The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-05-11
"The town talk?" echoed her astonished


months philanderin' with \ married
man."
"Who is married."
Your Professor SMITH"
II don't believeit."
Il s'posed you wouldn't, but I've seen his
wife. said Mrs. Phlox. with evident salts
faction. miss Merrills. she twas Pearly
Ann Truestlale, wouldn't miss a findin' ont
anything if she had to walk ton miles, an
she called on her an told me. That night
I seq to John. John seq I, a sisters
sister. specially if she's younger an a Wild
der, an if be a clod I'm goin' to the bot
tom of this an sez he, Emma Jane,
think you'd better an the first thing he did
the next mornin' was to hitch up an take
me over on the mile strip where that fellow
lives in Tony Alerson's cottage. He wasn't
in, but she was, an she Was washin'.
"Im Miss Phlox, 'sez I. anil come to CALL
Thank you.' sez she I'm Miss Smith. an
room for me, an set herself down on the
wash bench
Air you Miss St. Clair Smith, the wife
nf tie professor seq l.
"A sort of smile twinkled over her mouth
an she seq. "Yes, Miss st. Clair Smith,
though I didn't know Mr.. Smith had adopt
ed 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 in public life,
an how she is willin' to do anything to
help him. An then she inquired if I
thought she could git sewin' in Dixville
when she was able to do it."
Tears Of shame and anger gathered in
Mrs. Appledore's eyes as her sister spoke.
us Mrs. Smith good looking? Is she al
Interesting woman?" she asked.
Il can't say how interesting she is. She
seemed kind of trod on, SO to speak. As
for looks she amt any prettier than you'd
be If you worked hard an didn't get enough
to eat, " said Mrs. Phlox calmly.
Mrs. Appledore sobbed aloud. "What
do people say about me2 What shall
do?" she cried.
They don't say nothin' yet, on'y that
you're dreadful foolish" chirped her Sis
ter, rising and putting on her calash, for it
was almost supper time. Il can't say as
l know OF any thing for you to do except to
tell Mr.. Smith to stay t'home. 'Taint like
y Deacon Bliss will give you q chance to
say yes second time"
There had bsen good asal OF pleas.
ureable excitement In receiving the visits
OF the Professor. To dress herself in her
pest mourning, and to sing her favo:ite
songs to An apprec;atlve listener had been
somethlng to lLJok forward 10 during the
hunafnm York OF the Gay. The thought,
however OF what her acquaintances were
say lp.e ebovs her embittered her life, and
wen tbs professor again called one glance
ct her face told him she knew all.
Dear Mrs. Appledore, he began, but
she checked him.
~Yor had better go home to your wife.
Mr.. Smith," she said oddly.
Tears, real tears, came into the profes.
sor's big blue eyes. But love you" he
cried, end she has always been an inou-
bus upon my SOUL"
"But she's your wife" persisted Mrs.
Appledore.
Il know it," moaned the Professor, rub
bling his brow distractedly. 1T eats out my
vitals when think Of it. She don't feel as
/ feel. There's no wings for me as long as
l am tied to her. We've no affinity"
Mrs. Appledore gazed at him in dull WON
der. These were almost the wordsshe used
to her sister, but they did not sound pleas
antly now.
Il love you, Rosetta" went on the little
man, approaching her; and want to ask
you just ono question:: Were I single
man would you marry me?"
i might" admitted the widow smooth
ing down a fold in her overskirt with
trembling hand.
"Enoug h!" and the professor flung his
arm about her and pressed a rapturous kiss
upon her forehead. Bless you, my darl-
ing!" and before she could answer him he
was gone.
The next evening when Mrs. Appledore
was taking down her washing from the line
she was suddenly clasped from behind by
~ ,ku nil ho
mine, said the voice of the professor. 1--WE
offered my wife $50 to leave me and she
has accepted"
Accepted" the widow cried, wrenohing
de1seif free.
yes, and as soon as can sell my book
she shall 90. have lived in soul isolation
long enough. My heart has found it's
mate"
All the men that Mrs. Appledore knew
we're quaint of speech and somewhat rus
tic in manner, but what they considered
duty controlled their lives.
You wretch!" she cried, dashing the
clothes-pin basket at him. Fifty dollars!
You Amt worth fifty cents. Go home and
never dare speak to me again!"
Hear me, he pleaded, catching hold of
her gown.
Il can't stay out here and listen to phil
anaerin talk, she answered resolutely, and
twitching her dress from his grasp she en-
tered the house. But the professors hand
was upon the latch. Like most little VIC
men, the widow was a curious mixture OF
timidity and courage. She flung the door
open. Don't you dare to come in!" she
cried. I'll throw hot water on you! I'll
I'll kill you'll" Then, Blamming the door
in his face, she boltsd it securely.
All the evening the professor paced
up and down Mrs. Appledore's back veran-
da. The next evening he again appeared,
and the next, and the widow thor
oughly alarmed sent the bravest twin out
the front way with note to her brother-in-
law.
Mr.. Phlox delighted in anything that
could be called proceedings, and in few
minutes he had the deputy sheriff and two
constables and went marching down the
principal street with them to the great de-
light Of all the small boys of the village.
It was impossible for the professor to es-
cape. The officers crept round the house
noiselessly. The sheriff collored him, tho
constables pinionea his arms, Mr.. Phlox
grabbed 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
aNuno oAAA NAoS.<ooAAAE AOAS oA~ AOAA6 OOAOI0
daybreak SIZE had resolved to sell her home
and Dixville bank stock and move West.
1--WE got my comeupance," she groaned.
I've always been romantic and wanted a
romance such as I've read about, and I've
had one. Oh, dear! Oh dear!"
About o'clock that morning there came
lively rap at the kitchen door, and un-
strung by excitement and loss of sleep, she
shreked aloud.
"On'y me; on'y Deacon Bliss" cried a
pleasant voice through the keyhole.
Mrs. Appledore slid back the bolt with
trembling fingers. "How thankful am"
she said, holding out Ter hand; Il feel so
in need of somebody"
Twas fortunate come along jes as
did, them" said tho deacon, taking off his
straw hat and slowly rubbing his face with
his - ample bandana. It was a shrewd
though benevolent face, framed in waves
of iron-g gray hair. Il see ye look kinder
peaked. The weather has been tryin.' I've
felt it myself an ached in my jints the wust
way"
It's my soul, Deacon" walled the Wild
l.s r.