Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-19

the discontinue of his less fortunate
rival, who could OILY sit in . corne,
and cast despsiring glances at the Oh
ject of his affections.
'Just look at Deacon Gibbs" whis.
pered Mahala Williams to Dorcas Lamb
"He looks like a hen ON a hot griddle,
while Lawyer Greene is ACQUIRING the
widow"
Dorcas Uttered out loud, whereupon
the deacon grew red in the face, as il
aware that he was the object of theil
mirth.
oval, 1 reckin I'll be a-goin', Miss
Larcom," he announced, approaching
the hostess a short time later. II only
jest dropped in to see how you was ali
a-gitting along"
20 you must stay to supper, deacon:
It's Almost ready now, an I can't lei
you go before Mat," declared the hos.
tess, determinedly. But the deacon
was equally determined and go he did.
deacon Gibbs! Deacon Gibbs! stop
a minute, 1 want to speak to you" cried
Mrs. Hatch, rushing out to the porch
where he stood, looking a little be-
wildered at the unexpected summons.
81 want to ask you to come we the
day after Observation-Disclosures
day, you knowaand eat dinner with us.
Now don't say no-there won't be any
body there only Belindy an our own
folks. Say you'll comet"
oval, 1 dunno, Miss HATCH" said
the deacon, uneasily. II thank you
kindly fur the snviic, but I've been
a-feelin kind of blue fur a good spell
now, an l don't know as I'd be fifth
comp'nyt to go an eat Thanksgivin' din:
ners with folks when I'm blue."
"Sho! that's all nonsense, deacon.
You mast n now, an 1 shill be
a-lookin fur you" And good-hearted
little Mrs. Hatch ran back into the
house before Deacon Gibbs could make
any further protest.
If Mrs. Blossom noticed the deacon's
departure, she betrayed no conscious
ness of the fact, but demurely con-
tinued her Irritation with the lawyer.
Supper, the great event of the day,
was ready at last, and the guests were
doing ample justice to the plentiful ar
ray of viands set before them. Boiled
ham, chicken pot-pie, mashed potatoes
and turnups, hot slaw, apple sauce,
squash pie, custard pie, ielly-cake,
cookies and doughnuts, ali were placed
on the table together, and the guests
invited to help themselves, which they
did with a will.
The meal was well under way, and
conversation had tagged considerably,
for with hungry people eating and talk
ing are not to be carried on together,
when a new arrival came, in the per
son of Hiram Primm, the store-keeper's
clerk.
Hiram was soon seated at the table,
helping himself right and left to the
still abundant s~ubstantials and luxuries
On the board.
f. "Heard the news?" he asked, look
ing around after partaking of a few
grass Bank has bursted-smashed clean
up. Creditors won't git five cents on
the dollar"
Explanations of surprise greeted the
unexpected tidings from all sides.
The Widow Blossom turned pale,
and gazed wildly at the speaker.
Lawyer Greene also changed counte.
nance as he glanced furtively at Mrs.
Blossoms face.
els that really so, Hiramp" he asked,
anxious1y.
.'It's RELY so," declared Hiram. "It'I
be in the paper tomorrow morning.
"Why, Lawyer Greene, you hain't got
money there, Rev you?"
"O6, no, certainly not. Ma funds
are secured on real estate. I don't
trust to bamks," responded the lawyer,
complacently.
"Wal, I'm thankful to say ma money
amt there, either" said Hiram, gravely,
thereby causing a general laugh, as il
was a well-known fact that Hiram
spent his wages as fast as he earned
them.
No one noticed the widows changed
demeanor, though she still looked pale,
and declined a second piece of squash
pie.
But Lawyer Greene seemed suddenly
to have changed his tactics, and was
now evidently bent on getting up
Irritation with Mahala Williams.
The widows money affairs were no,
generally known among her acquaint'
ances, consequently she escaped thei,
condolences. Jemima Hatch, though,
did manage to whisper a few words Of
sympathy in her ear
"Don't worry about it, Belindy," she
urged; 'I'll come over and see you to.
morrow, and We'll talk it over" But
Mrs. Blossom did not recover hel
spirits.
Lawyer Greene did not appear to no.
tice when the widow rose to leave,
compelling her to accept the protec.
ton of half-grown Tom Larcom, much
to the surprise of all who noticed the
circumstance.
"He was awful sweet on the widdel
at first" they whispered. 'She must
of give him the mitten," and the
next day it was currently reported that
Lawyer Greene had proposed to the
Widow Blossom and been rejected. Sc
much for the truth of what ''they say
Jemima paid the promised visit
bright and early the next morning.
She found her sister looking pale and
detected.
GLOW bad is it, Belindy?" she asked.
'Did you put all your money in tn
bank?"
"All-every cent of it," groaned the