The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-06-22

that eked out the uneven fence, and n
small figurehead which ornamented
the porch. Over this hung severai
whitening blades of the swordfish. An
old dory stood in tho yard filed with
blossoming geraniums
1t was quite dark when the little
gate swung wide to admit the ample
figure of Mrs. Chilcott. She s'epped
heavily along, and with her usual
familiarity, opened the door without
the preliminary Of announcing her APP
proach. Mrs. Guptill sat Mt small
table writing.
go Susar III that you?" go
Mandy! Are you at homc?" exclaimed
the women, the one with affected COR
diality aH;i the other with affected
surprise.
81 thought maybe you'd be gone to
meeting" continued Mrs. Chiicott,
cying the papers which Mrs. Guptill
hastily put away.
Il didn't know which was ringing,
the fog-bell or the meeting bell"
81 guess they was both at il. But
you've got time to finish your letter.
Don't mind me-" Mr.. Chilcott set.
tied back with an air of effacing her.
self.
"Wcll, was all done but signing.
/ might as we'll do that and take it
along to the postoffice."
The signing was slow and awkward
under the watchful eye of the visitor,
and the color famed moment in
Mrs. Guptil's withered cheek
81 suppose might as we'll tell you,
Susan, she said, folding the letter,
THAT Hiram's going to buy those
nets and tackle he was looking at
over to Portsmouth. :. He went over
, Friday in his dory to get 'em. l
thought he might as well clinch the
trade before fall fishing"
She spoke hurriedly but with con-
straint Mrs. Chilcott's face showed
surprise and disapproval.
II thought you was saying he
didn't calculate to stand the expense
just now" she remarked.
"Wel], he didn't think to right
away" Mrs. Guptill was taking down
her shawl from the peg by the dosr,
and therefore her back was toward the
visitor. 1--WE just writ Hiram to get
the oars and those decoy ducks, too,
whilst he was about it, she added.
There was an ominous silence Mrs
Guptill's voice was IL little shaky as
she began again:
81 might rs well tell yo-: fust as last,
Susan, but you needn't zip to the
neighbors; we had a little sum come
to us from the Squire Bean property
'Twan't but two hundred dollars, but
it come ill handy"
:, Why, Mandy Guptill! I didn't
know you was acquainted !"
"Well, we want much. That is, I
knew Squire Bean by sight, and he
and the cap'n used to have transac.
tions before he died Perhaps he knew
/ haint got none but Hiram left"
"Well, it beats all !" said Mrs. Chill
colt. "You kept it from me pretty
well, Mandy. haint heard nothing
about the will"
will. He just left kind of memoranr
dunn saying what he wanted-so they
brought the money over to me.
The women had stepped ont into the
dim, uncertain light. The second bell
was ringing Tor meeting, and here and
there groups made their way toward
the village hall Mrs Chilcott and
Mrs. Guptill were the first to arrive
and break in upon Silas Baker in his
tardily performed duty of getting the
hall ready for the servIee~
Presently the people came in, one by
one, always deliberately, AS if the in
tention OF arriving at all had scarcely
been entertained.
tune to you, Mandy" said Mrs Chill
colt, resi,ming the topic i'll n solemn
whisper, "but | declare it does seem
aike q streak Of Providence, don't it
now? Here was you wanting the
money dreadful for them nets, md
here ,tis-you get it. 1t don't ofteA
como" that way-they that want it most
get cheated out of it.
"''That's so, Susan" Mrs. Guptill
admitted.
'"f can't make it out continued
Mfs, Chilcott, a'ter minutes survey
OF another stray wofshiper. Squire
Bean was forethoughted in some ways
and forgetful in others. We always
supposed he'd leave Mandy 'Liz'beth
something.
Mrs. Guptill Strengthened herself
and looked instantly austere and for
bidding, but this did not discourage
her neighbor's volubility.
He appeared kind, and set good
deal by her, and rs good as promised
to leave her something. But there
you cant depend on folks. J..
"Where is she now?" asked Mrs.
Guptil], with interest.
"Skc's living long of his folks,
over to the Cove. She was Bay
Guptill married n Cove Guptill. You
might as well say human being as
Guptill, in this town"
Mrs. Guptill fixed her eyes upon the
opposite wall, but no handwriting ap-