The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1892-07-07
on THE II GSON FAR VI.
A FOURTH or JULY STORY BY HELM
FORREST GRAVES

TIN Fourth of july" said Mrs. bop
pleton What is the Fourth of July tc
me-
u national holiday, my dear" said
her husband, who had been invited tic
deliver the Grafton before the Pompville
Patriotic association, IAN anniversary
that should be dear to every man, wom-
m and child in this republic
oh. bother the republici" flashed out
Mrs. Doppleton.
Maria" said Mr. Doppleton. This
from you"
I'm sick and tired of the whole
thing, said Mrs. Doppleton-and really.
when one came to think how often she
had listened to the fowery perorations
Of the address (Mr. Doppleton was lit
tie uncertain as to his memory and
liked to practice on any audience that
chan ed to be nearest), her remark was
not unnatura and I'm not going to
Pompville to see you make fool Of
yourself So there"
"Pompville, Maria, said Mr. Dopple-
ton lis to be our future home.
Your, perhaps" said Mrs. Doppe-
ton, mot ours.
Maria"
Joseph
Perhaps, said Mr. Doppleton, you
will be good enough to explain your
self"
Il don't see the use of it, said Mrs
Doppleton, when I've already explained
myself forty times. But If you really
insist upon tt
Il do, Maria.
Why, then, I'll repeat it for the
forty first time" said Mrs Doppleton
with every symptom of coming hyster-
les. I've never known a happy hour
since your distant cousin Jugson died
and left us that old rattlctrap of IL
house -
u beg your pardon, Maria, that an
cestra residence. corrected Mr. Dop-
pleton.
II should like to live in the country
well enough, went on Mrs Doppleton,
that Is, if you can call "a village like
Pompyille the country
1T is one of the sweetest spots in the
world, said Mr. Doppleton.
But us for moving into II low ceiled,
badly drained house like that with the
middle of it taken up with Il stack of
chimneys, not closet on the premises
except IL few three cornered affairs,
whose shelves aren't big enough to hold
cat; the parlor 8 by 10, and twenty
eight panes of glass in every individual
window won't do it, that's all. And
unless you will consent TO build new
Colonial cottage or IL sweet little Queen
Anne cottage on the grounds
Never" cried Mr. Doppleton. DO
you take me for II Goth or IL Naudal:
Why. my dear, that house is no years
oldl"
Il should judge 10y its looks, tartly
responded Mrs. Donpleton, that it WAS
l,0l0 years oldn'
Maria. said the orator of the day
have you no regard for my feelings"
you don't appear to have any regard
for mine!" sobbed Mrs. Doppleton.
II intend to move into that house ON
the first of next September said Mr.
Doppleton, when the lease of the fiat
that we are at present occupying ex-
pires.
Il dontr said Mrs Doppleton crisply.
May | ask then, what you do intend
to do?"
To go home to my mother.
Maria!
Joseph
DO you forget that you vowed to keep
you unto me only until death did us
part?
DO you forget that you said you would
love and cherish me-
Mr., Doppleton was as stubborn as a
mule; Mrs Doppleton was as obstinate
as only woman could be-
And the upshot Of this pretty little
difference of opinion was that a freezing
GOODNESS established itself like wall Of
ice between husband and wife, and Z
legal separation seemed to be the ont
thing impending
Mr. Doppleton selected hard flea
tured single cousin, Jemima Parker b,
oratorical effort.
Mrs Doppleton began to pack up he
wedding presents, her bric-a-brac ant
her personal belongings
Both of them were very wretched, an'
neither of them would concede an inch
Don't YOU think, dear, you NIGH
manage TO live in the old house, since hi
heart is so set upon it, said Aunt Persi
Mayhem. the peaeemaker of the family
Its matter of principle to me now,
said Maria, COMPRISING her lips
why don't you let your wife have he
own way" said Colonel Mayhem, Aun
Persis husband, to Mr. Doppleton
IF did so now" answered the orato
of the day, II should lose my own sci
respect and goSl opinion also
And he went on practicing the grea
masterpiece of eloquence, which had los
all its spice and sparkle, since Maria wa
lot to hear ii
If only Cousin Jugson had seen tit
leave his ancestral homestead to som'