The National tribune., 1882-05-13

pleasantly now.
q love you, Rosetta" went on the little
man approaching her; "and l want to ask
you Just one question: Were l a single man
would yOu marry me?"
81 might" admitted the widow, smooth
ing down a fold in her overskirt with
! trembling hand.
"Enough!" and the Professor flung his
arms about her and pressed a rapturous kiss
upon her forehead. "Bless, you, my darlingr'
and before she could answer him he was gone
The next evening when Mrs. Appledore
was taking down her washing from the line
| she was suddenly clasped from behind by a
pair of strong arms. "You will soon be
mine" said the voice of the Professor. I've
offered my wife $50 to leave me and she has
accepted"
Accepted" the widow cried, wrenching
| herself free.
YES, and as soon as l can sell my book
she shall go. I've lived in soul isolation long
enough. My heart has found its mate"
| All the men that Mrs. Appledorc knew
were quaint of speech and somewhat rustic
controlled their lives. You wretch" she
cried, dasloing the clothes-pin basket at him.
Fifty dollars. You amt worth fifty cents
Go home and never dare to speak to me
again!"
Hear me-" he pleaded, catching hold of
her gown.
Il can't stay out here and listen to phi
landerin' talk" she answered resolutely, and
| twitching her dress from his grasp she entered
the house But the Professors hand was
upon the latch. Like most little women,
the widow was a curious mixture of tinidity
and courage. She flung the door Open
Don't you dare to come in !" she cried
"l'll throw hot water on you! Tll-Tll kill
youw Then, slamming the door in his face,
she 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
a 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 nOiselessIy. The
sheriff collared him, the constable pinioned
| his arms, MIR. 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
I've got my cOmeupance," she groaned.
give always been romantic and wanted a
romance such as pve read about, an I've had
one. Oh, dear! oh, dear!" - ..t4>,
About o'clock in the morning there came
lively rap at the kitchen door, and, nm
strung by excitement and loss Of sleep, she
| shrieked aloud.
"On'y me; on,y Deacon Bliss" cried q
pleasant voice through the keyhole.
Mrs. Appledore slid back the bolt with
trembling fingers Glow thankful am"
she said, holding out her hand; l feel so in
need of somebody"
"'Twas fortinet 1 come along ies' as I did
then," said the Deacon, taking off his straw
hat and slowly rubbing his face with his
ample bandana 1t was a shrewd though
benevolent face, framed in waves of iron
gray hair. "I see We look kinder peaked
The weather has been tryin'. I've felt it
| myself an ached in my iints the wust way"
"It's my soul, Deacon" walled the widow,
dropping into a chair and covering her face
with her apron. "Tve always hankered after
a romance an I've had one, and wish was
dead and laid beside Caleb"
ooh, no ye don't, Miss Appledore" said
the Deacon, in the caressng tone in which
he would address sobbing child. "This
worlds a pooty good place, an with few
exceptions folks are pOoty good l come
| over to fetch few Of my sweetins' and to
tell ye that there offer l made ye a spell ago
holds good yet. l rally wish ye'd consider
it agin."
Mrs. Appledore remained silent behind
her apron.
OFF ye'd hev me-" repeated the Deacon in
a low voice. 81 know 1 amt half good huff
and thet I'm kind NV an old fellow, but I've
! got a conf f'able place an comf'able things in
| it, and I've been sot on yc this long spell, as
| ye knows. ] dare say l was tached to Lucy
more'n l shall ever be to anybody agin. We
! sort NV growed together like, but so did you
and Caleb, an Pm sure I'll try to make ye
! happy, and yer two little gals, as sweet as
two pinks, II be to me jes' like the little gals
lost"
Mrs. Appledore did not remove her apron,
and after pause the Deacon talteringly
continued
q s'pose faint no use ter argy. Folks
hez their own idees of such things, but any
ways Tll stand yer friend"
The widow rubbed her eyes and slowly let
| fall her apron.
"Pve always had the greatest esteem for
you," she said, with q little shake in her
voice, but | never knew how good-how
much / think of You. l will-I"---
| The Deacon started up. "Will YEP"
Mrs. Appledore had taken refuge in her
apron.
"Will ye really, Rosetta? ?" he repeated.