Bill Tompkins brought Elizabeth to the funeral.
17 lines✦
n another town than Dexter the events narrated in the last chapter wouldhave proved a nine days' wonder, gained their meed of golden gossip, andthen given way to some newer sensation. But not so here. This little townwas not so prolific in startling episodes that she could afford to let such aone pass with anything less than the fullest comment. The sudden return ofTom Brent, his changed life, and his death were talked of for many a day.The narrative of his life was yet to be a stock camp-meeting sermon story,and the next generation of Dexterites was destined to hear of him. Hebecame a part of the town's municipal history. Fred's disappearance elicited no less remark. Speculations as to hiswhereabouts and his movements were rife. The storm of gossip which wasgoing on around them was not lost on Eliphalet Hodges and his wife. But,save when some too adventurous inquirer called down upon himself Mrs.Hodges' crushing rebuke or the old man's mild resentment, they went theirways silent and uncommunicative. They had heard from the young man first about two weeks after his 98
✦