News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-05-11
WIDOW APPLEDORE'S ROMANCE

RCR III ttAA OLO R4ASC VI WACdb
mol Emma Jane; my life has beef
humdrum enough without my endin,
it with Deacon Bliss. I shan't hay
him I"
swell, well, Rosetta. If you won't .
don't knows anybody's goin' ter try an
make you," chirped plump, rosy Mrs
Phlox, looking up from the stout blu
wooden sock she was knitting. 81 s'pos
the Deacon thought he'd right to asl
you, SEEM it's a free country. Calel
Appledore was a awful nice man, bu
SOS the Deacon. Lone wimmen ar,
put on. Job Wbittamore neglects you
garding, an just see what work you
have with your fires winters an keepin'
roads broke out.
"Tm not going to marry just to have
some one to tend the garden and dc
the chores, said Mrs. Appledore. 'tIve
never found fault with them that's dead
and gone, but I know what it is to live
with a person who does not care two
pins for the things do, and if 1 ever
do marry again it will be some one who
can sympathize with me. I can't say
I swallow all 'Lias Bradshaw Gays about
the marryin' of souls and Abilities, but
there's some truth in it you may depend.
Besides, I'd like little romance in my
life before [ die"
Romance is all well 'nuff," said Mrs.
Phlox, but you're thirty-nine next
March, Rosetta, an sech a man as
Deacon Bliss don't grow on every bush.
Bein' good provider, an splendid
farmer, an deacon, an piller in the
church may not be romantic, but they're
good recommends in a man you're
thinkin' of marryin'. I hope you'll
think twice."
81 have thought. and shan't marry
the deacon, said Mrs. Appledore,
decisively; can if that's being romantic,
I'm not ashamed of it."
The little widow did OF look roman
tic. her complexion was 6 dull white
and her hair dull brown. Dull, too,
were her large gray eyes that blinked
behind short-sighted glasses, but hel
form, though mesgre and devoid Of
curve, was not without grace, and she
had clear, swee soprano voice which,
though it was unframed, she could use
with taste and feeling. The Harmoni
cum, the Dixyille musical association
made her the head of all their commit
tees, and relied upon her to sing all the
solos. Indeed, without her it could no
have existed. The wheezy melodeor
which was dozen years old before il
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 a piano. They had giver
concerts, and had oyster suppers TIL
Dixville was tired, when DR.. Ollipod
suggested a lecture. II was whispered
that the doctor had expected the com
mittee to invite him to read one of his
papers on the Semitic tongues; but il
he did he was disappointed. They cor
responded with many popular lecturers
who all declined to visit Dixville on the
plea of engagements, and the committee
at last invited a certain Professor St
Clair Smith, about whom they knew
nothing save that he had lectured IL
the neighboring villages with accept
ance, to address them. The Professor
had suddenly appeared in Dixvillt
mounted on fine gray horse. The
next day he was seen to enter the pos
Office with a green bag on his arm, ant
the gossips Immediately reported thai
he was wealth and had come from Bos
ton. He at once accepted the Invitation
of the Harmonicum Committee, and
announced that his lecture would be OF
the philosophy of Art" The meeting
house was hired, and Mrs. AppIedor'
with select few began practicing some
music for the occasion.
1t was the afternoon before the lee
ture, and Mrs. Appledore had invited
her sister to spend the day with her
Domestic duties seemed to be just wha
Mrs. Philox was made for. Her hus
band and sister usually did all he
thinking. In return she served then
with her hands but the few notions
that did creep into her round head sh,
chung to pertinaciously.
"The worst kind of fool is beetle
headed one" she said, after a lon,
pause, can putin this an that to
gether, Rosetta, I think you're prepar
in with your romancin' to be just tina
kind of one.'
81 don't see how sisters can be SO un
like" and Mrs. Appledore drummed
harsh accompaniment to her words o.
the middle g of her piano. "To b
sure, you are the oldest but age nee
not make ores soul clod."
s'It would be well for you to remem
Der that all the advantages are not Of
your side," cried Mrs. Phlox, risin,
with dignity. "There are bodies, yes
and dispositions, that are clods," an,
Mrs. Phlox jerked on her calash ant
went home.
The Westinghouse was full, and tn
next day the Dixville Times declared
the lecture to have been a most soulfu
ana eloquent dissertation, but Mrs
Appledore's attention wandered, ant
she only knew that the entertainment
was about to be concluded by DIR. Oil
pods sonorous call for ''moosic."
''I am delighted" said Professor st
Clair Smith, bowling low before her a,
soon as possible after the "moosic.
81 never heard such delicious voice.
Mrs. Appledore coughed behind be-
hand to conceal her fattered embarrass
ment, and turned questioning look OF
Professor Jackson Jones, who stood
near.
"You always sing splendid" sait
that gentleman, drawing himself up. 90
dare say put you out. That flute oh
ligato is deuced hard thing to do.
didn't do myself justice tonight"
you've always dragged" said Kar-
Leopold, who took every opportunity
to criticise the Harmonicum doings.