Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-11-11

out OF health That medicine is an irri-
tation and not help to nature"
| Toggins began to look suitably grave,
but when Mrs. Query took him into the
room where Mrs. Godfrey was lying, he
grew cold up to his throat; for though but
little more than lad in years, he had had
some experience with death, and he saw
that she was dying.
"I'il have the doctor here in jiffy," be
said to Mrs. Duerry, and rushed out OF
the door.
Mrs. Godfrey died that night-the doc
tor and minister from Surry both at her
bedside-died with her lips sealed con-
corning herself and daughter, and obsti-
nately believing that she was going to
live.
Then the old gossip regarding her com
ing revived. and people hunted for a will,
or some letter that would enable them to
communicate with her relatives or friends,
II she had any; but they found nothing
beyond scrap OF paper evidently torn
from note, which read:
Faithfully yours,
HARRISON"
They believed that she had money, but
there was no proof forthcoming OF the
fact, and Mrs. Query affirmed that she
knew no more about her guests than
what was connected with their daily lie.
SO Mrs. Godfrey was buried in the ceme-
terry on the hill in Surry, along the side
III
Toggins who bought the granite slab to
go at the head OF her grave.
In the course OF time Toggins married
the motherless Jeane, and brought her to
live in his own home on Newbury Neck,
where his father and forefathers had lived
and died, aud which Was dear to his heart
from childhood memories. He became
farmer, and bronzed his face and hands to
the tinge OF the soil he titled, and Jeane
made butter and burned her pretty face
to the glow OF cherry over the cooking
fire.
After Jeane's marriage, Mrs. Query
was annoyed by petty attempts at house
breaking, it having become rumored
about that Mrs. Godfrey had secreted her
and as the two houses were 80 close to-
gether, Mrs. Query could hear every
slight disturb ance in the other, while
both stood so far away from other dwell
ings that any cutlery OF hers could never
be heard unless by a chance passer by.
Finally one morning Mrs. Query was
found gagged and bound in her bed,
IA ;r,i,, D. 10,
both houses bore the evidence ola rough
search. Who the robbers were. Mrs.
Query could not tell, nor had she seen
them we'll enough TO be able to distn-
suish them again, and she did not know
whether their hunt had been successful or
not, nothing apparently having been
taken. Some farmers averred, however,
TINT they had heard eunshots during
the night in question, in the woods on
the North Bend road, but had supposed
them to be due to he presence OF hunters;
hut it did not seem possible to connect
these gun shots with the housebreaking.
Toggius Mas SO wrought over the affair,
that with Mrs. Duerry's permission, with
his own hands he tore Mrs. Godfrey's
upon nothing during the demolition but
a few rats nests. Toggins wished Mrs.
Query, to take up her abode with them,
but she could not be persuaded to.
young folks should hev no old ones
abothering round them" she said. Be
sides she WAS spunky old woman, and
having provided herself with revolver,
she intended giving the next molester
warm welcome; but none came. She was
allowed to live in peace.
To please Jeane, Toggins advertised in
the leading papers OF several Of the prin-
cipal cities, for any relatives or informa-
ton OF Mrs. Honora Godfrey, but his ef-
forts were fruitless. Jeane would have
to wait for chance to lead up to some
clue through the mystery enveioping
her.
Then Baby Toggins was born-born on
night SO wild and stormy hat it made
you shudder with the thought that all the
elements were in revolt against man and
mans created doings. The farm house
shook, the willow trees creaked, and the
sound OF the heavy waters pounding upon
the rock shattered shore, was borne in
with the whicl OF the winds. And it was
but poor little creature after all that
came to bless its parents. Toggins vowed
that he could hold her on the palm OF his
hand, and weigh her in a tin quart cup.
She WAS so delicate that for a long time
she had to be carried around on Il pillow,
and no doubt had she belonged to q rich
family, she would have been placed in an
incubator Neither Hollis nor Jeane
thought o, naming her, and Baby, Baby
Toggins, She was called even up to her
fifth year, tue time when | made her ac-
quaintance.