The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-06-26

refer L. flIlsuef1y, asolu W marry LdI-
lsty NewtonY
It's In everybody's mouth, said Mrs.
Gibson Downing. They say you stop
day." said Dorinds.
20 pa - cried Miss. Becky. The -
said 2ntbicg hat ia'o1ed volumes.
Uncle Peter stared at all Of them for a
moment and said
You're hollererin' fore you're hurt,
children that's what you're q doiu' Mis-
Newton Rin't no more idee o margin
me than she has o. margin the man in
the moon. ! amt never mentioned mar
rage talk to no other woman on top o
the earth, but your dead an gone ma, an
she amt on top O the earth now"
The fears Of the children were at once
sllayed, for they knew their father TO he
an absolutely truthful man. Their faces
frightened as he rose and turned to leave
he room, and they didn'. mind it much
when he stopped at the door and said
sternly;
But don't you try to- dictate to me,
oh ildren don't you ever try that agin."
| The injured look left his face soon
after he reached the stable and began
ubbing old Bally down. lie chuckled az
he rubbed and patted the old horse.
me marry Calisty.' he said to him
self. well, I'd like to know who In
creation started that pack O lies to goin'.
Old Hat Gibbons, I'll be bound Callisty
wouldn't have me If | asked her. bet
she wouldn't. The idea Of it,"
| The widow Newton was at that mo-
| ment greatly perplexed and discouraged
She was neat comely woman Of fifty.
and she lived alone in cosy little old
brown house with a few acres Of ground
around 1t. Her four married sons and
daughters lived 10 homes of their own
near by. Each or them had in turn in
vited and urged their mother to come and
live with them, but she had persistently
refused, although she was a gentle, mild
faced woman of a somewhat yielding
spirit.
II want home of my own" she would
say, ''l've been mistress of home, such
as tbs, for more'n thirty years and I'd
never be satisfied to have home some
body else was mistress Of. Here | can
do as please and there's nobody to say
me nay. If | want batter cakes for
breakfast or riz biscuits for tea, has
them, as may be l wouldn't In somebody
elses house. It's lonesome sometimes,
l II allow, but there's worse feelings than
lonesomeness. Anyhow, I've got plenty
to live comfortably on, aud that's a good
deal to be thankful for"
When her husband had died three years
before the time our story begins, he had
In his will left his entire possessions with
the exception Of small requests to each
Of his children, who had felt themselves
greatly aggrieved thereby, although they
were all in very comfortable circumstan-
ces.
Mrs. Newton was sitting by her fay
orite rocking chair sewing carpet rags
when her daugter, Mrs. Lucinda Evans,
came in somewhat hurriedly, followed
by another daughter, Mrs. Betty Hig-
gins"
LA, girls" said their mother in a sur
prised tone, "rd no idee Of seeing either
Of you on Tuesday and it your regular
ironing day. Sit down."
Il amt got time replied Betty coldly.
IL just rna e"ss: ..s- asaat CUT Il this story
about you and old Pete Plllsberry is true, +"
That's just what l come for" said
Lucinda Evans, Il come by Brother Hen
RVS home and sister Hetty was there and
they're waiting for me to come back and
tell them what you say. Is it true, ma,
that you and old Peter are going to be
marriedr'
Mrs. Newton gave shrill little scream
and threw up both hands while her ball
of rags fell to the floor and rolled across
the room leaving line of green and red
and blue behind it.
"Cindy Evans" gasped Mrs. Newton,
what are you and your sister Betty talk
ing about? Are you crazy? Am going
to marry Uncle Peter Pillsberry. The
laid of the living!'
She threw her green and white cling
rock to and fro, half crying, half laugh
ing. With her head still covered she
finally said sharply:
Go home, girls. go nome, and stop and
tell Hetty and Henry a1 Everybody else
you meet that amt GO to marry no.
body till I've been asked. and amt been
asked yet.
She fell to laughing Historically, and
Betty said sharply;
We'll. think it'd be a burning shame
for you to marry anybody even II you
was asked"
Yes. and old Peter Pillsberry of all
mem"
Mrs. Newton took her apron from her
burning face and said firmly;
You hush right up about Uncle Peter,
Cindy Evans; he's as good and honest an
old man as ever lived, Your father
thought the world of him. But you can
just set your minds at rest about him. he
amt no more idee of marrying than
have. The idee of it,.
The girls went home In greater peace
of mind than they had know when COM
ing 10 see their mother, since they now
felt confident that their sh re Of the three
thousand dollars their mother had In the
bank was not to be lessened by the pos
sible claims of q step father.
The smile on Uncle Peters face deep
ened the next day as he drew near the
Widow Newtons house while making his
daily rounds. He stopped singing
Here we are but straying pilgrims,
and began on lively ditty about
"a lady tar,
With nut brown hair,
Oh, tummy vi yum,
Oh, tummy vi yum,
vi yum d de do
The Widow Newton heard him coming
and bushes came to her plump cheeks.
~ shan't let on that I've heerd any
thing of the schand'lous mess Of stuff
bout me aud him." she said, as the sound
and nearer, IN just go out and ask how
the folks are at home aud get me pound
of paddock and come right into the house
SOS the tongues of the gossips won't have
nothing to wag about. There he is Al the
gate well, what's he hitching his horse
for? He's coming In too. Well If that
amt queer! Dear me-
Good morning, Calisty," Uncle Peter
said, stepping briskly into the widows
kitchen and standing, his old hat In his
hand near the open door. He had known
her all her life. He had carried her to
school often on his hand sled when they
were children aud he had always called
her Callsta, but. somehow, she blushed
when he called her Calists to-day. He
went on calmly and directly.
"Cslisty, you heard the yarns that's
gsin' round bout us2" he asked.
"I-I-yes, Peter
She turned her burning face from him.
lingering her apron corners in confused
way.
Ibid 1t make you mad when you hecrd
'em,"
II -I-didn't like 1t, Peter"
II s'pose not-not at drst, no how. l
was mad as wet hen when l first hssrd
EN-. but, Calisty, was glad in the end
yes, sir, jist was. Air you mad now
as you was At nrst?'
"I-I hardly know. They want true
no how, Peter"
mo. they want Calisty. that's so;
there want word Of truth In EN-
He came nearer and caught one Of her
hands in his own as he said:
Lets make 'em true, Calisty. From
bein' mad at first I've come to wishin'
and hopin' they might be true. that me
aud you was goin' to be married, that"