News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-05-11

with trembling hand.
Enough" and the professor flung
his arms about her and pressed rap
turous kiss on her forehead. "Bless
you, my darling r' and before she could
answer him he was gone.
The next evening when Mrs. Apple
dore was taking down her washing from
the line she was suddenly clasped from
behind by pair of strong arms. "You
will soon be NINE" said the voice of
the professor. "I've offered my wife $50
to leave me and she has accepted"
accepted p the widow cried, wrench
ing herself free.
"Yes, and as soon as I can sell my
book she shall go. I've lived in soul
isolation long enough. My heart has
found It's mate"
All the men that Mrs. Appledore
knew were quaint of speech and some
what rustic in manner, but what they
considered duty controlled them. "You
wretch !" she cried, dashing the clothes
pin basket at him. "Fifty dollars Yon
amt worth fifty cents. Go home and
never dare to speak to me again %
"Hear me, he pleaded, catching hold
of her gown.
81 can't stay out hear and listen to
philandering talk" she answered, and
twitching her dress from his grasp
she entered the house. But the pro-
fessor's hand was upon the latch. Like
most little women, the widow was a
curious mixture OF timidity and courage.
She flung the door open. ''Don't you
dare come in p she cried. 9TH throw
hot water on you Ill-I'u kill you p
Then slamming the door in his face
bolted it securely.
All the evening the professor paced
up and down Mrs. Appledore's back
veranda. The next evening he again
appeared, and the next, and the widow
thoroughly 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 a
few minutes he had the Deputy Sheriff
and two constables and went marching
down the principal street with them to
the great delight OF all the small boys
of the village. 1t was impossible for
the Professor to escape. The officers
crept round the house noiselessly. The
Sheriff collared him. the constables
pinioned his arms. Mr.. Phlox grabbed
him by the coat-tails and away he was
walked to the village lookup.
Mrs. Appledore passed a sleepless
night, she imagined the whole town was
wide awake and discussing her, and
long before daybreak she had resolved
to sell her home and Dixville Bank
stock and move West. "Pve got my
comeupance," she groaned. GIVE
always been romantic and wanted
romance sach as I've read about, an
I've had one. Oh, dear ! Oh, dear p
About eight o'clock in the morning
there came 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
pleasant voice through the keyhole.
Mrs. Appledore slid back the bolt
with trembling fingers. Chow thank
full I am" she said holding out her
hand; 81 feel SO in need of somebody"
"'Twas fortinet come along jes' as
1 did, then" said the Deacon, taking off
his straw nat and slowly rubbing his
face with his ample bandana. It 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 jints the wust way"
''It's my soul, Deacon" walled the
widow, dropping into chair and cover
ing her face with her apron. ST have
always hankered after a romance, an
I've had one, and wish I was dead an
laid beside Caleb"
"Oh, no, We don't, Miss Appledore,"
said the deacon, in the caressing tone
in which he would address a sobbing
child. ''This worlds a pooty good
place, an with a few exceptions, folks
are pretty good. Icome over to fetch a
few of my sweetin's an to tell ye tibet
that there offer made ye a spell ago
holds good yet. I rally wish ye'd con-
slider it agin."
Mrs. Appledore remained silent be-
hind her apron.
'.Ef ye'd hev me-" repeated the dea-
con in low voice. 'I know I amt
half good huff an tibet Ten kind Nv an
old fellow, but I've got conf able place
an comf'able things in it, and I've been
sot on ye this long spell, as We know.
I dare say was 'tached to Lucy more'n
I shall ever be to anybody agin. We
sort nv growed together like, but SO did
you and Caleb, an I'm sure I'll try ter
make ye happy, an yer two little gals
as sweet as two pinks, III be to me jes,
like the little gals lost"
Mrs. Appledore did not remove her
apron, and after pause the deacon fall
teringly continued:
81 s'pose faint no use ter argy.
Folks hez their own idees of such
things; but anyways, I'll stand yer
friend"
The widow rubbed her eyes and slow
ly let fall her apron.
'1've always had the greatest esteem
for you, +" she said, with little shake in
her voice, "but never knew how good
how much think of you. I will
-"
The Deacon started up, evil YEP"
Mrs. Appledore had taken refuge in
her apron.
"Will ye really, Rosetta ?" he re-
peated.
The bowed head covered in the blue
bingham nodded.
"Ye shan't regret it." said the Dea-
con solemnly and awkwardly laying his
big hand, coarsened by labor, on her
shoulder. "Lord bless the little woman
an our home. Our home," he spoke
softly as if to himself.
"P'raps now," he continued after a
minute, I'D better drop in and see him,
an in tellin' the Jews 1 might mention
casual like we're goin' ter be married
soon. An tibet nobody'H trouble any
body that stays t. hum, an that I'm
able to help an dedicated man to good
place, real neighborly, cause my broth
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