The Vagabond

the rag-carpet cushion of a cane chair, he watched the coroner's jury congregate, one by one, proceed in a body to their duties, and one by one depart. Then came the undertaker from Wewland Centre and the inquiring neighbors, with "do tells." Half hidden behind the curtains he heard their greetings and speculations. They "wondered" what would become of the boy; they had "hearn tell" that Williams had "perty much" run through everything he had, and what he hadn't?a witticism this, in a knowing whisper?Jim Hawkins had got; they "guessed" that the outlook for the "little shaver" was "perty bad" and he'd have to be "bound out" to somebody for his "keep." That is, "onless" Judge John Williams, of the neighboring county, should take a hand. But the Judge had never had any association with his brother. A "curyus" man, said a Whig. There politics was interjected. "Curyus!" exclaimed a Democrat, in sarcasm. "D'ye ever hear him speak ? He wiped out twentysix hundred Whig majority in Belmore, that's what he did. He's the youngest jedge Belmore ever had. Curyus! He's jest curyus 'nough to be Governor of this State some day." Even while they discussed this rising statesman, a mud-bespattered buggy from the Newland Centre livery-stable drove up. "That's a good mare you've got, Ed," said the passenger, as he alighted, as if he had known the driver all his life instead of two hours. "How're ye, Jedge ?" said his defender, his waist receding and his chest swelling. ... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.