That was in the long ago,
when they had lived at the great farm. And then came the thought of the
mortgage, and of Eliphalet's foreclosure, and--
"Hallo, Eph!"
It was one of the men from whom he took fish--a plain-spoken, sincere
little man.
"Why wa'n't you down to town-meet'n'?"
"I was busy," said Eph.
"How'd ye like the news?"
"What news?"
There was never any good news for him now.
"Hain't heard who's selected town-clerk?"
"No."
Had they elected Eliphalet, and so expressed their settled distrust of
him, and sympathy for the man whom he had injured?
"Who's elected?" he asked, harshly.
"You be!" said the man; "went in flyin', all hands clappin' and stompin'
their feet!"
An hour later the doctor drove up, stopped, and walked toward the
kitchen door. As he passed the window, he looked in.
Eph was lying on his face, upon the settle, as he had first seen him
there, his arms beneath his head.
"I will not disturb him now," said the doctor.
* * * * *
One breezy afternoon, in the following summer, Captain Seth laid aside
his easy every-day clothes, and transformed himself into a stiff
broadcloth image, with a small silk hat and creaking boots. So attired,
he set out in a high open buggy, with his wife, also in black, but with
gold spectacles, to the funeral of an aunt.
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