were unconfined.
Word Of The Day