Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-13

DdCh lIOill lut uOuSt III Ilt llllNlSN VI "a
square garden and fruit trees. And so
when, in driving past ona day, we saw the
notice TO Let" posted upon the front
gate, we alighted and walked up 20 the
graveled pathway to make inquiries
An old negro woman opened the door
and showed us into the parior, when the
lady OF the house soon appeared. She was
a tall, slender and rather handsome
woman, with bright, jet-black eyes and
hair, and perfectly clear and colorless
complexion. She explained that she was
the owner of the house, and had lived here
alone with one servant since her husband )
death, about two years previous. The
house was too large for her use, and she
desired to let the main portion of it, re-
tanning the wing of three rooms for her
use. The arrangement and terms sultiny
us, we soon came TO an agreement, and in
less than two weeks thereafter, Deborah
and were quietly established in our new
abode, a contented old maid and bachelor.
Deborah was ten yea older than my
self, and had ever since my mOtherless in
fancy acted towards ne a maternal part
We were in what is called independent
circumstances. had a good business in
the city, and, finding my comfort well
NhlNt Api h1 4pAiAt' lIth'A bV0A fNIy "NAA
cOntented, and reached my fortieth year
without having thought much upon the
subject Of changing my bachelor cOndi-
ton. Nor did such a thought seriously
present itself until may as well confess
it-until had known our landlady, Mrs,
Arabella CrOwle, long enough to COME
under the influence of her destinations.
Under other circumstances, perhaps, it
might have been different, but being
thrown SO frequently into her presence
seeing her at first nearly every day, in CON
nection with certain proposed arrange
ments and improvements of the place, and
afterwards SO often LIeeting her about twi-
light accidently in The grounds, which by
mutual agreement remained open to both
fGmilieS-it was not strange, | thought,
that we should have been unCOusciOusly
drawn into a closer mutual interest than
might have been the case under ordinary
circumstances She was not over 30 at
most, was clever and agreeable, and had
many little bewitching ways and express
ions sometimes lively and sarcastic, some
times pathetic and tender, which eXer-
else over me a peculiar fascination, almost
in spite of my own will. And so 1t came
TO pass that one evening in the twilight,
after supper, with some embarrassment
ventured TO broach to my sister the subject
of my marrying the Widow Crowle,
Deborah had never particularly fancicd
her, and she now swept her pet tortoise
shell tabby cat out of her lap, and looked
at me aghast.
Gracious goodness, Oliver! You don't
mean to say that you really-that she
that you are edgaged to marry that
womant"
Not exactly engaged; that is, I have
never directly asked her to marry me, but
she knOws-ahem there Is what may be
called an understanding between us"
Understandings exclaimed Deborah,
Indignantly. "ln my opinion you've no
understanding whatever in the matter.
You don't understand that she's an artful,
designing woman, who has probably from
the very first been planning and manPuv-
ring TO get you in her power You don't
understand what her temper or deposition
or history may be Now | have heard
things from the neighbOrs concerning all
this which / scarcely cared to repeat TO
you. but which, under present circum-
stances, II is of course my bounden duty to
infOm you Of"
What things'" inquired, family.
First about her temper. She's terma-
giant! Look at her eyes! and if you could
hear her some days scOlding that old black
woman, you'd know her better. a nice
henpecked husband you'd make! Why,
neighbOrs say it is more than suspected
that her husband committed suicide by
voluntarily taking the dose Of morphine of
which he died-driven to it by the life she
led him And she's Quarreled with all her
relations-which is the reason she happens
TO be living so solitary and alone"
pondered DebOrah's words. l came
TO the conclusion that ! had been hasty
and imprudent, and had made narrow
escape And thenceforth avoided Ara
bella CrOwle.
But she didn't avoid me. oh, no. On
the contrary. she sought me assiduOusly.
She met me around street corners; she
waylaid me in the garden alleys; and fin
ally she went to my office, and directing
the clerk to say that a lady wished to see
me on business, followed him into my in
ncr office room. and there majestically de
manded to know the meaning of my late
conduct.
What could say-or do' Only deli
cately suggest that she had misunderstood
my intentions. Only hint that though it
would delight me to remain her good and
devoted friend, yet that closer and more
intimate tie would scarcely contribute to
the happiness of either; and that-But
here she interrupted me.
DO | understand" she said, looking
straight at me with her black and glitter
ing eyes, that, in 50 many words, in short,
after all that has been said, after all our
plans and arrangements in regard to the
future, you now decline to keep your
promise TO marry me1"
Pardon me; but there was no promise,
no positive proposal, on my part. little
Irritation such as ours"
And then she interrupted me again, and
startled and appalled, me with an eXhihi
tion of that temper which my prudent and
penetrating sister had attributed to her.
| will not describe the scene; | will not
repeat what she said-except the last
words:
You will find that l am not one to be
trified with, or to tamely submit to an in
suit. will be revenged! AS long rs
live will haunt your life, and make you
feel the influence of wrunged and in
suited woman" Here ! must have
smiled, for she added with concentrated
intensity Of patsion-"And even II die
before you do, will haunt you then! Re
member my words, and he sure of it,"
Then she left the Office, and | never
again saw her-alive.
saw her, however, In her coffin the day
of her funeral, two days after she had
dropped dead of heart disease at public
concert Deborah and |, with q few
neighbors, rode to the cemetery and saw