The Debatable Land

uses the term "M

the stream wore them year by year; possibly the gradual noting how his withdrawal made no empty place among busy men, how feigning friends who had turned enemies and rebellious sons went their way and prospered, helped to widen and darken the shadow of his misanthropy. He had been a

rn in her halcyon calm when he knocked at her doo

rn." The widow signified her unruffle

ermission, I

nd the squire's reddish, bushy eyebrows drooped and gath

a companionship regarded as singular, considering the difference in ages, not common

always fon

d to say, he would continue to put it in the form

een here of late-in

y people were afraid of Squire Map. He wa

dinarily interests my son Morgan. I need not point out to you that young peopl

It was but slight. She objected that Ne

doubt whether any young woman will find the happiness that is due her

her knitting and

llie. Her good looks are remarkable, her disposition and intelligence even more interesting. That may not

pon to say something appropriate. She murmured that Nellie was going to live

Hami

der brother of Simon. He had ta

suggest to him personally that his former friend, Gerald Map, remembered him with pleasure and w

the green with his gun and hunting-dog. They faced each other and s

ams that's goin' to butt lightnin

hen?" said the squire, hi

te o

rows was curiously common to b

o marry Miss

ven years. You haven't found me ch

o prevent i

e's inter

t as in her

that your in

ll not

think it was an interest in

e nat

"I take no interest in your success in any direction. I shall be measurably interested in your failures. Wh

shoulder. "I never saw any real need of a row, and I don

his hunting-dog sniffing among the heaps of fallen leaves, at Windless Mount

in favor of the squire. At the same time, "take an interest in your failures" had an odd sound, and inviting him to come and report them was a bit cool, if he only wanted to gloat over them. Hardly in "dad's" style, anyway. "Gloating" was a futile occupation. The

from his philosophic distance, "I m

eems to me folks ain't so lively as whe

he wind that hinted of December. The bare branches of the maples

early. Mr. Paulus sat by a lamp in the rear of the half-lit store, out of sorts with rheumatism and by reason of human nature. It was five o'clock

pon my word! Singular interview, whic

itaphs, an' it's about time. Like to make epitaphs for all the

h snowy handkerchief, leaning forward to the light; ad

hing, it's a satisfaction to happen on-a-unexpec

After those folks'd seen their epitaphs I'd

," Thaddeus insinu

in' plug tobacco th' other day. An' he said he wanted it for Halligan. Guess he did. Likely Halligan give him three cents for a five-cent plug

ently, pursed his l

t last, "how does

y, and his interest, his lov

oughtfully. "Gets

red Thaddeu

he Wyantenaug Valley to Hamilton, and left Hagar to the w