Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-05-24
WIDOW APPLDDORE's ROMANCE.


drum enough without my ending it with
Deacon Bliss. / shan't have himr'
"Well, well. Rosetta, if you wont
don't knows anybody's goin' ter try
and make YOU" chirped plump, ROSY
Mrs. Phlox, looking up from the. stout
blue wooden socks she was knitting.
81 s'pose the deacon had a right to ask
you, seem it's a free country Caleb
Appledore was awful nice man, but
SOS the deacon. Lone wimmen are
put on. Job Wmttamore neglects your
garding, an Just see what work you
have with your fires winters an keepin'
roads broke out.
''rm not going to marry just to have
some one to tend the garden and do the
chores" said Mrs, Appledore. I've
never found fault with them that's dead
ard gone, and know what it is to live
with a 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
/ swallow all 'Lias Bradshaw says about
the marryin of souls and afliinities,
but there's some truth in it you may de-
pend. Besides, I'd like a little romance
in my life before die''
Romance is all well huff, . said Mrs.
Phlox, "but you're thirty-nine next
March, Rosetta, an sech man as Dea-
con Bliss don't grow on every bush.
Bein' good proyider, an splendid
farmer, an a deacon, an piller in the
church may not be romantic, but they
are good recommends in a man you're
thinkin' of marryin'. | hope you'll
think twice"
81 have thought, and | shan't marry
the Deacon" said Mrs. Appledore, de-
cisively; IAN if that's being romantic
I'm not ashamed of it,"
The little widow did not look roman
tic. Her complexion was dull white,
her hair was dull brown. Dull, too,
were her large gray eyes, that blinked
behind short-sighted glasses, but her
form, though meager and devoid of
curve, was not without grace, and she
had clear, sweet soprano voice,
which, though it was unframed, she
could use with taste and feeling. The
Harmonicum, the Dixville musical as
ISOLATION, 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
wheezy melOdeon, which was q dozen
years old before 1t became the property
of the society, had at last collapsed I'M
der the energetic fingers of Prof. Jack
son Jones, who.did the accompanying,
and they were trying to buy a piano
They had given concerts and had oyster
suppers till Dixvile was tired, when
DIR. Ollapod suggested lecture. 1t
was whispered that the doctor had ex-
pected the committee TO invite him to
read one of his papers on the Semitic
tongue; but if he had he was disapoint-
ed. They correspondent with many
popular lecturers, who all declined to
visit Dixville on the plea of engage
ments, and the committee at last invit- |
ed n certain Prof. st. Clair Smith,
about whom they knew nothing except
that he had lecturcd in the neighboring
villages with acceptance, to address |
them. The professor had suddenly APP
peared in Dixvile mounted on fine |
gray horse. The next day he was seen
To enter the postoffice with a green bag |
on his arm, and the gossips Immediate |
ly reported that he was wealthy and had |
come from Boston He at once accent
ed the invitation of the Harmonicum |
committee, and announced that his |
lecture would be on the Philosophy of |
Art. The meet-hOuSe was hired, and |
Mrs. Appledore with a select few began |
practicng some music for the occasion. |
10 was the afternoon before the lee |
ture, and Mrs. Applcdore had invited |
her sister to spend the day with her. |
Domestic duties seemed to be Just what |
Mrs. Phlox was made for. Her hus-
hand apH 1ie tf,s.s = oil 4 l.
ing. In return she served them with |
her hands; but the few notions that
did creep into her round head she |
chung to pertinaciously.
The worst kind of y fool is u beetle |
headed one" She said. after LONG |
pause. can putin this an that to-
gether, Rosetta, think you're preparin
with yourfomancin' to be just that
kind of a one"
81 don't see how sisters can be 50 un- |
like" and Mrs. Appledore drummed |
a harsh accompaniment to her words !
or the middle c of her piano "To |
be sure, You are the oldest; but are |
need not make ones soul clod.
1T will be well for you to remember !
that the advantages are not on Your |
side" cried Mrs. PhloX, rising with |
dignity. "There are bodies. YES, and |
dispositions, that are clods," and Mrs. |
Phlox ierked on her calash and went |
home. The meeting house was full. |
and the next day the Dixville Times de- |
clared the lecture TO have been a most |
soulful and eloquent dissertation, but |
Mrs. Appledore's attention wandered,
and she only knew that the entertain |
meut was about to be concluded |
by DIR. Ollapod's sonorous call for
''moosic."
'I'm delighted" said Prof. St. Clair
Smith bowling low before her as soon
rs possible after the "mooSic.n II |
never heard such a delicious voice.
Mrs Appledore eoughed behind her
hand to conceal her battered embar-
rassment, and turned questioning |
look on Prof, Jackson Jones. who stood |
near.
you always sing splendid" said
that gentleman, drawing himself up.
Il dare say put you out. That flute
obligato is deuced hard thing to do. |
! didn't do myself justice tonight
you've always dragged" said Karl
Leopold, who took every opportunity
TO criticise the Harmonicum' doings. |
Prof. jackson Jones pulled at his |
cravat, and Mrs. Appledore's face was
full of resentment.
IL never heard anything finer in
Boston," said Prof ST Clair Smith,
coming to the rescue. land | suppose
YOU know what that implies.
The night after the lecture was q
very stormy one and Mrs. Appledore
was slowly twisting her halr in crimp-
ING pins when the door-bell rang. Il
could not endure the loneliness of the
hotel, dear Mrs. Appledore, said Prof.
st. Clair Smith, making courtly bow,
land have come to beg for just one
song
The professor was, so far rs outline
ana coloring 20, 4 handsome man.
His head what is commonly called
dome-shaped. His wayy hair and silky
beard was a bright yellow red and his
rather large eyes were blue. He sat
down in q big rocking chair, and taking
q twin on each knee. II renew my youth
in children" he cried. giving them
squeeze. do YOU know the song.
"rheol times were the best times when
you and | were young
"Oh, yes. sand the widow, nerVously
turning over her music. ''but 1 can say
that feel SO very old. y
Dear me, what a blunderer | am, -