River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-06-07
BLOSSOMS AND GOSSIP.
A Much Needed Lesson Taught a
Meddlesome Woman.

at the river house. Well, I never
When Mrs. Miranda SimpkinS said
well, I never" in that particular
tone. you were To understand there was
nothing more 20 be said. hut this time
there seemed To be, for she continued;
We'll. all have got TO say Is that
they must be strangers, for of course
they won't take it."
But they did take il, 10 ell insisted
land they are going 20 send their serv-
ant to clean il for them right away"
Now. Joel Simpxins, tell me all you
know about the matter. and how you
found it out
why, Bill Jones told me. You
know he has all the money he can
make by renting the old house, but be-
tween you and me I didn't never be
lieve he would let it, But he has. sure
enough
For the lands sake-them poor crit
tiers going in there. I tell you what
lis, Joel. it's dreadful, and feel it my
duty to warn them. Where did you
say they lived?'
Goodness ne, Miraudy. how should
know where they live2
why didn't you ask Bill Jones?
There ought to be something done
about it"
well, don't see what il IS to rs, OF
what we can do"
''Tll tell you one thing you might do,
Joel Simplxins. YOu might ask Fred
Parsons why he don't come round here
no more. lie came half a dozen times
to see sally. and then stopped comm
If you was the right kind of father.
you'd try To make a match tween him
and our daughter Sally. Hes rich
dreadful rich and our gal don't want
To have 10 drudge the way have"
'SaIly's a heap prettier'n ever you
was. but she's Jest as bad when her
tongue gets 10 wagging at gOssip-and
Parsons Is a man with enough sense 10
unde~s that he ought to keep
away said Joel-but hc said It under
his breath
MAY blossoms and the new tenants
had come together. and. though the
river house might be haunted. one oi
the most beautiful orchards any whcre
near New Nor.S was a part of the es-
tate.
Mrs. Simpkins. directly she learned
that a servant was cleaning the river
house. started on her GRAND. As she
entered the gate she looked all around
as IL expecting To see the ghost then
and there After trying the hnoclSer
at the front door with no result she
went around To the kite hen. Here she
was met by a buxom Irish maid-of-all
work, who was singing at the top Oi
her voice and worked away with q
will. seemingly not caring a fig for hi:
ghostship On seeing the stranger
Bildy stopped, and. rec ting on hel
broom. said.
Morning. mum
Mrs. SimplSins paid no attention tC
her greeting. but Olurted ont:
My poor girl, do you know where
you be-
'Shurc, and that is what ] Dc. man,
answered Eiddv. with CHEEKY laugh
DO you know this house IS haunted
thai every night at midnight old John
Smiths ghost goes roaming through ii,
sIamming doors and grooming jest
dreadful?
Yes. num-. said Biddy.
And does your mistress know ito
Yes. mum-a by told her the other
DAY whin she came down here"
And IS she coming in the face of al
this?"
No, mum: she and Miss Nora arr
coming on the ears, mur1-"
he You an IDIOT
Yes. mum-Or. that i. a, at know,
but Miss Nora can tell We anything the
p l..
within he comes She just dOtes on
ghosts and such things
We'll, never exclaimed Mrs Simp
kins. as she turned and left the house,
while B;ddy resumed her song: Me
Darlint. Sweet Nora o'Neil."
Its my opinion. Joel Slmpkins. that
they're a queer lot down there in that
river house said Mrs. Simpkins. on
reaching home
What makes you think 50. Mi
randy"
Well J went down there TO tel
them about the ghost. and would you
believe it, That servant Of theirs said
she just dotted ON gho>ts?'
What's their Nance
~ Neil. guess
Didn't You aSk?'
''No- was 50 upset forgot it. Bu
the Irish girl called one of them Mis-:
Nora and when I come away I hearc
her singing about her darling. Mis-;
Nora O-Neil. - recon that's he'
name Jest think that Irish girl IS q
dumbed idiot
A few days later Joel Simpkins tolt
his wife that the folks had arrived a
the river house.
Accordingly. Mrs. Simpkius called ;
second time at the haunted house
This time she was met by middle
aged lads of fine appearance, VIII,
greeted her pleasantly, but rather form
ally.
How do you do Mrs O'Neil?~ Mrs
Simpltins said. - am Mrs Joel Simp
kins. and ! am not ashamed of m
name. either"
= am glad 70 hear of 1t, Mrs Simp
lSinS- viii you walk in? You ar,
somew hat mistaken in regard To m!
name. II Is not O'Neii. but Allen 9"
For the lands sakeS-l thought ]
was O'NeiL am sure I heard tina
girl Of yOur'n singing about her 'dar
lint Miss Nora ONeii'
Mrs. Allen smiled. and said that al
though her daughters name was Nora
Biddy's song had nothing 20 DO viii
II.
incidentally, 70 invest herself will
some Importance. Mrs Simpiins state,
that FRED Parsons. the richest youn.
man in the town. was paying al
tentiou 10 her daughter sally. Thi
remark provoked an inscrutable Smil
on Mrs Aliens face
Mrs Simpkins made long cali. bu
was cot invited 20 repeat her visit Sh
told hey husband she could not find on
anything, and was very sure there wa
some mystery connected with that Allei
woman, for there were ever 80 mani
envelopes on the table. and she c0ul,
see the name smith plain as moth
ing. and she was sure Mrs. Allen Ia,
been reading them very letters Now
what business had Mrs Allen viii
Mrs Smiths letters, she would like I.
know
By this time Mrs Simpiius and he
friends were a good deal excited owe
the mystery concerning the people a