Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-06-02

You must have lost your husband in the first
flush of your youth"
81 did, murmured the widow, forgetting
that she was 30 when tho event occurred
"Tho twins were babies"
Song succeeded song till the professor pro-
posed duets, and Mrs. Appledore enjoyed the
music so much that it was midnight before
she knew IL.
Two months passed away. The professor
came almost every evening. He had hired
small house a little out Of town-that he
might be undisturbed, no explained-and
relative had como to keep house for him. He
did not know how long he should remain in
Dixville. He was preparing book for pub
lication and writing several new lectures.
When his literary labors were over he was 60
ing to take a trip somewhere and rest, though
friends of his influential at Washington, were
anxious for him to accept consulship at an
important point.
The widows neat white cottage stood by
itself on the confines of the village. Deacon
Bliss's fields of dark green peppermint and
noddng wheat, stretching along the country
road for nearly n mile joined the garden.
Before her abrupt refusal of him, the deacon
had been accustomed TO drop in for little
visit or to bring in neighborly offering Of
apples or fresh vegetables. But these calls
had ceased, and, cut of from all her sources
VI utWb uhu BithbuIbg hIhs hBpltOotp hNuJ GU
closely at home, practised her music and en-
tertRined the professor.
But one sunshny afternoon Mrs Phlox
came bustling up to the prim graveled walk
'Rosetta Appledore," T." she chirped, like an an
CRY blue-jay, as she opened the door, Though
clod, which there are folks that think diff
ferent, I've come to ask you il you know
you're the town talk 7"
''The town talk 2" echoed her Rstonished
sister.
eyes. the town talk, =" repeated Mrs. Phlox,
with wonderful emphasis. anybody would
be who had spent two blessed months philan-
dcrin with a married man.
"Who is married 2"
'Your Professor Smith"
II don't believe it."
81 sposed you wouldn't, but I've seen his
wife" said Mrs. Phlox, with evident satisfac-
ton Miss Merrills, she twas Pearly Ann
Truesdae, wouldn't miss a fndin' out any
thing if she had to walk ten miles, an she
called on her, an told me. That night sez
to John, John, sez 1, "a sisters sister,
specially if she's young an widder, an If
| be q clod, I'm going to the bottom Of this !
an, sez he, Emma Jane, think you'd bet
ter an the first thing he did the next morn
in was to hitch up an take me over on the
mile-strip where that fellow lives, in Tony
| Allertons cottage. He wasn't in, but she
was, an she was wAshin'."
"Tm Miss Phlox, SCI /, am come to
call Thank you, sez 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 I? sez l.
"A sort of smile twinkled over her mouth
an she sez Yes, Miss st. Clair Smith, though
l 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 hus-
band, an of how ambitious he is, an how he
feels his spear in public life, an how she ia
willin to do anything to help him. And then
she enquired if thought she could git 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. rs
Mrs. Smith good looking2 Is she an inter
esting woman 2" she asked.
~ can't say how interesting she is. She
seemed kind of tired on, SO to speak. As fol
looks, she amt any prettier'n you'd be il
you worked hard an didn't have half enough
to eat," said Mrs. Phlox, calmly.
Mrs. Appledore sobbed aloud. "What dc
people say about me2 What shall do ?
she cried.
"They don't say nothn' yet, on'y tha
| you 70 uFehuIul lOOllhu, CulIp heH hlbt5i
rising and putting on her calash, for it wai
almost supper time. II can't say as know
of anything for you to do except to tell Mr.
Smith to stay rhome. 'Taint likely Deacon
Bliss will give you a chance to say yes q sec
| ond time"
There had been a good deal of pleasurablC
excitement in receiving the visits of the Pro
fessor. To dress herself in her best mourn
ing, and to sing her favorite songs to an ap
preciatve listener, had been something t
look forward to during the humdrum work o
the day The thought, however, of what he
acquaintances were saying about her embit
tered life, and when the Professor again call
ed, one glance at her face told him that sh
knew all.
Dear Mrs. Appledore," he began, but sh
checked him.
''You had better go home to your wife
Mr.. Smith, she said, coldly.
Tears, real tears came into the Professor
big blue eyes. "But love YOU" he cried
"snd she has always been an incubus upol
my soul"
but she's your wife," persisted Mrs. Ar
pledore.
81 know it," mourned the Professor, rub
bing his brow distractedly. 'It eats out M
vitals when think of it. She don't feel as
feel There's no wings for me as long as In
tied to her. We've no affinity"
Mrs. Appledore gazed at him in dull VOL
der. These were almost the words she ha
used to her sister, but they did not SCUM
pleasantly now.
81 love you, Rosetta" went on the littl
man, approaching her; and l want to as
you just one question; Were l single ma
would you marry me ?"
81 might" admitted the widow. smootl
ing down O fold in her overskirt with tren
bling hand.
'Enough!" and the Professor flung b
arms about her and pressed a rapturous ki'
upon her forehead. "Bless you, my da
linRl" and before she could answer him, /
was gone.
The next evening when Mrs. Appledol
, was taking down her washing from the lin'
she was suddenly clasped from behind by
pair of strong arms. ''You will soon
mine" said the voice of the Professor. 'I'V
offered my wife fifty dollars to leave me, an
she has accepted"
"Acoepted!" the widow cried, wrenchr
herself free.
, eyes, and as soon as can sell my boo
she shall CO. I've lived in soul isolation lor
! enough. And now my heart has found i
1 mate"
: All the men that Mrs. Appledore kne
were quaint of speech and somewhat rust
l. in manner, but what they considered du
1 controlled their lives. "You wretch !" 81
4 CRIED dashing the clothes.pin basket at hir
q "Fifty dollars! You amt worth Afty cent
Go home, and never dare to speak to 4
J. again !"
o Clear me-" he pleaded, catching hold
her gown.
/, II can't stay out here and listen to phila
l. derin' talk" she answered resolutely, al
twitching her dress from his grasp, she c
+" tered the house. But the Professors ha
). was upon the latch. Like most little WON
i the widow was a curious mixture OF timidl
and courage. She flung the door ope
" Don't you dare to come in /" she cried. ''l
y throw hot water on you I'll kill your TIL
le slamming the door in his face she bolted
le securely.
;" All the evening the Professor paced up a
" down Mrs. Appledore's back veranda. I
- naVt avaninp ha AGAIN appeared. and