Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-09-10
Squire Richards Second
Wife.

tonlshed, Mrs. Wilkes it is terrible
to think of. Such deception Why,
at his wife's funeral one would have
thought him actually heart-broken ;
and then the Grape on his hat is half
a yard deep!"
"Ah, me, Mrs. Hanson, there is
no dependence to be put upon pear
ances. The world gifts sinfuller and
sinfuller every day, and it can't be
covered up with silk or broadcloth.
AS | said to my husband, Mr.. Wilkes,
the other night, says 1, Simon, things
are comm to an awful pass Every
body will git into the state prison in
two years at this rate And says
Simon, says he, Il don't doubt it,
Mariah ?
"And you and Mr.. Wilkes were
right, perfectly right. 1t is just SO ;
and this dreadful conduct of the
Squire's has made me more conscious
o the truth of it. Strange that a
sensible man should behave so."
eyes, it is wonderful but how
did it get out so quick? The Squire
amt no hand to tell things, you know" "
"Betty Higgins found it out last
night. She was taking tea with the
Widder Towns; you know she's al
most always a visitin' somewheres,
though l wouldn't mention. it to a
livin' person except you, Mrs. Wilkes !;
and while they were at supper the
Squire rode by in new buggy, goin'
toward the depot. People don't git
new buggies for nothin', you know" 4"
"No, that they don't, Mrs. Hanson,
widderers especially"
''Well, he wasn't gone more than
an hour, before back he came drivin'
upon the gallop; he didn't use to
abuse his horse when poor Mrs.
Richards was alive, and, 10, and be-
hold! sittin' in the new buggy with
him, his arm actually round her
waist in broad daylight, was little
girlish-looking woman in a pink dress
and silk bonnet Only think of it
pink dress and a green silk bonnet
and his arm round her 1t is abom-
Unable ~
"My gracious Goodness want
to know %
Eyes, it's every word of it as true
as our minister's discourses, and Mr..
Sampwell never exaggerates les
fine man, Mrs. Wilkes. And the
Widder Town and Betty run up in
the garret-they can see Squire Rich
ards house plain from the wild
der's garret winders-and the Squire
rode up to the front door, as if the
side door wasn't good enough, and
then he got out of the buggy and
lifted the woman on to the door
stone Took her right up in his arms
in broad daylight, and lifted her on
to the door stone 20
"My goodness as if she couldn't
git out herself! It's indecent; now
amt it,"
''To be sure it is and he mid
dle-aged man, and a-member of the
church Mr.. Sampwell ought to kno'
it, so he could preach sermon on
the duties of men to their families.
Only think of poor, dear, dead Mrs.
Richards little daughter, Elmetta,
bein' ruled by stepmother hardly
older than herself. 1t will break the
poor child's heart p
"Wal," Recommended Mrs. Wilkes,
81 think such doin's are awful, Get
tin married agin afore his wife is
cold Now,I 'spose that's no excuse,
for my Mary Elizabeth is n great fa-
vorite with little Elmetta, and Mary
is a grand hand at manag-
ing children
eyes, Mary Elizabeth is a fine
girl, Mrs. Wilkes, but her health isn't
hardly good enough to take so much
care as there would be in Squire
Richards family with all his compa-
ny, but then Julia Ann could have
done it we'll enough. Julia Ann is
hand for children; can't
help learning them something all the
time she is with them. Her example
is so beautiful, you know"
"Wal, for my part, l think that
somebody ought to go and talk to the
squire about it. 1t amt right for us
sisters in the church-to let him 60
and ruin hisself and darter a-marry-
ing nobody knows who. He ought
to be reasoned with"
"That's just what | think, Mrs.
Wilkes, and / called over here on
purpose to ask you to go TO the
Squire's tomorrow morning and talk
with him about it. It's the best thing
we can do
''Ill go and be glad to. hope
I'm never backward doing my duty"
"Well, / must be going; I've made
a long call; tomorrow morning at
eight o'clock. It's best to go early.
I'll call over for you. Do come and
see me, Mrs. Wilkes You know it's
an age since you have been to our
house."
''Dear me, Mrs. Hanson, | don't
come half as often as L want to, but
I'm ashamed to keep comm all the
time. AS | told my husband. Mr..
Wilkes, the other day says |, Simon,
I'm actilly afraid l shall wear my
welcome out over to Mrs. Hanson's.'
And says he, says Simon, Il shouldn't
wonder if YOU did, Mariah = F"