The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-07-12

is very well at present, as am happy
| to see.'
Here the supposed culprit glanced
at Mahitable, who was an interested
and attentive listener to this.
John Hardwick now spoke:
Look here, widder. I've got ques-
ton tew ask you. l don't often
speak, but W ben 1 dew it's to the pint.
What dew you mean by sayin' as how
l told ye that Mr.. B osn had wife
and three children?'
Because you did tell me so!' cried
The widow, sticking her elbows aklm-
be, evidently considering her reputa-
ton SIS reliable news-vender to be
at stake. you told me so the day you
fixed my clock, an you needn't go fur
tew deny il, nuther.'
L didn't tell you nothing of the sort
was speakin' bout Brother Sam,
when you bust i'll, askin' if he was
married, an said yes. Ii you wasn't
continually thinkin' evil of your ma
bors you'd have know'd what l meant.
Mr.. Brown now ihterposed. Look
ing around upon the eXpectant group,
faces evinced both surprise and curl
Osity, he SAID:
'My good friends-as hope and be-
lieve you all to be-perhaps l owe you
an apology for my abrupt and uncere-
monious departure from your midst.
In order to explain it clearly shall
have to make, 10 me, rather humili-
ating confession. But an open con-
fession, they say, is good for the soul.
Here the speaker glanced slyly at
the Widow Peabody, who had pricked
up her ears, thinking that she should
now hear something more to her lik-
ing. Mr.. Brown resumed:
Il am reluctantly compelled to ac-
knowledge that, owing to the result
of a fall, l haye-not wife and three
children; I am not so blest-but, hor-
rible to relate, three artificial teeth,
which, being directly in front, are in
dispensible to the fair degree of good
looks which flatter myself possess.
Upon the night previous to my leav-
ing town returned home after having
spent very pleasant evening" Here
Mr.. Brown again glanced toward Me-
hitable, whose conscious face was the
color of the roses in her hair and
bosom. while partaking of some
slight refreshment before retiring, ]
accidentally loostened the spring that
kept these teeth in place. There be-
ing no experienced dentist here lett
town early the next morning. fully
expecting to be able to return the next
day but unforeseen hindrances pre-
vented. True, might have written.
| certainly should haye done SO had
known what commOtion my smys.
terious disappearance was creating.
hope this explanation will prove sat
isfactory, especially to heart SO kind
and charitable as the Widow Pea
body's,'
Here Mr.. Brown turned toward Mrs
Peabody's seat, but it was vacant.
tiShe wasn't goin' tew stay tew heal
any sich trumped up story as that a;
she roundiy asserted.
In compliance with Mrs. Teller's in.
vitation, and which was warmly Sec
onded by the rest of the ladies-Ma-
hitable said nothing, but her looks
| spoke volumes-Mr. Brown remained
to tea. having many hearty laugh
over the blunder. now so happily aud
satisfactorily explained.
AS a matter of course Mr.. Brown
went home with Mehitable.
If the Widow Peabody had looked
toward Mr.. Green's she would have
seen that the parting at the gate was
unusually lingering and tenders
foreshadowiDg of the time when the
felicity with which she had so prema-
tureiy endowed him should be his.