The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-08-09
A sNuEE o SUIT.

ON IUt utLA. AA<
afterit was that l was straight and stu
on something hard, and when ] tried to
move myself and speak. / found It I'M
noss;ble TO do 20. ] concluded that i
mus, be in some very tight, dark place,
for l could no; see in fact, ! soon learn
ed that. though perfectly conscious, /
could DO nothing but hear. A door open
ed. and footsteps approached then !
felt a cloth taken from my face, and 3
voice which ! recognized as that Of Mr..
Jones. father Of my wife that was to be,
said:
He hasn't changed much" and his
companion, whose voice ] knew to be
the village undertaken, Hopkins, by
name, said lightly:
Better looking dead than alive. How
does Jerusha feel about il? Does she talk
as much ."
"Oh. no: she had her eye on another
fellow ANYHOW. and a better match, too,
executing the money part. Though had
nothing against Ben, only be didn't know
much. and was about the homliest man |
ever knew. Such a mouth Why It re-
ally seemed as though he was going to
swallow knife. plate and all, when he
opened it at dinner"
~wel." said the cheerful voice Of Mr..
Hopkins. hell never open his mouth
again. and then he proceeded to meas
nre me formy coffin. for it seemed that |
WIS dead. or they thought 50. which was
all the same 10 the greedy pocket OF the
undertaken. ] had heard Of undertakes
who always Whistled joyfully when they
20. a measure. but ] never believed il be
fore. That man actually whistled = sub
dued dancing tune while he measured
me. and il seemed that three or four ici-
cles were rolling down my back to the
music Of his whistle.
His duty done. they covered my face
again and left me TO my " reflections.
which were not particular comforting al
though | had often heard it remarked
that meditation i good for the soul, and
this was the best chance l ever had Of
trying it.
An hour must have passed, when the
door again opened, and two persons came
whispering along 10 where lay. and the
voice Of my promised wife fell upon my
ear. 50 pathetically.
Il dread to look at him. Rob. lie was
80 mortal homely when alive, he mus, be
fnghtful in death"
! ground my teeth in imagination, a. |
remembered how often she had gone in
10 raptures. or pretended to, over my no.
ble brow and expressive mouth. and how
she had often declared that if | were
taken away from her she would surely
pine away and die.
one Of them raised the cloth. and |
knew they we're looking at me. Bob was
her second cousin. and | knew he was
that other fellow" whom her father had
mentioned.
seems % me yon don't feel very bad
about his dying, Russia, remarked Bob,
m~ediiaiigely.
"Well, to tell the truth said my dear
betroihed. Il don't care very much about
IL. Had he lived ] should have married
him. because be was rich and my father
wanted me to; but ] was about getting
sick Of my bargain. for | knew | should
always be ashamed Of him. he looked 50
much like a haboOn.7
"But you loved him.. remarked Bob.
"No, / didn't, Ny affections were long
ago wasted upon n who never returned
my love, aud my fast fading idol sighed
heavily.
They had covered my face by this time
and were standing a few steps from my
body.
About how long ago 'Rusha?r asked
the now interested Bob.
a year, or such a matter, and anoth-
er deep sigh folio we'd, which ended in
quite a fit Of sneezing.
~Ab0u, the time | vent away? ' inter
rogaied Bob, coughing a little.
well, yes someres near assented
my dear afiianced.
Now, Jerusha, you don't mean TO in
sinuaie that -"
Il don't mean TO ~insinuate anything,
Bob Smith - and the angelic sweetness
of her voice was somewhat ~sharpened.
Now, see here, Russia, I've loved Won
ever since YOU were knee-hign 20 q go
pher, but ] thought when you came home
that you was sweet on that other chap;
but | swan | believe you loved me all the
time"
"Oh. Bob said my vas-to-be, in a
gushing sort Of way.
Mine Jerusha ~ remarke Bob.
Then | heard a subdued rush, accom-
panied by violent lipexplosions. l tried
10 kick or CRATE my teeth. or do some
thing to relieve my outraged feelings.
but MOI; a kick or a CRATE could l raise. 1t
was an awful fix to be in, but / had to
stand it or lay il, 50 | laid still and let
'em alone until they got tired of it, and
then went out, aud | was again Jeff to nv
own pleasant reflections.
Night came, and SO did a lot Of young
fellows with their girls, to sit up with me
and they had a jolly time Of it, although
it was against my principles to enjoy it
on so solemn an occasion.
1t seemed an age until morning. but it
came at lastand they went away. | heard
them say | was to be buried that day at
O'Clock, and was beginning to feel de-
cidedly shaky, when Jerusha and her
mother came into the room and began to
arrange for the funeral.
Rusha. said her mother. there is
that s~nutf-eolored suit of poor Ben's, OF
course he will never have any more
use for clothes, 50 Just put them away
among your carpet rags, they'll make a
splendid stripe."
Now, that particular suit of clothes
was Just the neatest one | ever owned,
armboles. collar, wristbands. buttons. all
just the thing. and my blood boiled to
hear them talk 50 coolly or using them
for stripes in a rag carpet. They kept on
talking as they swept, busted and clean
ell up the room.
Bob says he viii taketh Martin farm
TO work this year, said Jerusha, cheer
fully. 'and as soon as We are married we
shall 90 to housekeeping in that little