Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-05-01
MRS. WILSON'S SPECU-
LATI0N.


boarders that summer; Mr.. Wilson had,
from tho first, assumed hostile atti-
tudo concerning them. at don't stand
to reason" he had remarked, slowly,
when the plan had been proposed to
him in the privacy of the kitchen, that
nohodyll want to come way out here TO
Centreyille, clear from Philadelphy, Jest
for nothing, nobody that's got their
senses"
but, pa" said his daughter, Polly
with superior smile, everybody does
it-eyerybody that's anybody goes out
Of the city in the summer. :"
sit don't stand TO reason" Mr.. Will
son had proceeded, "sposing somebody
should be loony enough to come, that
you'll make cent out Of EN-"
81 don't know why not, :" said Mrs.
Wilson, bristling, Sarah Simmons
made $40 clear, out o. that surveyor
she boarded last summer: and I'm jest
as close manager as Sarah Simmons
don't know why we shouldn't make
considerable"
"Nor l." said Polly, with spirit.
oval" Mt. Wilson had concluded,
cheerfully, "mebbe you're p'inted
straight; amt agoing to say but what
you be. But ] shouldn't keer to bet
more'n cents on it,
'You ain t called on to bet nothing"
said Mrs. Wilson.
And the next morning modest ad
vertisement for boarders, carefully
written out in Pollys round hand, was
sent to Philadelphia paper.
Were going to take boarders,
Dave" said Polly, that evening, ad
dressing the tall young fellow in
checked shirt and cowhide boots, who
was washing his hands at the pump
preparatory to eating supper.
Dave Bartlett, though the son of a
well-to do neighbor, was following the
promptings of an energetic spirit by
helping Mr.. Wilson on the farm that
summer.
Polly admired his independence, as
well as the superior height of his curly
head and Dave considered Polly tn
prettiest girl he had ever taken to a
picnic, or home from prayer meeting
and she was good cook, besides.
"You don't say sol' said Dave, look
ing blank
"wel-why notl" said Polly, rather
sharply.
swell" said Dave seriously, eff you
was to ask me, now"
81 amt going to, Polly retorted.
And that was the beginning of the
trouble
For if Polly had not been displeased
with Dave, she never would have en-
couraged Mr. Crofut.
Mr.. Crotfut was one of the four board
ers whom the advertisement brought t,
Centerville.
He was good-looking, Jolly youn,
man, who brought paint-box and al
easel, but who spent most of his tim,
with Polly, in the morning hangin,
around the kitchen and sitting on tn
front steps afternoons,
Mrs. and Miss Kirby, widow an
her pretty daughter, had followe,
shortly; and Mr., Dawson, an elderl
gentleman with taste for botaniaing
had completed the quartette a wee
later.
Mrs. Wilson and Polly were exult
ant.
what do You think now2' said tn
former, addressing the head of til
house, triumphantly.
when | see the end on't'' said MI
Wilson, calmly-''Ill say"
What you got to say about boarderS
now, Dave Bartlett" Polly demanded
Gust this here" said Dave, eyin
Mr. Croffut's approaching figure darkly
eff you're going to take up with thu
ridiculous little city teller instead G
me"
''If you can't talk sense" said Polly
with her dark eyes flashing, you needn
say another word to me.
II won't" said Dave, savagely.
After that Polly recei ed Mr.. Croffut
attentions, which increased daily, wit
downright encouragement; and Dave
Polly could scarcely believe her eyes
Dave became deeply devoted to prett
Miss Kirby II Follys pillow W.
dampened with tears for two or thrt
nights thereafter, and il lave, obser'
ing Mr.. Croffuts steady success, pause
frequently to mediate bitterly upon
in the solitude of the corn field,
least nobody knew it. Things went Q
with much apparent smoothness.
"Why don we DO something erie
Miss Kirby, one morning, looking aero
the breakfast-ta5le at Lave, bright
why don't we have picnic
''We win, )" said Dave, with an cage
ness perhaps increased by his unpleasaI
consciousness that Mr.. Crofut and Pol
were whispering behind the cotfee-po
''How nicep said Miss Kirby, WV
ciously; wen have it to-day"
IF Miss Wilson is agreeable, said N
Croifut, promptly.
There was not much love lost betweC
Miss Kirby and Mr. Crodut. II
former had conhded to Dave that s.
thought Mr. Crohut too stout, and i
timated her suspicion that he could I
as well as he could paint, and probab
better; and Mr.. CrofIut had remark
to Polly that he didn't see, for his pal
where Miss kirhy $ good looks came i
A party of four, accordingly, climb,
into the two-seatel buggy that aft(
noon-Dave and Miss Kirby on t
front, FOLLY and MIR. Crofut on t
back. A big lunch basket crowd
their feet; oded easel stuck far O
behind Mr. Cro.Tut had announced
intention Of taking some sketches
last
,.c4o.,rs ..;ol 49,. oc 4bo,, e+o,4,