The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-10-10

} rose 10 the occasion and went tOrtf
: to enlighten those who sat in dark
l ness. To night her bonnet strings
5 fairly bristled with Importance She
| had weighty news.
: Drettul sudden, Miss Deacon
Mudge's death, she observed.
. Yes, assented Mis- King.
Have ye seen the corpse ? asked
her caller.
No, I'm SO drove. These here are
the deacon's mournin' pants, an |
have got to scratch gravel to git
them done fer the funeral.
Wall, | never see no genteeler-
lookin' corpse. She's laid out in
fust rate style. But come in to tell
We the latest. Mandy Ransom's
come home
Ye don't say calculated Mis-
King.
Yes-with her babe, said the
other, an no place fer her to go.
She was calculating on her Uncle
Ebenezer takin' on her in, but, you
know, he's moved to Dakoty. So
now there's nothin' fer her but to go
to the poor house.
Poor thing said Mis- King.
Wall, l hain't mite nor a grain
of pity for her, said the widow.
Them that dances has got to pay the
fiddler, she added.
Why can't she go out to her
uncle? suggested Mis- King.
Wall now, Mis- King, who'd ye
s'pose would ever pay her way out
there
You could, said Mis- King calmly.
| The widow was woman of means.
| Sakes alive ! screamed that good
soul, be ye crazy? I'd see myself
help that hussy, and she fairly
spluttered with virtuous indignation.
tell We ! have enough givin' to
foreign missions without spendin'
my cash on sech truck. But here,
here, must hurry. want to go to
Bailey'g, and Pecks, and Mrs.
Stubs to tell 'em the news, and
away she hurried, no doubt regret
ting she could not 90 two ways at
once.
| Miss King pushed her chair back
from the machine and sat thinking.
She remembered Mandy Ransom-a
slight slip of girl with sweet,
mild, rose face. Dreadful that she
must go to the poor-house. If she
could only go to her uncle. Ebe.
nezer Ransom and his wife were the
salt of the earth, and would do what
was right by her. {
1t was long way to Dakota. 1t
would take quite a sum of money to
go there. Cold weather was coming
on and the baby ought to be warmly
dressed.
Mis- King looked UP at the clock.
An hour yet before her good man
would be home. In an hour she
could walk to Seth Doolittle's where
Mandy was staying, and back again.
1t was a wild, black night and
raining torrents, but Mis- King did
not hesitate.
| She folded her plaid blanket shawl
over her STOPPING shoulders, tied on
her musty black bonnet, and went
into her bedroom.
When she came out she was very
pale and her lips were firmly COM
pressed.
She took down her faded cotton
umbrella. opened the door, and went
into the night.
! Four months later a gang of
burglars went through the country
and did not scorn unpretentious
Podunky Corners. The hamlet was
in fearful state of excitement, when
one morning it was discovered that
several houses had been broken
into.
1t was one of those rare oppor-
tunities which come only once or
twice in lfetime, and the Widow
Beam rose to meet it. Forth on her
round she started, and the first call
was made at the postmaster's house.
| She found Mis- King paler than
usual, with heavy circles under her
eyes, and complaining of a terrible
headache. She and her spouse had
wakened that morning from a
strange, heavy sleep, both feeling
very ill indeed.
Mebbe you was chloroformed,
suggested the widow, an robbed.
Robbed repeated Mis- King.
Yes hain't ye herd? There was
burglars through here last night
they broke into Stebbiness an
Powerses an
But Mis- King heard no more.
She pushed past the chattering
widow into her bedroom.
In moment she reappeared. Her
face was haggard and drawn. She
had grown old in those few seconds.
She clutched the widows arm as they
staggered into the kitchen.
Stolen ! she cried in an awful voice,
and fell downward at the widows feet
One year later there is a great COM
f motion on Mis- Kings street. 1t even
extends to the corners, and passing
, events are discussed from cracker bar.
rels with due solemnty. In front o
, the postmaster's house stands large
, van loaded with furniture. In the
' large spare room pink roses trail along
, the walls and stout, red faced German
woman is tacking down gaudy
4 Brussels carpet.