The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-07-31
WHAT 1 DISCOVERED.

been to call upon her and just lodged
dipper full of water aimed at an upper
window as crossed the pavement.
Water was dripping from all the newly
washed window sills. A stout Irish girl
was on the top Of "a step-ladder in the
vestibule. Mysterious female heads
enveloped in towels appeared at upper
windows and vanished instantly. A
kalsomining gentleman of color was
engineering two poles with a bucket
strung on them through the area door,
and faint smell of paint came through
the door, in company with tall person
in white paper cap, who had the air
of one whose occupation was over. Be-
hind him came a small, gaunt, prim,
and perfectly dressed young man, who
was endeavoring to get full view OF
his own back as he rushed down the
front door steps. / knew my friend,
Mr.. Mirabeau Spriggins.
..How dye do, Spriggins" cried,
as he ran against me, and what are
you doing hereP"
He looked as though he had been
after the spoons. But Spriggins has no
sense of humor, SO didn't say so then.
Spriggins' answer was the Yankee
one--a question. Hf
Perkins. have / got any paint on my
coat?" he said.
Having carefully examined his back,
lreplied truthfully in the negative.
Spriggins gave q sigh of relief.
"You see, she's cleaning house," he
said, "and it's q thorough cleaning.
ma x,.,,, Lpcxu ia .1<,,,,a mr., Ia hon ri xu;t
Mrs, Copper"
No. Have youP" 1 asked.
YES" said he. Every nice place.
Large room, south aspect, hot and cold
water, reasonable terms. Had to leave
Ferguson's. Nine crying babies and
two young ladies studying for the opera
there. 'Greeable sort of person, Mrs.
Copper; in her manners. "
20. very agreeable" / said. "Good
housekeeper, l believe"
s'That's evident" said he. "Well.
housekeeping is necessary" And he
looked at his elbows again. You're
sure there's no paint on meP" he said,
in pathetic tone.
Not a speck," replied.
"How old do you suppose she isp"
he asked, in moment more.
"Who" inquired.
Landlady," responded Spriggins.
20, Mrs. Copper! Well, somewhere
between thirty and fifty" said l.
Vague" responded Spriggins.
e can't get any closer,n said l.
'sShe isn't gray" said Spriggins;
" but then, Eve seen those things in the
windows. Thin little wigs-invisibles
they call 'em. Maybe she wears one
of them-I think she does"
my grandmother does" said L;
sand my little cousin, just eighteen to-
morrow; that tells nothing"
"No, it doesn't-does itp" said Sprig-
gins. mo. say, did you ever hear
anything,-a-a-mysterious about Mrs.
~ "Mysteriousp No. What do you
meanP' asked.
O!--well! Late Copper died natu-
raj death, ehP Wasn't poisoned or any
thingr'
Fell from a scafold and broke his
neck. He was builder" said !. =
(" She couldn't have pushed him of.
or anythingP" asked Spriggins-
"Why, in the name of common sense
shoa'd she have pushed him offp" l
asked.
Attachment to somebody else," sug-
gested Spriggins.
"Mrs. Copper attached to somebody
else! A plain, respectable woman like
that---dear. dear! Why, whoever sug-
gested such thing?"
Hin well-nobody," said Sprig-
gins; "but she wasn't on the scaffold?"
"At home getting dinner, and went
into commissions when she heard the
news" answered.
:. That seems to settle it" said Sprig-
gins.
=. should think it did," said I.
"Well, goodbye" said Spriggins.
" Drop in some evening""
| did drop in. At least, after week
or two rang the front door-bell of Mrs.
Copper's clearinghouse and inquired
for Mr.. Spriggins.
found him in his room. which war;
ranted all his encomiums, and he was
reading a paper devoted to police re-
ports.
"Come in" said he. "Glad to see
you. Nice room, eha Had my photo
graph framed and hung up. Gives the
room . sort of human interest, Ell?
umY'
said, alt added to the effect" l
don't know what meant, butt pleased
Spriggins.
ne was silent for while, then he
looked at me with his queer little eyes
up into nothing, and said:
"See here. Landlady was married
before she ever married Mr.. Copper"
ssWas shep" asked.
II ask you," said he.
well, / don't know, " said /. She
vas Mrs. Copper when I hrst saw her,"
"H'mr' said he. :. Well, If she was
divorced from what's his name, what
nav have been the oausee''
Have you heard she wasw asked.