Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-22
lie wat in, but she was, an she

toms cottage. lie wat in, but she was, an she
was washin'.
I'm Miss Phlox.' sez I. AN come to call
Thank you, seq she, I'm Miss Smith, an she
me, an set down herself on the wash-bench
Air you Miss st. Clair Smith, the wife of the
Professor seq 1.
"a sort of smile twinkled over her mouth an
she SEE, Yes, Miss st. Clair Smith, though
didn't know Mr. Smith had adopted the st.
Clair name. That's my family name An then
she went on an spoke of her husband, an of
how ambitious he Is. an how he feels his spear
Ia public life, an how she is willin' to do any
thing to help him. An then she INQUIRED If
Thought she could get SEWN in Dixville when
she feels little better an is able to do it,
Tears OF shame and anger gathered In Mrs.
Appedores eyes as her sister spoke. SIS Mrs.
Smith good looking3 Is she an interesting
II can't say how interesting she is. She
seemed hind Of trod on. 50 to speak. Az for
looks. she amt any prettier'n you'd.be you
worked hard an din't have half enough to eat"
said Mrs. PhlOx camly.
Mrs. Appiedore sobbed aloud. "wbat do peo-
pie say about mes What shall doa" she cried
They don't say nothin' yet, on'y that you're
dreadful foolish, ohirped her sister, rising and
putting on her calash, for 1t was almost supper
YOU to do except to tell Mr. smith to stay t'home.
'Taint likely that Deacon Bliss will give you .
chance to say yes a second time"
There. had been good deal Of pleasurable ex-
citement In receiving the visits Of the Professor.
To dress herself In her best mourning and to sing
her favorite songs to an appreciative listener,
had been something to look forward to during
the humdrum work of the day. Tho thought,
however, Of what her acquantances were saying
about her embittered her life, and when the Pro-
fessor again called one glance at her face told
him that she knew all.
"Dear Mrs. Appledore," hs began, but she
checked him.
"You had better go home to your wife, Mr..
Smith" she said cOldly.
big blue eyes. But I love YOU" he cried.
land abe has always been an incubus upon my
soul"
:. But she's your wife" persisted Mrs. Adple-
dOre.
81 know it," moared the Professor rubbing
his brow dstractedly 1T eats out my vitais
when think of it. She don't feel as feel
There's no wings for me as long as I am tied to
her. We've no affinity"
Mrs. AppledOre gaZed at him In dull wonder
These were almost the words she had used to
her sister, but they did not sound pleasantly
now.
81 love you, Rosetta" went on the little man
approaching her land want to ask you just
one question: Were l single man would you
marry me ?"
{" might" admitted the widow smoothing
down fold in her Overskirt with trembling
hand.
Enough" and the Professor flung his arms
about her and pressed q rapturous kiss upon
her forehead. "Bless you, my darling!" and
before she could answer him he wasgone
The next evening when Mrs. Appledore was
taking down her washing from the line she
was suddenly casped from behind by q pair of
the voice of the Professor. I've offered my
wife $50 to leave me and she has accepted"
self A fpes the widow CRIED wrenching her
Yes. and as soon as can sell my book she
shall go. I've lived In soul isolation long
enough. My heart has found its mate"
All the men that Mrs. Appledore knew were
quaint Of speech and somewhat rustic in man
ner, but what they considered duty controlled
their lives You wretch" she cried, DASH
Ing the clothes-pin basket at him. FIFTY
dellars! You amt worth fifty cents Go home
and never dare to speak to me again!"
Hear me" he pleaded, catching hold Of her
gown.
~ can't stay out here and listen to philan-
twitching her dress from his grasp she entered
the house. But the Professors hand was upon
the latch. Like most little women, the widow
was curious mixture Of timidity and cour-
age. She flung the door Open Don't YOU
dare to come I'M" she cried. "I'n throw hot
water on you! rll-I'll kill you!" Them slam
ming the door in his face she bOted it securely.
All the evening the Professor paced up and
down Mrs Appledore's back veranda The
and the widow thoroughly alarmed sent the
bravest twin out the front way with a note to
her brOther-in-law.
Mr.. Phlox delighted in anything that could be
called proceedings. and in a few minutes he
had the deputy sheriff and two cOnstabIes and
went marching down the principal street with
them to the great delight of all the small bows of
the village. 1t was impossible for the Profess
sor to escape. The officers crept round the
house nOiselessly. The sheriff coliared him. the
ia Mr. ot,lo
him by the coat-tails, and away he was walked
to the village lookup.
Mrs. Appledore passed sleepless night; she
imagined the whole town was wide awake and
had resolved to sell her home and Dixvile bank
stock and move west 1--WE got my comeup-
ance," she groaned. I've always been romantic
and wanted romance such as I've read about,
an I've had one. Oh dear! OH dear!"
About O'Clock in the morning there came q
lively rap at the kitchen door, and. unstrung BY
excitement and loss of sleep, she shrieked aloud:
"on'y me; on'y Deacon Bliss" cried pleas
ant voice through the keyhole
Mrs. AppledOre slid back the bolt with trem-
bling fingers. How thankful I am" she said
holding out her hand; 81 feel so in need Of
somebody"
Twas fortinet I come along jes' as did
t hen, said the Deacon. taking of his straw hat
DANA 1t was shrewd though benevolent face,
framed in waves Of iron-gray hair 81 see We
look kinder peaked. The weather has been
tryin'. I've felt it myself an ached in my limits
the wust way"
It's my soul. Deacon" walled the widow
dropping into a chair and covering her face with
her apron. I've always hankered after a ro-
nance an I've had one, and wish was dead
and laid beside Caleb ="
Oh, no ye don't, Miss Appledore," said the
Deacon in the caressng tone in which he would
address sobbing child. ''This worlds pooty
good place, an with few exceptions folks are
pooty good come over to fetch few of my
sweetins' and to tell We tibet that there offer
made ye spell ago holds good yet l rally wish
ye'd cOnsiderit agin."
Mrs. AppledOre remained silent behind her
apron.
Ef ye'd hev me" repeated the Deacon in a
low voice. 9 know amt half good huff and
tibet I'm kind Nv an old fellow, but I've got a
comfable place an comf'able things in it.. and
I've been sOt on We this long spell, as We knows
dare say was tached to Lucy more'n l shall
ever be to anybody agin. We sort Nv growed
together like. but 40 did you and Caleb an I'm
sure III try ter make We happy and yer two little
gals. as sweet as two pnks, ii be to me les like
the little gals lost"