Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-05-18

tables. But these calls had ceased, and,
cut off from all her sources of news
and pleasure, Mrs. Appledore stayed
closely at home, practiced her music
and entertained the Professor.
But one sunshiny afternoon Mrs.
Phlox came bustling up the prim gray
eled sidewalk.
Rosetta Appledore.' she chirped, like
an angry bluejay, as she opened the
door, though clod, which there are
folks that think different, I've come to
ask you if you know you're the town
talk?'
The town talk?' echoed her aston
ished sister.
Yes, the town talk repeated Mrs.
Phlox, with wonderful emphasis.
Anybody would be who had spent two
blessed months philanderin' with a
married man.
who is married?'
Your Professor Smith,
Il don't believe it.
Il s'pOsed you wouldn't, but I've seen
his wife, said Mrs. Phlox with evident
satisfaction. Miss Merrills, she twas
Pearly Ann Truesdale, wouldn't miss
findin' out anything If she had to
walk ten miles, an she called on her,
an told me. That night 1 SEE to John,
John sez i, "a sisters sister, Special
ly if she's younger an wilder, an if
be clod I'm goin' to the bottom of
this;' 'an',' seq he, Emma Jane, think
you'd BETTER an the first thing he did
the next mornin' was to hitch up am
take me over to the mile-strip where
that fellow lives, in Tony Allerton's
cottage. He wat in, but size was, an
she was washin'.
T'm Miss Phlox,' sez j, 'an' | come
to CALL Thank YOU SEE she. I'm
Miss Smith, an she set out the only
chair there was in the room for me,
an set down herself on the wash
bench.
Air you Miss st. Clair Smith, the
wife of the Professor SEE /.
| "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 in public life. an how she is
willin' to do anything to help him
An then she inquired il thought she
could get sewin' in Dixville when she
feels little better an is able to do it..
Tears of shame and anger gathered
in Mrs. Appledore's eyes as her sister
spoke. is Mrs. Smith good looking
Is she an 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 prettierr
you'd be if you worked hard an didn't
have half enough to eat said Mrs
Phlox calmly. =
Mrs. Appledore sobbed aloud. 'Wha'
do people say about me? What shall
do p she cried essf "a g
They dont SAY hothin' yet, onl,
"a ssst vou're dreadful foolish, chirpel
: nel.xE,,s rising I'D 'pi,,Gs.ttln,,,, =
calash, for it was almost supper L,Sa
!. Il can't say ~ know Of anything f.
8 you to do except to tell Mr.. Smith I
stay t'home. faint likely that Deaco
Bliss will give you chance to say We
r "a second time
: There had been a good deal OF plea:
2 urable excitement in receiving the vi!
3 its Of the Professor. To dress hersel
in her best mourning and to sing he
1 favorite songs to an appreciative lii
J. tener, had been something to look FOL
ward to during the humdrum work @
/ the day. The thought, however, G
Y what her acquaintance were sayin
!. about her embittered her life, and whe
{ the Professor again called one glanC
q at her face to.l him that she knew al
Dear Mrs. Appledore,' he began, bu
: she checked him.
You had better go home to you
q wife, Mr.. Smith, she said coldly.
Tears, real tears, came into the Pre-
, fessor's big blue eyes. But love you
: he cried, and she has always been a
: incubus upon my SOUL
T But she's your wife, persisted Mr.
. Appledore.
Il knew it, moaned the Professo
rubbing his brow distractedly. 1T eat
. out my vitals when think of it. Sh
don't feel as / feel. There's no wing
- for me as long as l am tied to he
: We've no affinity
! Mrs. Appledore gazed at him in du
' wonder. These were almost the word
5 she had used to her sister, but they di
/ not sound pleasantly now.
4 Il love you, Rosetta went on the Iii
' tie man, approaching her; and / war
. to ask you just one question: Were
E a single man would you marry mep'
t Il might admitted the widow
smoothing down fold in her overskil
' with trembling hand.
I Enough and the Professor fun
his arms about her and pressed RAJ
. turous kiss upon her forehead. 'Bles
? you, my darlingp and before she coul
answer him he VI gone.
D The next eveniry when Mrs. Apple
/ dore was taking down her washin
I from the line she vas suddenly claspe
from behind by pair Of strong arms
you will soon be lnine,' said the voic
: of the Professor. I've offered my wifi
$50 to leave me and she has accepted
Accepted the widow cried, wrench
ing herself free.
Yes, and as soon as L can sell m
: book she shall go. I've lived in sol
isolation long enough. My heart ha