Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-04-10
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AuONC oOAA Ah0 Il AONA0
possible to do so. | concluded that |
must be in some very dark, tight place,
for | could not see; in fact | soon
learned that, though perfectly consci-
Gus, could do nothing but hear A
door opened and footsteps approach
ed but | felt cloth taken from my
face, and a voice which recognized as
that of Mr.. Jones, the father of my
wife, that was TO be, said:
"He hasn't changed much, and his
companion, whose voice l knew to be
the village undertaken, Hopkins by
name, said lightly:
Better looking dead than alive.
How does Jerusha feel about it?
Take on mueh?"
"Oh, no, she had her eye on anotherfel-
low any how, and much better match,
too, excepting the money part; though
l had nothing against Ben, only, he
didn't know much, and was about the
homeliest man | ever knew. Such a
mouth why it really seemed as though
he was going to swallow knife, plate
and all, when he opened it at dinner ="
well" said the cheerful voice of
Hopkins, hell never open his mouth
again." and then he proceeded to
measure me for my coffin, for it seems
that | was dead, or they thought that L
was, which was all the same to the
greedy pocket of the undertaken. | had
heard of undertakers who always
whistled joyfully when they got a
measure, but never believed 1t be-
fore. But that man actually whistled
a subdued dancing tune while he meas
ured me, and it seemed to me three or
four icicles were rolling down my back
to the music of his whistle.
His duty done, they covered my face
again, and left me to my own reflec-
tions, which were not particularly COM
forting, although | had often remarked,
that meditation was good for the soul,
and this was the best chance | had
ever had to try it.
An hour must have passed when the
door again opened, and two persons
came whispering alone to where | lay,
and the voice of my promised wife fell
upon my ear.
II dread to look at him, Bob; he
must be frightful dead"
/ ground my teeth in imagination, as
| remembered how often she had gone
into raptures, or pretended to, over my
noble brow and expressive mouth
and how she often declared if | were
taken away from her she would surely
pine away and die.
One of them raised the cloth, and
| knew they were looking at me. Bob
was her second cousin, and | knew he
was that "other fellow" whom her
father had mentioned.
Seems to me you don't feel very
bad about his dying 'Rusha, remark
ed Bob, meditatively.
"Well, to tell the truth" said my
betrothed, II don't care very much
about it . If he had lived | should
have married him, because he was
rich, and father wanted me to; but /
was getting about sick of my barga in,
for | knew | should always be asham-
ed of him, he looked so much like a
babOon."
"Butyou loved him, remarked Bob.
mo | didn't My affections were
wasted long ago upon one who never
returned my love, and my fast-fading
idol sighed heavily.
They had covered my face by this
time, and were standing a few steps
from where | lay.
About how longago 'Rusha, " asked
Bob.
"A year or such matter" with an
other deep sigh, which ended in sneez-
ing.
About the time | went away p iD-
terrogated cautious Bob, coughing a
little.
well, yes, some're near" assented
my dear affianeed.
Now. Jerusha, you mean 10 insinu-
ate that L"
Il don't mean to insinuate anything,
Bob Smith, and the angelic sweet
ness of her voice was somewhat sharp
ened.
See here, 'Rusha, I've loved you
ever since you were knee high to a
gopher, but thought when you come
home you was sweet on that other
chap; but | swan | believe you liked
me all the time
"Oh, Bob !" said my was-to-be in a
gushing sort of way.
Mine owr Jerusha" remarked
Bob.
Then | heard a subdued rush, ae-
oompanied by violent lip explosions.
| tried to kick, or CRATE my teeth, or
something to relieve my outraged feel
ings, but not kick nor CRATE could /
raise. 1t was awful fire to be in, but
| had to stand it, or lay it, so laid
still and let EN- alone until they got
tired of it, and then went out, and /
was again left to my pleasant redec-
tions.
Night came, and so did lot of young
fellows with their girls to sit up with
me they had jolly time of it, al
though it was against my principles to
enjoy it on so solsmn an occasion.
1t seemed an age until morning, but
it came at last, and they went away. i
heard them say that | was to be buried
that day at two o'clock, and l began to
feel decidedly shaky when Jerusha
and her mother came in the room and
began arranging for the funeral
"Rusha," said her mother, here
is that snuff colored suit of poor Ben s.
of course he will never have any more
use for clothes; so just put them away
among your carpet rags; they'll make
a splendid stripe"
Now, that particular suit Of clothes
vas just the neatest one l ever owned
arm-holes, wristbands, buttons, all just
the thing, and my blood boile.i to heal
them talk so coolly Of using them for
stripes in rag carpet. They kept OF
talking as they swept, busted ane
cleaned up the room.
Bob says be will take the Martin
farm to work this year" said Jerushs
cheerfully; '.and as soon as we ar
married we shall go to keeping hous'
in that little cottage close to the road
Now | must get my carpet done a
soon as possible, for | want it in tina
nice little front room. Those dads o
Den's will make out enough rags.
, guess. His folks live SO far away the.
. will never inquire abont his clothes
, Now, it il wasu't for the looks Of it, "
could ssk old mother Smith about col
oring yellow; she's sure to be here to
day."