The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-07-06

ches OF drlftwood
to it's construction; as we'll as some
bright strips from wrecked vessel
that eked out the uneven fence, and a
small fgurehead which ornamented
the porch. Over this hung several
whitening blades of the swordfsh. An
old dory stood in the yard filed with
blossoming geraniums.
1t was quite dark when the little
gate swung wide to admit the ample
figure of Mrs. Chilcott. She stepped
heavily along, and with her usual
familiarity, opened the door without
the preliminary of announcing her APP
proach. Mrs. Guptill sat at small
table writing.
go Susan! Is that you?" go
Mandy Are you at home?" exclaimed
the women, the one with affected cor
diality and the other with affected
surprise.
81 thought maybe you'd be gone to
meeting" continued Mrs. Chilcott,
eying the papers which Mrs. Guptill
hastily put away.
81 didn't know which was ringing,
the fog-bell or the meeting bell"
81 guess they was both at it. But
you've got time to finish your letter.
Don't mind me-" Mrs. Chilcott set
tied back with an air of effacing her,
self.
"Well, I was all done but signing.
might as well do that and take it
along to the postofice."
The signing was slow and awkward
under the watchful eye of the visitor,
and the color famed a moment in
Mrs. Guptilps withered cheek.
81 suppose might as well 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.
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.
81 thought you was saying he
didn't calculate to stand the expense
just now," she remarked.
"Well, he didn't think to right
away" Mrs. Guptill was taking down
her shawl from the peg by the door,
and therefore her back was toward the
visitor. GIVE 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 little shaky as
she began again:
81 might as well tell you fust as last,
Susan, but you needn't zip to the
neighbors; we had little sum come
to us from the Squire Bean property,
'Twa'n't but two hundred dollars, but
it come in handy"
"Why, Mandy Guptill! 1 didn't
know you was acquainted"
"Well, we want much. That is,
knew Squire Bean by sight, and be
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 p said Mrs. Chill
colt. "You kept it from me pretty
well, Mandy. haint heard nothing
about the will.
"There want no regular writ-out
will. He just left a kind of memoran
dun saying what he wanted-so they
brought the money over to me.
Thewomen had stepped out into thu
dim, uncertain light. The second bel
was ringing Tor meeting, and here anC
there groups made their way TOWARD
the village hall Mrs. Chilcott an(
Mrs. Guptill were the first to arriv,
and break in upon Silas Baker in hi
tardily performed duty of getting tn
hall ready for the service.
Presently the people came in, one b,
one, always deliberately, as if the in
tention of arriving at all had scarcel,
been entertained.
'1'm not begredging any good for
tune to you, Mandy" said Mrs. Chill
colt, resuming the topic in solem
whisper, "but declare it does seer
like a streak of Providence, don't
now? Here was you wanting th
money dreadful for them nets, an