Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-09-21
MRS. SHEERS' GHOST.
A Plot Which Was Not Entirely
Successful

Clarity-by the way, she was bap-,
tised Clarita,Sonly her mother chose to
Yankeefy twas a very pretty girl
A smart girl, too, and quick one.
And that is why she was always
busy at home or in other peoples
houses at the trade by which she
earned her living, besides dressing her
self so prettily that no summer boarder
could outdo her. How she got the lat
est styles out there at Cross Sticks no
one could think; but she did it.
No wonder that Will Shcers, who
kept the drug store in the village, fell
in love with her. 1t was for her sake
that he hired to her mother-a praise
worthy widow, fond of telling the story
of her husbands failure to anyone
who would listcn-a wing of the build
ing in which he kept his store, a snug
little affair of three rooms, for which
he had no use, being bachelor.
The rooms directly over the store,
which were large and handsome, re-
manned vacant, which led the village
to suppose that the young druggist in
tended to marry shortly.
! When Mrs. Mum had moved into the
little end wing it was but step from
the store door to the widows fiat door
step, and DIR. Sheers spent much of his,
time there, especially in the evening,
and people had begun to say that it
was splendid thing for Clarity,
when the two Misses Shepherd came
to board with Mrs Finn, with whom
DIR. Shcers boarded.
Mrs. Finn advertised for summer
boarders every year, under the halluci'
| 10
country" and she always caught few
victims, who sat on the porch and
famed away the mosquitoes, and took
walks to the post Office, and went on
picnics to the frog pond in the sub
urbs, and looked at a very distant
mountain through field glasses, and
were otherwise as rural as possible.
Before they left in the fall the
youngest Miss Shepherd was engaged
to DIR. Shccrs.
She was older than he. She was
sharp of voice and elbows; but she had
inherited fortune from her grand
mother, and then, as Mrs. Finn said,
''shc ran after him, and would hev him
whether he would or no."
Meanwhile Clarity went on dress
making and showed no signs of regret
ting her truant lover; and when Mrs.
Mum proposed giving up the rooms
forbade her to do so with the sternness
with which daughters do forbid their
mothers to carry out their own ideas ii
this nineteenth century.
"Why, ma, every one would thinl
we felt cut up about it!'' said Clarity.
Il do" said Mrs. Mum; 81 haven't
felt worse since your pa failed"
II don't care whom he marries, In
sure" said Clarity. "And this is the
cheapest place, to be SO pretty, that W.
I can find"
J One day from her window she saw
the bride and groom return to talk
possession of their newly Furnished
rooms.
For awhile tho bride and groom
seemed very comfortable. New plate
glass windows were put into the store
+ and wonderful soda water fountain
O was introduced. There was looking
glass between the rows of boxes and
porticrc was hung at the door tina
, opened into the back room. A littl
carriage in which Mrs. Shecrs drov
- her sister to pay calls on her friend
added lustcr to the establishment.
Suddenly a cloud arose. Mrs. Sheer
was Ill. 1ncre was consultation
" Shortly aftcrward there was Grape O
the door. The doctor was 4 widower.
- However, the day after the annive1
sary of his wife's funeral DIR. Sheer
assumed light hat, had his hair CT
and his mustachc waxed, put rose
u his buttonhole and called ON Clarit
y Mum. Shortly afterward these tw
- were openly Engaged to be married.
Aad again things seemed to be goin
on we'll, at least very well, conside
ing" when people began to notice tn;
- Clarity was pale, that she was CROWN
n thin, that she cried over her work, an
" at last there was q rumor that she il
tended to "brealx" with DR.. Shccrs.
They're talking of it all over Gro
Sticks, Clarity" Mrs Mum said, ''aI
you do look most miserable. What
the matter?''
. Its dreadful" said Clarity. He
/ fond of me and am of him, and you
be so comfortable He promises ever
thing, and my heart is broken, but
dare not marry him; oh, 1 dare not
and her eyes grew solemn and ST
looked over her shoulder.
! "Why9" gasped the widow.
t. "She haunts me-his first wife, "
know" said Clarity; land says she