The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-24
WIDOW APPLEDORE'S ROMANCE.
IElizaheth Cnminrs in onr Continent

Elizabeth Cummings in Our ContinentI
"a man that thinks of nothing but pep
mint oil an price of wheati No Emma
Jane; my life has been hundrum enough
without my ending it with Deacon Bliss. l
shan't have himP
"Well, well, Rosetta, if you won't don't
knows anybody's goin' ter try an make
you,' chirped plump, rosy Mrs Phlox, look
ing up from the stout blue wooden sock she
was knitting. Il s'pose the Deacon thought
he'd right to ask you, seein' it's free
country. Caleb Appledore was a awful
nice man, but SOS the Deacon. Lone VIM
men are put On. Job Whittamore neglects
your garding. an just see what work you
have with your fires winters an keepin'
roads broke out"
S"I'm not going to marry just TO have
5me one tend the garden and do the chores, f"
said Mrs. Appledore. I've never found
fault with them that's dead and gone; but
know what 1t is to live with a person who
does not care two pins for the things do,
and If ever do marry again 1t will be some
= one who sympathize with me. i can't
Xsay swallow all 'Lias Bradshaw says about
the msrryln' of souls and afnlties, but
there's some truth in it you may depend.
Resides, I'd like little romance in my life
efore 1 die"
"Ro-mance is all we'll 'nut," said Mrs.
Phlox; '.but you're thirty-nIne next March,
Rosetta an sech man rs Deacon Bliss
don't grow on every bush. Bein' good
provider, an a splendid farmer, an q
Deacon, an pillar in the Church may not
be romantic. but they're good recommends
tons In a man you're tbinkin' of marryin'.
hope you'll think twice"
al have thought, an shan't marry the
4
San it that's being romantic, Pm not
ashamed of it,
The little widow did not look romantic.
Her complexion was dull white, and her
hair was a dull brown. Dull, too, were her
large gray eyes that blinked behind short
sighted glasses, but her form, though meager
and devoid of curve, was not without grace,
and she hsd clear, sweet scprano voice,
which, though 1t was unframed, she could
use with taste and feeling. The Harmoni-
cum, the Dixville Musical Association, made
her the head of ali their Committees, and
relied upon her to sing all the solos. In
deed, without her it could not have existed
The wheezy melodeon, which was a dozen
years old before it became the property of
the Society, had at last collapsed under the
energetic fingers of Professor jackson
Jones, who did the accompanying, and
they were trying to buy piano. They
had given concerts, and had oyster
suppers till Dxville was tired,
when DIR Ollapod suggested lecture. 1t
ftas whispered that the Doctor had ex-
pected the Committee to invite him to rea
one of his papers on the Semitic tongue; but
If he did he was disappointed. They cor
responded wit many popular lecturers,
who all declined to visit D.xville on the
MIA Of -
= last invited certain Professor st. Clair
Smith, about whom they knew nothing save
that he had lectured in the neighboring
villages with acceptance, to address them.
The Professor had suddenly appeared in
|ixvi,ie mounted on fine gray horse.
The next day he was seen to enter the post
Jofice Wi a green bag on bis ann, and the
goesips immediately reported that he was
wealthy an! had come from Boston. He
at once accepted the invitation of the Har-
monicum Committee, aid announced that
his lecture would De on the Philosophy of
Art" The meeting house was hired, and
Mrs. Appledore. with a select few, began
practicing some music for the occasion.
1t was the a ternoon before the lecture,
and Mrs. AppIedore had invited her sister
to spend tne day with her Domestic du
ties seemed TO be just what Mrs. Phlox was
made for. Her husband and sister usually
did all her thinking. In return she served
them with her hands; but the few notions
Eat did creep into her round head she chung
ho pertinaciously.
"The worst kind of fool is beetle
headed one." she said. after long pause;
can putin this and that together, Rosetta,
/ think you're preparin' with your roman.
cin' 10 be just that kind of one."
81 don't see how sisters can be so unlike"
and Mrs. Appledore drnmmed harsh &C
compartment to her words on the middle G
of her piano. ITO be sure you are the old
est; but age need not make ones soul 8
clod."
1T would be we'll for you to remember
that sll the advantages are not on your
side" cried Mrs. Phlox, rising with dignity.
''There are bodies, yes. and dispositions that
are clods," and Mrs. Phlox jsrked on her
cAlash and went home.
The meeting house was full, and the next