Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-11-19
linda BARTON HA7
rom N. Y. Ledger.
THE CORNER STORE.
By AMY RANDOLPH.

By AMY RANDOLPH.
$50 the corner store is lstp said Mrs.
Deane.
And high time,' chined in Miss Melinda
Murgstroyd, 'since it has stood empty ten
months, come Christmasp
sAb, no wonder!, said old Mrs. Hunter.
There's been many TO look at it, but not
one has come the second time after they
heard of how old Trestles hung himself in
the middle Of the front room, as midnight ;
You don't suppose it's-haunteo?' said
Mrs. Deane.
Mrs. Hunter shook her false cnrls and
looked indescribably knowing.
Il don't say Yes said she. and dou't
say MOP But there's the facts. You can
judge for yourselves
well, anyhow said Miss Murgatroyd,
'it's a comfort to see the place awake and
alive again, after the wooden shutters and
the TO Let staring you in the face for we'll
nigh year! And it's to be doctor, toor
That makes four in the village already
said Mrs. Deane, sourly. I wonder if they
expect to mske their living eff rs poor suf-
ferersP
II wonder if he's a married man. said
Miss Melinda, adjusting the blue ribbon
bow which she wore at her withered throat,
a sort Of futtering signal that her maiden
affections were still disengaged.
'Humphp said cid Mrs. Hunter, who had
three single daughters. 'We shall all find
out in time, if We wait long enough
"If he's young and agreeable, said the
Widow Percival, who had not hitherto
mingled in the conversation, he will be
decided acquisition to our society
Did l understand that his name is Doc
tor Wigg?' simpered Mrs. Walker, who was
rather deaf.
'-Insp sharply corrected Mrs. Hunter.
I-E-sp
doctor Insp giggled Miss Murgatroyd,
What a very peculiar name! He must be
of German parentage, Or
who said anything about sDr. lnsp
shrieked old Mrs Hunter, fairly losing her
patience. L think you're all gone crazy
together! sWiggins!' That's the name!
Neither 'Wigg' nor Ins,' but both togeth-
err
"A partnership inquired Mrs. Walker,
with her head OF one side like sickly lin
net. And just then the tea and hot biscuit
came in. and the Dykeville Sowing Society
broke up its working session, and became
transformed into a banqueting assembly.
But thatthe corner srore was let, there
was no kind of doubt. There was a buzz
of expectation on the subject, 8 thrill of
agreeable anticipation. Mr.. Jones had
heard that DR.. Wiggins was married man,
with a large family Of grown sons and
daughters. Squire Goshawk had it, on DO
lees incontrovertible foundations, that he
was young student, just graduated, on the
lookout for a wife. 1t was supposed that
he would occupy, as an Office, the lower
room, in which the lamented Trsstles had
hanged himself, and furnish the upper
apartments either as a baehslor sanctnm,
or as family rooms, according to his needs.
This seemed rather a peculiar location in
| shich to select a home, but then, as Miss
Melinda Murgatroyd observed. peoples
tastes differed. And because old Tses.les
didn't choose to live there, it vas no reason
that any one else should share hisprejudices.
Aud as days crept or, aud tho house was
nsatiy painted outside and in, tho missing
penes CT glass replaced, and new Furnaces
put into the basement, the tide Of popular
curiosity rose higher aud higher.
And at last the little tin sign,