Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-05-24

4
| calls had ceased, and, cut off from all
her sources of news and pleasure, Mrs.
Appledore stayed closely at home, prac-
tieed her music, and entertained the
professor.
But one sunshiny afternoon Mrs.
Phlox came busting up to the prim
graveled walk.
Rosetta Appledore, she chirped
like an angry blue jay, 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?"
1.-The town talk = echoed her aston
ished sister.
Eyes; the town talk repeated Mrs.
Phlax, with wonderful emphasis. "Any-
body would be who had spent two
blessed months philanderin' with a
married man."
"Who is married."
''Your Professor Smith"
| 81 don't believe it.
81 s'posed you wouldn't but Eve seen
| his wife," said Mrs. Phlox with evident
satisfaction. Miss Merrills, she twas
Pearly Ann Truesdale, wouldn't miss a
findin' out anything if she had to walk
ten miles; an she called on her, and
told her. That night | SEE to John,
John seq |, "a sisters sister, speci-
| ally if she's younger and wilder, an
if be clod, I'm going to the bottom
Of this;' an SEE he, Emma Jane,
| think you'd better an the first thing
he did the next mornin' was to hitch
up and take me over on the mile strip
where that fellow lives in Tony Aller-
| tons cottage. He wasn't in, but she
was, she was washin'.
"I'm Miss Phlox, " sez |, ''an' | come
to CALL Thank you,' SEE She Pm
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?" seq l.
"A sort of smile twinkled over her
mouth, an she sez,' Yes, Miss st. Clair
Smith, though | didn't know Mr.. Smith
had adopted the st. Clair name. That
my name An then she went on an
spoke of her husband, an of how am
bilious he is, an how he feels his spear
in public life, an how she is willing 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. us Mrs Smith good looking?
Is she an interesting woman?' she
asked.
Il can't say how interesting she is.
She seemed kind of tired on, so to speak
As for looks, she amt prettier'n you'd
be if you worked hard an didn't have
half enough to eat" said Mrs. Phlox,
calmly.
Mrs. Appledore sobbed aloud.
"What do people say about me? What
shall | do?" she cried.
"They don't say nothin' yet, only
that you're dreadful foolish" chirped
her sister, rising and putting on her
calash, for it was almost supper time
81 can't say as | know of ANYTHING
for you to do except to tell Mr.. Smith
to stay t home. 'Taint likely Deacon
Bliss will give you chance to say yes
u second time
There had been a good deal of pleas
urable excitement in receiving the visits
of the professor. TO dress herself in
her best mourning and to sing her ia
yorite songs TO an appreciative listener
had been something to look forward
to during the humdrum work of the
day. The thought, however, of what
her acquaintance were saying about
her embittered 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.
You had better 90 home to your
wife, Mr.. Smith,, she said coldly.
Tears, real tears, came into the pro-
fessor's big blue eyes ''But | love
YOU" he cried, land she has always
been an incubus uponmy soul"
But she's your wife" persisted Mrs
Appledore.
Il know it." moaned the professor,
rubbing his brow distractedly sit eats
out my vitals when | think of it. She
don't feel as | feel There's no wings
for me as long as l am tied to her.
We've no affinity
Mrs. Appledore gazed at him In dull
wonder. These were almost the words
she had used to her sister, but they did
not sound pleasantly now.
81 love you Rosetta went on the lit
tie man, approaching her; land want
to ask you just one question:: Were | a
single man would you marry me?''
Il might" admitted the widow.
smoothing down y fold in her overskirt
with trembling hand.
Enough! and the professor flung
his arms about her and pressed a rap
turous kiss upon her fore head. BLESS
you, my darlingr and be fore she could
answer him he was gone.
The next evening when Mrs. Apple
dore was taking down her washing from
the line, she was suddenly clasped from
behind by pair of strong arms. "You
will soon be mine," said the voice of the
professor. 1--WE offered my wife $50 to
leave me, and she has accepted
"Acceptedr' the widow cried. wrench
ing herself free.
Eyes, and as soon as can sell nv
book she shall go. I've lived in soul
isolation long enough. My heart has
found its mate"
All the men that Mrs. Appledore
knew were quaint of speech and some
what rustic in manner, but what they
considered duty controlled their lives.
''You wretchr' she cried, dashinc the
clothespin basket at him. FIFTY dol
lars! You amt worth 90 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
philanderin' talk" she answered reso-
lutely, 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 timidity and courage.
She flung the door open. Don't YOU
dare to come inr' she cried. an
throw hot water on you! I'll kill YOUR
Then slamming the door in his face she
bolted it securely.
All the evening the professor paced
up and down Mrs. Appledore's back
yeranda. The next evening he again
appeared, and the next, and the widow,
thoroughly alarmed, sent the brayest
twin out the front way with 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
| anu two constableS and went marching
down the principal streets with them TO
the great delight of all the small bows
OF the village. 1t was impossible for
| the professor to escape. The officers