Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-06-02
WIDOW 1PPLEDORE8 ROMANCE

-Ceiia Tharter IN Youths Companion.
-
WIDOW APPLEDORES ROMANCE
"A man that thinks of nothing but pep
mint oil an the price of wheat No Emma
Jane, my life has been humdrum enough
without my ending it with Deacon Bliss.
shan't have him 7"
"Well, well, Rosetta, il you wont, don't
know'sanybody's goin' ter try an make you"
chirped plump, rosy Mrs. Phlox, looking up
from the stout blue wooden sock she was knit
ting. II s'pose the deacon thought he'd q
right to ask you, seein' it's free country.
Caleb Appledore was an awful nice man, but
SOS the deacon. Lone wimmen are put on.
Job Whittermore neglects your garding, an
Just see what work you have with your fires
winters an keepin' roads broke out"
I'm not going to marry just to have some
one to tend the garden and do the chores"
said Mrs. Appledore. "Tve meyer found fault
with them that's dead and gone, and know
what it is to live with person who does not
care two pins for the things do, and if ever
do marry again it will be some one who can
sympathize with me. / can't say l swallow
all 'Lias Bradshaw says about the marryin of
souls and afiinities, 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 80 next March, Rosetta, an
sech men Ms Deacon Bliss don't grow on
every bush. Bein q good provider, an
splendid farmer, an a deacon, an pillar in
the church may not be romantic, but they're
good recommends in a man you're thinkin' Of
marryin | hope you'll think twice"
II have thought, and / shRn't marry the
deacon" said Mrs. Appledore, decisively
''an if that's being romantic I'm not ashamed
of it."
The little widow did not look romantic.
Her complexion WAS a dull white and her
hair was a dull brown. Dull, too, were her
large gray eyes, that blinked behind short
sighted glasses, but her form. though meagre
and devoid of curve, was not without grace,
and she had clear, soprano voice, which,
though it was unframed, she could use with
taste and feeling The HArmonicum, the
Dixvlle musical association, made her the
head of all their committees, and relied upon
her to sing all the solos. Indeed. without her
it could not have existed. The vheezy me-
lodian, which was dozen years old before it
became the property Of the society, had at
last collapsed under the energetic fingers Of
Professor Jackson Jones, who did the accom-
panying, and they were trying to buy piano
They had given concerts and had oyster sup
pers till DixvIlle was tired, when DIR. OllRpod
suggested lecture. Il was whispered that
tut uOGlOT nhu GADtCleu lub COnllltNcc " III
vite him to read one of his papers on the
Semitic tongue but il he did he was disap-
pointed. They oorresponded with many pop
ular lecturers, who all declined to visit Dix
vile on the plea of engagements, and the
committee ut last invited certain Professor
st. Clair Smith, about whom they knew moth
| ing except that he had lectured In the neigh
boring villages with acceptance, to address
them. The professor had suddenly appeared
in Dixville mounted on q fine gray horse. The
next day he was seen to enter the post Office
with green bag on his arm, and the gossips
Immediately reported that he was wealthy
| and had come from Boston. He at once ac-
cepted the invitation of the Harmonicum COM
mittce and announced that his lecture would
| be on the PHILOSOPHY of Art" The meet
ing-house was hired and Mrs. Appledore with
a select few began practising some music for
the occasion.
1t was the afternoon before the lecture and
Mrs. Appledore had invited her sister to
| spend the day with her. Domestic duties
seemed to be Just what Mrs. PhlOx was made
for. Her husband and sister usually did all
| her thinking In return she served them with
her hands but the few notions that did creep
into her round head she clung to pertina
ciously.
''The worst kind of fool is a beetle-head
ed one," she said after a long pause, IAN
putin this an that together, Rosetta, 1 thinl
| you're preparin' with your romancin' to bC
Just that kind of a one."
/ ''I don't see how sisters can be so unlike,
and Mrs. AppledOre drummed harsh accom-
paniment to her words on the middle O of he
piano. ''To be sure, you are the oldest bu
age need not make ones soul o ciod."
'It would be well for you TO remember tina
the advantages are not on your side" crieC
Mrs. Phlox, rising with dignity. There ar,
bodies, yes, and dispositions, that are clods,
and Mrs. Phlox jerked on her qslash and wen
home.
The meeting house was full, and the mex
day the Dixville Times declared the lecture Il
have been a most soulful and eloquent disseT
tation, but Mrs. Appledore's attention wan
dered, and she only knew that the entertain
ment was about to be concluded by DIR. Ola
pods sonorous call for "moosic."
''I am delighted, said Professor st. Clai
Smith, bowing low before her as soon as pos
sible after the "moosic." 81 never heard sue
a delicious voice."
Mrs. Appledore cOughed behind her han
to conceal her fiattered embarrassment, an
turned questioning look on Professor Jael
son Jones, who stood near.
"You always sing splendid" said that gel
tleman, drawing himself up. 81 dare say
put you out. That flute obligato is a deuce
nara thlnB 10 do' uluh 40 nyseu JustlC
tonight"
you've always dragged" said Karl Lee
pold, who took every opportunity to criticii
the Harmonicum doings,
Prof. jackson Jones pulled at his crava
and Mrs. Appledore's face was full of resen
ment.
81 never heard anything finer in Boston
said Prof. st. Clair Smith, coming to the re
cue, land suppose you know what that in
plies"
The night after the lecture was a vel
\ stormy one, aud Mrs. Appledore was slow
twisting her hair in crimping-pin when Il
, door-bell rang 81 could not endure Il
loneliness of the hotel, dear Mrs Appledore
said Prof st. Clair Smith, making a court
! bow, and have come to beg for just ol
: song"
The Professor wss, so far as outline al
coloring go, a handsome man. his head "
;. what is commonly called domeshaped II
wavy hair and silky beard were bright y
low red and his rather large eyes were blu
He sat down in big rocking chair, and ia
ing twin ON each knee, 81 renew my you
in children" he cried, giving them squeez
''Do you know the song, The old times we
: the best times when you and / we
= Vounp p"