Westways eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 624 pages of information about Westways.

Westways eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 624 pages of information about Westways.

“No, sir, and I will take Mr. Grey to ride to-morrow.”

“Do, and send him home too tired to talk politics.”

“I think if I put him on uncle’s big John it will answer.”

CHAPTER IX

While the two maids from Westways waited on the family at breakfast, the guest was pleased to express himself favourably in regard to the coffee and the corn bread.  John being left alone in care of the guest after the meal proposed a visit to the stables.  Mr. Grey preferred for a time the fire, and later would like to walk to the village.  Somewhat relieved, John found for him the Baltimore paper, which Mrs. Penhallow read daily.  Mr. Grey would not smoke, but before John went away remarked, “I perceive, my boy, no spittoon.”  He was chewing tobacco vigorously and using the fireplace for his frequent expectoration.  John, a little embarrassed, thought of his Aunt Ann.  The habit of chewing was strange to the boy’s home experience.  Certainly, Billy chewed, and others in the town, nor was it at that time uncommon at the North.  He confided his difficulty to the groom, his boxing-master, who having in his room the needed utensil placed it beside the hall-fire, to Mr. Grey’s satisfaction—­a square tray of wood filled with sawdust.

“Not ornamental, but useful, John, in fact essential,” said Mr. Grey, as John excused himself with the statement that he had to go to school.  When he returned through the woods, about noon, to his relief he saw far down the avenue Mr. Grey and the gold-headed, tasselled cane he carried.

A little later Mr. Grey in the sun of a cool day early in October was walking along the village street in keen search of news of politics.  He talked first to Pole, the butcher, who hearing that he was a cousin of Mrs. Penhallow assured him that the town would go solid for Buchanan.  Then he met Billy, who was going a-fishing, having refused a wood-cutting job the rector offered.

“A nice fishing-rod that,” said Grey.

Billy who was bird-witted and short of memory replied, “Mrs. Penhallow she gave me a dollar to pay pole-tax if I vote for—­I guess it was Buchanan.  I bought a nice fishing-pole.”

Grey was much amused and agreeably instructed in regard to Mrs. Ann’s sentiments, as he realized the simple fellow’s mental condition.  “A fishing-pole-tax—­well—­well—­” and would tell John of his joke.  “Any barber in this town?” he asked.

“Yes, there’s Josiah,” and Billy was no longer to be detained.

Mr. Grey mailed a letter, but the post-mistress would not talk politics and was busy.  At last, wandering eastward, he came upon the only unoccupied person in Westways.  Peter Lamb, slowly recovering strength, was seated on his mother’s doorstep.  His search for money had been defeated by the widow’s caution, and the whisky craving was being felt anew.

“Good morning,” said Grey.  “You seem to be the only man here with nothing to do.”

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Westways from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.