The Boss of Little Arcady

uliar sensation is never without significance. I remember that I felt it the night our wagon bridge went out by high water. I tried to read the presentiment as I dressed.

as I know to-day, that the Potts aff

st, in front of which I found myself impelled to stop. Looking over the row of potted geraniums in the window, I beheld Colonel Potts in the chair, swathed to the chin in the barber's white cloth, a gaze of dignified admiration riveted upon his counterpart in the mirror. Seen thus, he was not without a s

denote that Potts wished to enter upon his new life well barbered?

n approaching suit, but it was impossible to ignore the darkling c

solved to await like a man what calamity th

whisk broom. Before him was planted Potts, his left foot advanced, his head thrown back, reading to Harpin

reet in the opposite direction from me, but halted on meeting Eustace Eubanks. The Colonel put down his bag and they shook hands. Eustace seemed eager to pass on, but the Colonel detained him and began reading from the Argus. His voice carried well on the morning air, and various phras

nt his coat was released. As they parted, my worst fears were confirmed, for I saw the Colonel progress f

" I asked of Eust

him and have a glass of liquor. I said very sharply, 'Colonel Potts, I have never known the taste of liquor in my whole life nor used tobacco in any form.' At that he looked at me in the utmost astonishment and said: 'Bl

g his piece to Barney

r American civilization,"

would scourge anybody'

ion," suggested Eustace, in poli

s, another establishment in which our civilization was especially menaced. He was followed cordially by five of Little Arcady's lesser citizens, who had obviously sustained the relation of gue

," said Solon, confiden

the City Hotel, to Hoffmuller's. He was to remind

had bought, and the crowd was then consuming, the two fly-specked bottles of champagne which Hoffmuller had k

lf-that he was seeing this more clearly every minute. The other was from Hoffmuller. Solon Denney was to know that some people migh

have waited till he was on the train to give him the money; bu

e. That presentiment had for the mom

nderly through one of the Colonel's. These two led the procession. It halted at the corner, where the Colonel began to read his Argus notice to Bela Bedford, our druggist, who had been on the point of entering his store. But the newspaper had suffered. It was damp from being laid on bars, and parts of it were in tatters. The reader paused, midway of the first para

who had thought to set Potts at large, listened and wondered. The taller among us could overlook the screen. We beheld Potts, one elbow resting on the bar, his other hand with th

othing but the best bottled goods, if

an incredible rapidity. Honest men, inflamed by the report, were leaving their works and

and-clasps, seeking, perhaps, in vain, for one kindly look which-which is now to be observed on every hand. But, friends, Colonel J. Rodney will not forget you. I have rare prospects, but no matter. To this little spot, t

rged pleadingly: "Another verse of that sweet old song,

attempts at part-singing, little Dan Lefferts, a dissolute h

d burst into tears. The varlets crowded about him with tender, soothing

that Little Arcady bore for him. Presently he half dried his tears

oice, he read them all to the pleased crowd

s since I bade farewell to my regiment in '65. You are getting

choicest, and not forgetting at intervals to

ltation with Amos Deane, the driver. He was to enter the bar in a brisk, businesslike way, seize the bag, and hus

listen with marked astonishment to the assertion o

e for slaves,

te," reminded Amos, civilly. The Colonel tur

pretty little hamlet for years-I hope for ages-yet. They pass

he directed the crow

!" he sobbed, "could they ask me to trust myself to a drunken rowdy of a driver, even if I was going?" Amos was not only sober, he was a shrewd observer of even

f "Auld Lang Syne" floated to us a

ley Keyts, in deep disgust as he left us. "It looks to me a

than divine. On a sudden he is vividly cognizant of his overwhelming spiritual worth. Dazed in the first moment of this flooding consciousness, he is presently to be heard recalling instances of his noble conduct und

n occasion, however trivial, when his conduct had fallen short of the loftiest standards. Especially were they begged to cite an instance when he had deviated in the least degree from a line of strictest loyalty to any friend. Big Joe Kestril was overcome at this. He b

ges of his self-analysis, the Co

in confidence, but I have again and again been made the sport of a wayward and wanton ridicule. I say, gentlemen, I have always conducted myself as only a Potts knows how to cond

STERED BY CHEAP FLINGS

s it raised glasses once more. The Colonel glared down the sloppy length of the bar

ce when all Nature beckons? Come on back to Hoffmuller's. Besides,"-he cast a reproachful look at the bar-tender,-"the hospitality of t

train, many of whom, in loyalty to their host,

d our quiet little Main Street in both directions. Across the way in the doo

led actively inside. The Colonel reached the door of the bank and tried the knob, but the key had been turned in the lock,

relentlessly. The bank had suddenly taken on an aspect of Sabbath blankness. On

, whom we have just seen retreating to his precincts, as I might say, with a modesty that is rarely beautiful.

tribute from Bundy, and I trust that after this I shall

ional Bank of Little Arcady. The crowd, pressing closer, was cheerfully animated. From down th

er as a man and his unusual attainments as a lawyer. His going will be a grievous loss to our community, atoned for only by the knowledge that he will better himself in a field of richer opportunities. He has proved himself to possess in full measure those qualities whic

e encouraging calls for Bundy; but the First Nat

time to turn the key and draw the curtains before the procession halted. Such behavior may have perplexed Potts, but daunt him it could not. From Chislett's top step he read Chislett's le

e copies of the latest number, and, standing on the coal box, he gallantly distributed these to the crowd as it filed bef

ront, among bolts of muslin, straw hats, and bunches of innocent early lettuce, read the splendid tribute of the store's proprietor to his capacity as an expert in jurisprudence a

and Potts, at the head of his Argus-waving

Then would he turn majestically, and say, with a hand raised, "My friends, a moment's sile

at and the clutched Argus became the mark of his drink-bought serfs. By four o'clock the only hospitable doorways on the street were thos

to the City Hotel, the crowd sang and shouted its

w of the hotel. A glad light came into his eyes, and at once he searched among the letters, cr

icial honors, or something of that sort. I had forgotten its exact words, but I did not wish to hear Potts read them. So I fled to spend the remainder of that eventful day quietly among rosebushes and tender, budding hyacint

led, and such of his following as had not already fallen by the wayside crept, one by one, to re

thirty by Eustace Eubanks, who had

nger of scorn. "For shame to have squandered all that money for rum. Don't you know, sir

Colonel, in polite amazement. "Well,

pent that money given t

ght. He arose, buttoned his coat, fixed his hat firmly upon his head, and took up

ney at home. This is a cheap place, full of cheap men. What the town needs, sir, is capital-capital to develop its attributes and indu

rd the river, aver-marvelling duly at his powers of resistance-that the head of Potts was erect,

h an automatic precision, his eyes must have beheld glorious vistas, in which he rode a chariot of triumph at the head of a splendid procession, while his ears rang with cha

his day. Cunningly had he clutched a few golden moments from the hoard that Fate, th

s no uncertainty, no hesitation, above all, no vulgar stumbling; but that the last high step, which

charmed by the wild, sweet, gusty

ze. As it passed me, I recognized Solon Denney. He was gesticulating with some violence, and I could see his expressive face work as if he uttered words to himself. I thought it po

de upon my frie