St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-07-28

i on MIA Aliens fac4
Mrs Simpkins made . long call. bu
was net invited to repeat her visit 81!
! told her husband she could not mud o.
anything, and was very sure there ~
| some mystery connected with ths4 Allel
] woman, for there were ever 20 manl
envelopes on the table, and she coul'
see the name ''Smith" p1aii = no1h
ing, and she was sure MrA Allan H
been reading them very letter. Now
what business had MrA Allen with
| Mrs Smiths letters, she would Ike Z
know? 4 ~
by this time Mrs. Simpkins and he
friends were . good deal excited ovel
the mystery concerning tho people .
the river house. Mrs Allen and he'
daughter seemed oblivious Of all tn;
dark hints that were thrown out about
| Their.
Suspicion grew fast Many thing
were said of tho occupants Of the riue'
house 81 Jenkins. who lived neer
told his wife that lights burned thcrs
! all night Ezra Burke saw woman
in white come to an upper window and
look out with Mild eye9 He knew II
was : woman because Of hsr long hair
else he'd ''a-thought It were old Smith,
ghost" Conjectureran hlgh. At last
it was decided that . delegation o.
women headed By MrA Simpkins should
wait upon Mr.. Allea and demand o.
explanation of the mystery.
"For such is our Christian duty,
said Mrs. Burke, who stood high in the
church 1T is my opinion that theil
name is not Allen At all. but Smith
and I'd not Re one bit surprised II they
turned out to be some kin OF that old
John Smith whose ghost haunts that
very house. and whose grandfather
they do say, was hung"
So the next afternoon the delegation
started on its erraud.
I'm just aching TO tell them what
think Of such doings," Mrs Simpkina
said. as she raised the heavy brass
knocker and applied 1t with % much
energy that the door was opened n
most Immediately BY pretty Miss Nora
How are you, ladies? Walk right
ill.," she said. evidently rather sur
prised. Mamma will be here in q
very few minutes She has gone fol
the mail"
Mrs Simpkins nodded to the Others,
as much as to say: Just in time" And
they followed Nora into the parlor.
She tried to entertain them until hel
mother returned, but felt quite relieved
when she saw her coming and went e
the door tn meet her.
Come right in. mamma There are
some ladies waiting for you"
Mrs Allen was astonished to lind %
many callers in her parior 1t one time,
but showed no trace of surprise in hes
manner
Good afternoon. ladies; am very
glad to see you. 1t was such lovely
day that went for the mail myself
hope you have not bcen waiting long. y
Her greeting was 50 cordial that Mrs
Jones Afterwards said she was glad she
was not head of the delegation. After
one or two Intellectual efforts Mrs.
Simpkins abruptly began:
Mrs. Allen, or Mrs Smith, or what
ever your name is-the Lord only
knows, we don't!-we have come here
this afternoon to find ont who you are.
You give your name rs Allen. and get
letters for Mrs Smith. and we amt
used to no such goings on, and We have
come here to have you explain. il you
can, for we don't want no mysteries In
our neighborhood."
Surprise rendered Mrs Allen speech
less for. moment; then she coldly said:
Ladies \, gave my name rs Alle9
simply. hecaIse that was my husosndi
aane.r-eRd, consequently. is mine.
l;Nrf sApjth, i.Dv widowed sister. who
resides with me For reasons not
necessary to state. s191eeeive and an
swer her letSGl6S HhEE;l the meaning
Of the 'iuppasea- Aystery which has
caused YOU So much distress Like the
ghost. it. existA only Lin dmagination."
She ceased speaking and glanced TO-
ward the door, evidently expecting her
visitors to go; but Mrs Simpsius was
not easily routed. ii,
You say your sister lives with you;
it's odd no one has ever seen her and
that you neveeehave NO company. And
can you tell m ma'sm, who the poor
critter il that roams about this house
ct night, all in whittier"
Mrs Aliens face was very stern -
she answered:
81 had hoped that it would not be
necessary to 20 into the details OF this
painful matter; but in order TO check
malicious gossip will explain that my
sister II . confirmed invalid, and left
the city because she was on the verge
OF nervous prostration. We came here
that she might be perfectly quiet, and
have avoided company On her account
She u not able to read or answer her
letters, which all refer to business, -
she owns considerable real estate in
town. Now. ladies, - have nothing
more to say concerning my private
affairs, will bid you good afternoon.
Mrs Aliens tone land manner tor
babe further words, and the discounted
women rose in . body and marched ont
Of the house. Not until they reached
the gate did Mrs Simpkins recover
her powers of speech; then she ex-
claimed:
."Well. neverl"
Had Mrs. Simpkins got glance into
the orchard, where May blossoms made
thick. sweet-scented carpet on the
ground, she would have been even
more amazed, and utterly enraRed.
For Fred Parsons and Nora Allen
were seated there. She was holding Z
sprig OF the blossoms, which he had
s.,.< ,,v,,lren M for her and RrAd vvne
saying: .!
II wonder II those old gossips have
gone, Nora? What . clatter they
would raise II they knew that had
just surrendered my heart to the fair
est stranger that ever came to this
queer old town.!
The gossips heard all about it later,
when the wedding bells pealed Ma
Simpkins vented her spite in her char
.cteristic way. To this day she can't
understand why Fred Parsons ignored
xh> chan~a IN uain 4 wife and 4