Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-10-07

Ratchet. and she was widow; and
when she came TO me In 2 carriage
hired. but still with man in livery drl-
wing it-and said 10 me-.
''Oh. Mrs. Kimberly, ma'am, it's not
the expense Pm thinking Of, for terms
don't affect me much-poOr, dear Mr..
Pouncer was SO thoughtful of me in his
will; but should you be able to promise
me the comforts of homer"
And her dress was the richest OF silk.
and all covered with English Grape, and
her veil with hem yard deep, and
really was so touched that l promised
her my hest front room with the alcove,
whether any one else wanted it OF not.
And she lived in retirement and had her
meals in her own room for two weeks.
for a reason that she cOntided to me.
She was going 10 the dentist s. and they
were a full SET, and of the beautifulest
whIteness, like snow; but at fist, you
know, you can't talk In 'em much less
eat. and that makes it inconvenient,
At the self same moment, so to speak,
Mr.. Ratchet came t. the house, and II
was the most remarkable CO incidence,
he con6ded Ia me, too. He was ago
ing to the dentists, likewise, and his
was full set; and he said he'd like TO
be spoken of, and charged as an invalid
for one month, which was done.
And all would have been private and
unknown but for my grandson Tommy,
that | have the bringing up of; and how
he found il out, | don't know, but he
did, and told it TO all the boarders in
the parlor one evening, and was correct
ed with my slipper, and sent to bed IN
consequence.
But Mr.. Ratchet he never knew, and
Mrs. Pouncer she never gueSsed-and
We must all come TO it some time. and
some of us had, I've no doubt. And It
didn't matter much, after all. And
what do you believe those two did
widow and vidoweT-but fall in love
with each other, at least as much as at
their age and their size could be expect
ed. He waited on her to church, aud
she knitted him wOrsted muftiers, and
he used to read something that be called
poetry. and that was soiemner than the
prayer-book. Of mornings IN the parlor
keeping il from being busted and max
ing her cape dreadful, poor thingl But
men are inconsIderate, whether mar
ried or single: and women viii put up
with a great deal before the wedding
ring is on, Likewise he took her 10
lectures, wnere / am told she went to
sleep, poor deaTl
She liked fun, and good eating ana
dancing, even at her size; and he liked
horrid, solemn things, and had way of
talking, as if you didn't have ideas no.
BODY else could understand you hadn't
any at oil.
But widows mostly will get married,
If they can, poor dears, though you
can't help wondering sometimes that
thev haven't had sufficient warning
Well, he proposed, Of course, and she
acceptt d; and she was TO be married
in lavender, with white lace founces
and fichu; and he gave her another
diamond ring, though there wasn't any
room to speak of for II on her fat
1DgeT, she had so many already; and
they were to be married quietly In my
parlors of d Tuesday morning; and
Monday night all was right; and Tues
day morning the dreadful things began
TO happen.
Sally, the chambermald, comes to
me. and says she:
''Oh, Mrs. Kimberly, there is some
thing the matter with Mrs. Pouncer.
She's meaning dreadful in her own
room, and wants TO see you"
So | run up stairs as fast as l could,
though the store closet was unlocked,
and if the cook helped herself to lump
she took a pound of sugars | knew
she would. And there found the poor
in bod and EhA
Lock the door. Mrs. Kimberly" in
queer kind of voice, and then she
showed me what had happened. She
always took her teeth out of nights and
put 'em in bowl of water, and some
one had come in-hOw, she cOnldnt
think, for though the window was
open, who would climb up the wisteria
vine but a monkey? and they were gone
''And under my door this cruel letter,
Mrs. Kimberly said she; and she
pointed to one lying on the bed. Read
it, says she. So l opened the letter
and read:
DEAREST CAROLNE-ClrcumSt
ces that l can OF possibly explain
force me to fy from this roof. How
long | shall be gone do not know. 1t
IFRCuhS Ou duOAbCAs DCAACNC LAC II uC,
and trust me if you can. l have no hope
but n your complete faith IN Inc.
Yours. EDWARD.
1.-TWO such blows in one morning."
says she, land the clergyman coming
and ALL OF course, under any circum-
stances, | couldn't be bride until
had a new set, but l could have said /
was i'll. But what is Itg Is it first
wife? Can it be?"
"he doesn't look it, says /.
There's no judging by looks" said
she. Maybe he's found out about my
teeth and gone"
That amt likely" said 1; ''he'd
have more sympathy" But / didn't
ike to say Why.
Hes a man," said the widow.
mystery"
perhaps your teeth were never put
in the water" said |. MAYBE they're
on the floor"
And peeped around, and pretty
soon l saw on The side of the bowl five
little black marks, and on tue window
sll were five more, aud then five more
yet
Then L began TO guess. went out
INTO Mr.. Ratchett's room, and on the
window from the back piazza there
we're five more black marks, and on the
bureau was a goblet of water, and on
that FIVE black marks more.
knew all now. My grandson Tom.
NY was fine child, but ne had one pc
culiariIy. The more | washed his hands
the bla ;ker they got. And whatever he
touched he printed off bis hands on
He was capable of climbing that wis
terra vine, and be liked to tease. He
had a lively disposition, poor, dear
Tommy. and he had taken the teeth
both double sets. Just as he had my
spectacles before church time. And he
once put his poor Uncle PInner's wood
en- leg up chimney when he was tele-
graphed for in hurry somewhere.
1 like lively disposition, but board
ers have their rights, and weddings
aren't to be trifed with; and says /:
MRS. Pouncer, be calm"