Zekiel’s Head

by Mary Kyle Dallas

Old Aunt Hepsiba Potter was going down into the country to see her brother, Uncle Zekiel Potter, who kept the hotel at Katschka Station.

She did not often pay a visit, and she expected to enjoy herself. She had knitting work for a fortnight in her basket, and a great deal to talk about, for several people of her acquaintance had married, died, become parents, had property left them, joined church, or backslided, since she last saw “Zekiel’s folks.” Aunt Hepsy “rather calkerlated,” also, “that ’twould be lively at Zekiel’s now he kept hotel, and must allers hev company.” And she wondered whether his wife, Samanthy, found it hard work, and whether Ann Jane was “much help to her ma.” “She was a kind o’ flighty little gal,” thought Aunt Hepsy, “but she must be rising eighteen now, and Sally goin’ on for sixteen.”

At the next station the door opened to admit two men, who sat down, with their backs to Aunt Hepsy, in the very next seat, and, in a moment, something tickled her ear. She turned her head suddenly and saw that the man behind her was just gathering in the flowing ripples of a long, blonde beard which the sudden breeze from the open door had blown over his shoulder.

“Beg pardon,” he said, turning his head for an instant toward the old lady; but she only answered with an ungracious “Um!” and glanced at the other one. He also wore the hair upon his face in the same wild style, only his was black.

“A pair of ’em!” said Aunt Hepsy to herself, indignantly… Read More