The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-07-27


NJ rs Smiths letters, she would like To
know?
By this time Mrs. Simpllins and her
friends were a good deal excited over
the mystery concerning the people at
the river house Mrs Allen and her
daughter seemed oblivious of all tho
dark hints that were thrown out about
then.
Suspicion grew fast Many things
We're said of the occupants of the river
house 81 Jenkins, who lived near,
told his wife that lights burned there
all night. Ezra Burke saw a woman
IN white come TO an upper window and
look out with wild ewes. lie knew IL
was woman because of her long hair,
else he'd ''a-thought 1t were old Smiths
ghost" Conjecture ran high At last
it was decided that delegation OF
women headed 10y Mrs Simpl,ins should
wait upon Mrs. Allen and demand an
explanation OF the mystery.
For such Is our Christian duty"
said Mrs. Burke, who stood high in the
church 1t Is my opinion that their
name Is not Allen at all. but Smith.
and I'd not he one bit surprised If 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 doiEgs,~ Mrs Simpkins
said, as she raised the heavy brass
knocRer and applied II with 50 much
energy that the door WAS opened al
.1-
How are You, ladies? Walk right
iu," she said, evidently rather sur
prised- Mamma viii be here in a
very few minutes She lras gone for
the mail"
Mrs. Simpkins nodded 70 the others,
as much as to say: just IN time. And
they followed Nora into the parlor.
She tried to entertain them until her
mother returned, but felt quite relieved
when she saw her coming and went To
the door to meet her
Come right in, mamma There are
some ladies waiting for You"
Mrs Allen was astonished to find so
many callers IN her parior 1t one time,
but showed no trace of surprise in her
manner.
Good afternoon, ladies: ! am very
= AtAfA AZ SC Al IL " - NllEll = lovely
day that | went for the mail myself l
hope YOU have not been waiting long"
Her greeting was 80 cordial that Mrs
Jones afterwar ds said she was glad sht.
WAS not head Of the delegation After
one or two Intellectual efforts Mrs.
Simpkins abruptly began.
Mrs Allen. or Mrs Smith, OF what
ever Your name i~-the Lord only
knows. we don't,-wc have come here
this lfternoon To- find out who you are
lou give your name a. Allen. and get
letters for Mrs Smith. and we amt
used to no such goin-S on, and Nve have
come here To have You explain, If You
can, Tor we don't want no mysteries in
our neighborhood"
Surprise rendered Mrs Allen speech
less for a moment: then she coldly said.
ladies, l gave my name a. Allen
simply because that was my husbands
name. and, consequently. Is mine.
Mrs. Smith l. my widowed sister. who
resides with me For reasons not
necessary 10 state, ! receive and an
syver her letters That i the meaning
of the supposed mystery which has
caused You 80 much distress Like the
ghost 1t exists only IN Imagination
She ceased speaking and glanced to-
ward the door, evidently expecting her
visitors TO go: but Mrs Simplins was
not easily routed
You say your sister lives with you;
its odd no one has ever seen her and
that you never have no company And
can You tell Us ma'am, who the poor
critter i that roams about this house
at night, all in white"
Mrs Allen face was very stern as
she answered.
Il had hoped that it would not be
necessary to go into the details of this
painful matter. but in order To check
malicious gossip / viii explain that my
sister i 4 confirmed invaliG. 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 Il not able To read or answer her
letters, which all refer TO business. rs
she owns considerable real estate in
town Now, ladies, as l have nothing
more to say concerning my private
affairs, / viii bid you good afternoon"
Mrs. Aliens tone and manner for
bade further words, and the discounted
women rose in a body and marched out
of the house Not until they reached
the gate did Mrs Simpl1ins recover
her powers of speech, then she ex-
claimed.
We'll ! never
Had Mrs. Simpllins got glance into
the orchard, where May blossoms made
a thick, sweet-scented carpet ON the
ground. she would have been even
more amazed. and utterly enra-ed-
For Fred Parsons. and Nora Allen
Were seated there. She was holding
sprig of the blossoms, which lac had
just broken off for her. and Fred WAS
saying:
i wonder if those old gossips have
gone, Nora? What clattcr they
would raise if they knew that had
Just surrendered my heart TO the fair
queer old Gown"
The gossips heard all about st later.
when the wedding bells pealed- Mrs
Simpllins vented her spite in her char
actcristic way. To this day she can't
understand why Fred Parsons ignored
the chance to gain a wife and =
mother-in-law proficient in the art of
gossip.-N- y Journal
Not the Bills
\ lady playing the leading part in a
melodrama carried with her a very cross
Spanish poodle. which slept In her
trunk while She was engaged ia the
play. The little dog was a sound
sleeper usually. but this evening WAS
an exception lie was wide awake and
sitting unobscrvcd in the first en-
trance watched the play when the
heavy man seizes the leading lady
shriel.ing: Then. curse yuu, III
III. r,r...g7.. r.--.ras~