The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-07-22

THE door-bell rang and as l opened the
door l saw woman in black on the steps
"A woman so tall and thin and solemn
looking that l wondered if e150OOO
would be any inducement for her to utter
a hearty laugh.
L want to talk with you" she whis,
pered, as l stood there holding the door.
Is it about picnic-the heathen-
tracts-a new book-a suffering family
cruel Observation-Disclosures son. runa-
way daughter or the police driving your
cow to the pounds" inquired.
i want you to write book for NE, -
she sighed, wiping tear from her left
eye.
tried 10 induce her to put it off until
daylight, telling her that l couldn't posi-
bly, write book that night and catch over
four hours sleep; but she seemed so de-
termined, her face kept growing solemn,
that opened wide the door and placed
her chair.
She pulled off her black gloves. held a
Grape handkerchief to her eyes, and
sobbed:
He was such anoble man.
You are speaking of-of-yes, ahem-
of the late-the late"
"Of my husband" she sighed.
And your late husbands name was
was"
Brown-Jephtha Brown, although in
writing him up you may speak of him as
J. Brown"
-. Brown, deceased. You want that
for the title of the forthcoming biography
do you."
We'll, that sounds kind o. euphoniou:
and soft, don't it:' she asked. brushing
away another tear and folding her hand
kerchief.
We'll, it's fair title. 1t Isn't as ro
mantle as J. Brown; or, The One Eyed
Ranger or as taking as Brown the
Brigand; or, The Wait of the Sea-"
He had two eyes" she solemnly wits
pered, land though they were sore mos
of the time we couldn't truthfully SPEAK
of him as one-eyed. And he wasn't
| ranger-he kept woodward
We'll, having secured the title, vol
may now go on and detail his eccentrici
| tieS-narrate his victories and his failure.
-particularize his habits, hopes and am
| bitions.''
He never gave me a cross word,n she
sighed, after moments thought
THAT'S good"
Never but once she added. Zone
day when he came home and found me
cutting up one of his shirts to make a tai
for Jacky's kite he scowled and said
Mary Jane, you'd better trade your brains
off for branr We lived together thirty.
eight long years, and that was the only
cross word, and l know he repentsd o.
that forty times over"
j. Brown, deceaSed-noblem an-kep
a wood yard-never gave his wife but one
cross word repented of that forty times
well, go on, madam"
He was good provider.n
Good providence onr'
Never said anything when my rela
tives came"
c. Relatives came"
Didn't find fault when was sick
g. When l was SICK
Was kind TO his family
= Kind to his family-yes."
Well, that's about ALL, she said, after
folding and unfolding her handkerchief
and trying hard to recall other matters.
That will be chapter one, madam, an6
it will read: j. Brown, deceasel-nobl,
man-kept wood-yard-never gave hi.
wife but one cross word-repented OF tha
forty times-good provider-never sale
! anything when relatives came-didnr fine
fault-kind 10 his mily-supposed to b,
in heaven
That's elegant!" she whispered, almos
smiling, but it won't make a very large
book, viii it -
Madam, / am as blunt as am home
ly, and | want to ask you plain ques
tion."
You-you may"
Well, now, instead of going to the ex
pense of this book why don't you get mar
! ried agains''
"Oopm she shrieked, throwing up hel
hands.
Yes, madam, why don't you fine
another husband just as good as the la
mented j. Brown -
Me marry:" she gasped.
Yes. madam You are not an aged
person-you have traces OF beauty-yor
have kind heart-you could iove.n
I'D die first!' she gasped, giving me 8
look of horror.
II know better, madam. j. Brown was
undoubtedly good man and all that, bu
because he happened to die it cannot be
expected that you are to wear black, look
solsun, and sigh four times minute fol
therest of your life. No; some man
sonferich widower is even now signing
for thee"
lis that sosn she whispered, bending
forward.