The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-05-19

"and have come to beg for just one
song"
II professor was, so far as outline
and colorlng go, handsome man. His
head was what is commonly called
dome-shaped. His wavy hair and silky
beard were bright yellow red, and his
rather-large eyes were blue. He sat
down in the big rocking and, TAX
ing a twin on each knee, So renew my
youth In children" he cried, giving
them . squeeze. "Do you know the
song. THE old times were the best
times when you and were youngg"
"Oh, yes" said the widow, Deryously
turning over her music, but can't say
that feel so very old.
"Dear me, what blunderer / am,
cried the professor. 81 was thinking
of my boyhood. I've always hated be-
ing grown up. A man has so much to
fetter his imagination. You must have
lost your husband in the flush of your
youth ?"
ST did, :" replied the widow, forgetting
that she was IS when the event oc-
CURED.
1.-The twins were DaDeS.
Song succeeded song, till the professor
proposed duets, and Mrs. Appledore en-
joyed the music SO much that it was
midnight before she knew it.
Two months passed away. The pro-
fessor came almost every evening. He
had hired small house little out OF
town, that he might be undisturbed, he
explained, and relative had come to
keep house for him. He did not know
how long he would remain in Dixv1lle.
He was preparing book for publica-
ton, and writing several lectures.
When his literary labors were over he
was going to take trip somewhere to
rest, though friends of his, influential In
Washington, were anxious for him to ac-
cept Consulship at an important point.
Ihe widows neat white cottage stood
by itself on the confines of the village.
Deacon Bliss fields Of dark green pep
permlnt and nodding wheat stretching
along the country road for nearly mile
joined the garden. Before her abrupt
refusal of him, the deacon had been
accustomed to drop in for a little visit
or to bring neighborly offering Of
apples or fresh vegetables. But these
calls had ceased, and, cut off from all
her sources of news and pleasure, Mrs.
Appledore stayed closely at home, prac-
tised her music, and entertained the
prof or.
But one sunshiny afternoon Mrs
Phlox came bustling up the prim
graveled walk.
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 talkP" echoed her
astonished sister.
Yes, the town talk" repeated Mrs.
Phlox, with wonderful emphasis. "Any-
body would be who had spent two
blessed months philanderin' with q
MARI ed man."
"Who is married?"
Your Prof. Smith"
81 don't believe it."
81 s'posed you wouldn't but I've seen
his wife, said Mrs. Phlox, with evident
satisfaction. "Miss Merrills, she twas
Pearly Am Truesdale, wouldn't miss a
6ndin' out anything if she had to walk
ten miles, an she called on her, an told
me. That night SEE to John, John, ;
seq ], "a sisters sister, specially if
she's younger an wilder, an if be q
clod I'm goin' to the bottom of this ,
AN, seq he, Emma Jane, I 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 fell
low lives, in Tony Allerton's cottage.
He want in, but she was, an she was
washin'.
"'I'm Miss Phlox. seq I, AN come
to CALL. Thank you, seq she, ePm
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 2 seq I.
"A sort of smile twinkied over her
mouth an she seq, 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 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. Appledore's eyes as her sister
spoke. SIS Mrs. Smith good looking?
Is she an interesting woman 2" she
asked,
II can't say how interesting she is.
She seemed kind of trod on, SO to speak.
As for looks, she amt any prettier'n
you'd beif you worked hard an didn't
have half enough to eat," said Mrs..
Phlox calmly. AZ 8qae
Mrs. Appledore sobbed aloud. "What
do people say about me? What shall 7
do?" she cried.
"They don't say nothin' yet, on'y
that you're dreadful foolish" chirped
her sister, rising and putting on her
calash, for it was almost supper time.
" [ can't say as know of anything for
you to do except to tell Mr.. Smith to
stay t'home. 'Tain't likely that Deacon
Bliss will give you chance to say yes
second time. !"
There had been a good deal of pleas
urable excitement in receiving the pro-
lessor. To dress herself in her best
mourning and to sing her favorite songs
TO on appreciative listener had besn
something to look toward to during the
humdrum work Of the day, The thought,
however. of what her acunaintances
were saying about her eTnFittered her
life, and when the professor again called
one glance at her face told him that she
knew all.
Dear Mrs. Appledore." he began,
but she checked him.
"Yod had better go home TO your