The Penn's Grove record., 1885-10-03

I WA@ - 1880
hired, but still with a man in livery drl-
wing it-and said to me:
'sOh, Mrs. Kimberly, ms'am, it's not
the expense I'm thinking Of, for terms
don't affect me much-poor, dear MI.
Pouncer was 50 thoughtful of me in bis
will; but should you be able to promise
me the comforts of a h0mep'
And her dress was the richest of SILK,
and all covered with English Grape, and
her veil with a hem a yard deep, n
really | was so touched that | promised
her my best front room with the alcoye,
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 confided to me
She was going to the dentists, and they
were a full SET, and of the beantifulest
wbIteness, like snow; but at first, you
know, you can't talk in 'em much less
eat, and that makes it inconvenient.
At the self-same moment, 80 to speak,
Mr.. Ratchet came to the house, and 1t
was the most remarkable co obedience,
he confded IN me, too. He was ago
ing to the dentists, likewise, and his
was q 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 it out, / don't know, but be
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 g~uessed-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 widower-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, and
she knitted him worsted muliers, and
he used to read something that he called
poetry. and that was solemner than the
prayer-book, of mornings in the parlor
keeping it from being busted and max
ing her cape dreadful, poor thingl But
men are inconsiderate, whether mar
ried or single; and women will put up
with a great deal before the wedding
ring is on, Likewise he took her to
lectures, where / am told she went to
sleep, poor dearl
She liked fun, aud good eating and
dancing, even at her size; and he liked
horrid, solemn things, and had a way of
talking, as If you didn't have ideas no.
body else could understand you hadn't
anyat all.
But widows mostly will get married,
If they an, poor dears, though you
can't help wondering sometimes that
they haven't had sufficient warning.
Well, he proposed, Of course, and she
accepted; and she was to be married
in lavender, with white lace hounces
and fichu; and he gave her another
diamond ring, though there wasn't any
room to speak of for 1t on her fat
finger, she had SO many already; and
they were to be married quietly In my
parlors of q Tuesday morning; and
Monday night all was right; and Tues
day morning the dreadful things began
to happen.
Sally, the chambermaid, ome to
me, and says she:
"0h, Mrs. Kimberly, there is some
thing the matter with Mrs. Pouncer.
She's a meaning dreadful in her own
room, and wants to see YOU"
SO | run up stairs as fast as | could,
though the store-closet was unlocked,
and if the cook helped herself to a lump
she took a pound of sugar-as | knew
she would. And there | found the poor
dear a-crying in bed, and she says,
"Loek the door. Mrs. Kimberly, in a
queer kind of voice, and then she
showed me what had happened. She
always took her teeth out of nights and
put 'em In a bowl of water, and some
one had come inflow, she conldn't
think, for though the window was
open, who woula- climb Up the wisteria
vie 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 | opened the letter
and read:
DEAREST CARoLINE-Circumstan
ces that / cannot possibly explain
force me to fly from this roof. How
long l shall be gone | do not know. 1t
depends on another. Believe me true,
and trust me If you can. have no hope
but IN your complete faith In me.
Yours, EDWARD.
1.-TWO such blows In one morning, F"
says she, land the clergyman coming
and ALL OF course, under any circum-
stances, l couldn't be a bride until |
had a new set, but l could have said |
was i'll. But what is itY Is it a first
wife? Can it bep"
"He doesn't look it." says l..
There's no judging by looks" said
she. Maybe he's found out about my
teeth and gone"
That amt likely" said l; ''he'd
have more sympathy" But | didn't
like to say why.
Hes a man," said the widow.
'sThat's enough. But it's an awful
mystery"
Perhaps your teeth were never put
in the water" said |. Maybe they're
on the floor"
And | peeped around, and pretty
o o l saw on the side of the bowl five
little black marks, and on the window
sill were five more, and then five more
yet
Then 1 began to guess. | went out
into Mr.. Ratchett's room, and on the
window from the back piazza there
were Ave 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.
my was a fine child, but M had one Pc
culiarity. The more | washed his hands
the blacker they got. And whatever he
touched be printed off his hands on
He was capable of climbing that wis.,
terra vine, and he 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 a hurry somewhere.
like a lively disposition, but board
ers have their rights, and weddings
aren't to be trifled with; and says L:
MRS. Pouncer, be calm"
81 had gone back TO her room. you
know.