The Osceola times., 1885-10-17

most discreet and proper wife for an in.
cipient deacon. Her love Cf gossip had
been latent until she had passed middle
age, but he could see that II now in.
creased constantly.
And II was not the gossip alone. He
mad lately found under the cushion Of
her chair, in search for Zion's Mes,sn.
ger, a paper-covered book with this as.
aonlshlng title: THE Stolen Bride; or.
Ihe Mystery of the Moat."
Laviny was light-minded.
The deacon had seen advertised A
book upon heredity, which he resolved
TO purchase the next time he went to the
city. W '''
But Lavlny was the wife of his bosom;
he hurried home to consult with her
ABOUT this new trouble that had fallen
upon them.
He found her perched upon tho high
STOOL behind the rows of pigeon-holes In
the postoflice, scrutinizing through her
glasses the superscription of letter.
Nehemiah. Tidy Slocum has got A
letter, and lisa mans writing, but /
don't think it's Sauls. The postmark
beats me-"
81 hear that she has gone to Eden to
work in a milliner's shop since her
father died." said the deacon. 1--WE
must send the letter over"
"Now it's queer didn't know she'd d
gone. Folks won't take the trouble to
tell poor lame old woman what's goin'
on" said Mrs. Kittredge, plaintively
and they won't send postal cares;
there amt half so many goin' between
here and Eden as there used to be-"
The deacon looked up quickly from
the bowed position in which he had sat
down. He had observed that; he had
also overheard whispers which led him
to think that his wife's curiosity about
the mails was causing dissatisfaction
in the town. Was disgrace in another
shape coming upon him in his old age
upon him who had led so upright, 80
blameless lifep
But no; he only imagined that because
trouble had disturbed his nerves; no.
body could suspect Laviny of anything
really dishonorable, and surely they
could bear with her harmless curiosity
and gossip.
'Laviny. Saul has Joined = concert
troupe. They are going to sing in
Haverford tomorrow night; the bills
are posted all over town with Saul Kit
tredge. basso profondo, on them"
The deacon's lips took on hard and
scornful curl, although he looked other
wise broken in spirit. He was thinking
of long line Of ancestors, some Of
whom had distinguished themselves;
most of them had been sturdy farmers,
now and then perhaps carpenter or a
blacksmith, but never play-actor or q
minstrel till now.
Mrs. Kittredgs got down painfully
from the high stool-a little withered
old lady, but with hair that was still
haxen and childish blue eyes. "Oh,
Nehemiah, our SAUL" she said, with
gasp, stretching her little trembling
hands out toward him. But maybe it
amt so bad. Don't look so. Nehemiah.
You don't s'pose he'd pretend he was a
negro, and play on bones, or wear wo.
mems clothes, like those aWfut creturs
that came here! l don't believe Saul
would do that, and If it's only singin',
he always had u beautiful voice" A
pleased look stole over the withered lit
tie face. Before he was four years old
he could catch the tune of Antioch
and he would have sung it beautifully
only those children down on the Flats
learnt him to sing Mother Goose verse
to it-'There was man in our town
and you couldn't break him of singin' it
that way, even in Sabbath-school."
Deacon Kittredge groaned. 81 don't
see why we should have such y son,
Laviny," he said, shaking his gray head
heavily. But there! it's the Lords
judgment on us, and we must bear il"
And the deacon went to his closet,
and on his rigid old knees sought to dis
cover the meaning of the Lords judg-
ment. After supper he wended his way
to the weekly prayer-meeting. Hulds,
the "help," went, too, and Mrs. Kilt
redge was left alone.
As soon as both were gone, and the
doors fastened behind them, she went
into the post-oilice, and took the letter
addressed to Tidy Slocomb Again from
its on-hole-Tildy Slocomb who had
come of ''shiftless" stock, who wore
pink bonnets, and went to dances, and
flirted with the stage-drlver.
IF it amt from Saul, l want to know
it; and II it is, seems as if ought to
know il. And never saw a postmark
that couldn't make out before. II
there was any postal cards to put my
mind on, may be could stop thinkin'
about it; or if knew Just how it was
about Arvilly Wright's beau jiltin' her;
but | can't be took up with that book
Miss Skinner brought me, | feel so
wicked readin' It; and it don't pay. for
there amt a word of truth in 1t. l
should like to know who has written to
Tidy slocomb.
She held the letter up between her
eyes and the lamp that stood in brack-
ct on the wall.
81 don't see why Nehemiah was bent
on havin' everything so high up here
letter.boxes and stools and lamps and
all. I'll take the letter out into the sit
ting-room. But to come to think OF it,
| should feel kind of awkward hdin' ii
away, il anybody should happen to
come in, and its warmer and not so lone
some in the kitchen"
So into the kitchen Mrs, Kittre dge
went, with the precious, letter hidden un-
der her little worsted cape, although
there was nobody to see but Saul's old
gray cat, lineal descendant of the one
that had brought up her family in old
Mr.. Hollis coffin.
1.-The deacon's so strict lately that he
don't want letter carried as far as the
sit.in'-room; but goodness knows l only
want to make out that postmark.
The kitchen was a large room with
windows on two sides. Mrs. kittredge
.Ns.t.x Ts.f