Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-03-10
ALPENA WEEKLY ARGUS.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A CUNNING SCHEME.
But II Didn't Work to the Authors
Entire Satisfaction.

Entire Satisfaction.
His parishioners watched Rev. MIR.
Brown with peculiar interest as he left
the graveyard, leading his two little
girls by the hand. They wondered,
knowing how much she had been to
him, how he would endure the terrible
blow of his wife's death. His face was
like marble rs the coffin was lowered
into the grave; there was no outward
sign of anguish, but no one doubted for
q moment that he suffered kcenly. lie
had been rather a mystery to his con-
gregation always; but they knew him
to DO capable of deep feeling, in spite
OF his cold. impassive manner A
noisy, demonstra;ivc show of grief
would have been impossible to him.
He was man of great tranquility OF
mind, and with little energy of dispo-
sition. He took all that Providence
sent him very dutifully, without any
effort to change or amend it, no matter
how Objectionable it might be, and he
possessed in perfection the art OF put
ting up with whatsoever befell him.
He was not favorite with his flock,
but he was by no means unpopular.
The poor loved him, for his hand was
always ready TO 90 to his pocket at a
tale of d stress, limited rs were his
means. and his reproofs We're always of
the mildest sort. The rich, though
they had little to say for him, had moth
ing to say against him. They invited
him frequently TO their houses, enter
tanned him handsomely, and bore very
complacently with his habit OF falling
into a brown study at the dinner-table.
AS for the younger portion OF his flock,
his good looks, his rich chestnut hair
and dreamy dark eyes had early i'm
pressed them profoundly, and they sang
his praises without stint.
Ii was source of regret to many OF
the young ladies-and few of the
older ones-that Mr.. Brown was II
married man. Many years before he
had come to the church at Barstow he
had welded n gentle, sweet-tempered
girl. who fairly worshiped him, and
had proved herself good wife and q
devoted mother Their welded life
had flowed on rs calmly as a meadow
brook, undisturbed by any petty
domestic jars or troubles. 1t had never
occurred to Mr.. Brown that it might
not 90 on so forever. He did not notice
his wife's failing health, and as she was
one of the kind who never complain,
he was utterly unprepared for her
death. 1t stupeficd him; he could not
understand ii. 1t seemed TO him in
credible, impossible, and he felt be-
wildercd and half-puzzled even when
he heard the sods falling on the coffin.
Ho went back to his lonely home with
his two little girls. and shut himself up
in his study, where he lay down on the
well-worn lounge, dull pain in his
head. IL seemed to him that his lost
Laura must know how much he needed
her. He could not realize that she was
gone. He lay there, interpreting to
see her enter and 10 feel her tender
touch on his brow. soothing away the
pain as she had often done when he
was brain weary. But hour after hour
went by, and no one came near HIM,
and he heard only the voices of his
children as they talked loudly to the
cook in the kitchen.
The next day he went out as usual,
pursuing his accustomed round OF
duties as TRANQUILITY and patiently as
ever. His parishioners were loud in
their express ons of admiration to each
other rs they saw how well he bore his
great sorrow, and they were very kind
ne,Nnn;a1ltr Ia, fhn Of of a. a.
vice. His distressing situation" was
the subject of debate in almost every
house in Barstow. 1t was talked over
at the meetings of the sewing circle,
the reading club and the Indian Relief
Association, and it was unanimously
agreed that the best thing the poor wild.
over could do was to employ II gov
erness, who could also act rs house.
keeper and general manager.
But il was not an easy matter to tino
the right kind of woman for the place
though there were many applicants fol
it. Ii was decided that only middle
aged, respectable, quiet woman, wht
would be incapable of scheming to fiji
tue late Mrs. Browns place, and wht
would be competent TO take charge o.
tuC IttiC NOhiu wv, UNIV SNSh
one was hard to find.
1t was Miss Anastasia Bowen who a
length found Just tho right person, ant
as MIR. Brown was willing to do jus
what Miss Bowen thought best, tina
lady took the responsibility of installin.
Miss Susan Pper in the parsonag
without further delay.
Miss Piper was neither old nor young
she had no pretensons whatever t
good looks, and she was so eXceedingl,
shy that if the minister spoke to her OF
even the most trivial topic she blushe'
as red as n peony. But these, said Mis-
Anastasia, were such trifling drawback
as almost to be looked upon in the ligh
| of advantages, under the circumstances
Miss Piper was, as Mr.. Brown sool
saw, very good woman, cxceedingl,
conscientious and painstekng. She die
her best for the two little girls-healthy
happy, pretty little creatures Of MIN
and eleven years-who learned thu
simple lesson she gave them from pur
love for her, not because they fearet
her displeasure.
Probably there was no lady in Bar
stow who took deeper interest in tn,
household affairs of the bcreavcd wild
over than Mss Anastasia Bowen. Sh,
was, in spite of the fact that youth hat
long since left her, of sentimental
turn of mind, and the pale, high-breC
face and gentle manners of Mr.. Brown
had inspired her with an intense admir-
alton for him, which, after the death o
his wife, ripcned into an undisguisct
attachment which was patent to ever,
one but the object of it. Not a chanc
did the spinster lose Of seeing her idol
and scarcely day passed that she di'
not run into the parsonage on on
excuse or another.
But the minister, absorbed in hi
books and the memory Of his dea'
Laura, was utterly and sublimcly I'm
conscious of the passion he had in
spired. The idea OF a second marriag
had never entered his mind. He neve
even asked himself whether he like,
Miss Bowen or not, but so constant,
| d;d cho ,,raea hpr advica rpqppctin,