Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-10-06
\ Compromise
With a Spectre.
BY CLARENCE HENRY PEARSON.

SoNeTal JnluRS IN particular, Sald she
whom he addressed as Phoebe, land frat
and foremost / want to know what you
meant by beginning to cast sleeps Dyes
at that tow-headed, doll-faced Widow
Snow before l was fairly cold in my
grave. To see you incoming around
that ridiculous thing in your demented
way and grinning like a Cheshire cat
every time she looked at you was
enough to make every man, woman and
child in town sick. If it had been any
other woman on earth would MT have
cared so much, but / always hated that
simpering little idiot and you knew it.
And now you are engaged to marry her
next Wednesday, and your first wife
buried only little over little over
year ago. tell you l won't stand it.
DO you hear me? That wedding must
not come of"
'Now see here, Phoebe" said Mr..
Rayne in tone Of remonstrance, you
are not giving me a square deal We
always differed in our ideas, and nine
teen times out of twenty, yes ninety
nine times out of hundred, / gave in
and let you have your way. You can't
say was MT good husband to you, and
now that you are dead it seems to me
that the only graceful thing for you to
do is to stay dead, and let me take some
comfort during the rest Of my life"
The Are fairly few from the swapping
black eyes as Mr. Rayne made this rath-
er impOlitic remark, and no pen is Capa-
BILE of doing justice to the TRADE that
followed. The late Mrs. Rsyne denoun-
| ced her erstwhile lord as a wretch, a
brute, a monster, iabbering idiot. a be-
whiskered ape, and an unmitigated don
key, and pleasantly alluded to Mrs.
Snow as "a broad grin on dough set
ting"
'If you we're not the biggest lunatic
on the American continent" she said
by way of conclusion, you never would
think of marrying again anyhow"
when | consider the success of my
first matrimonial experiment" said Mr..
Rayne, with dryness quite unusual to
! him, II am forced to admit the wisdom
Of your last observation"
The little woman made a swift dash
| for the book on the stand near her, and
| her quondam husband threw up his arm
| to shield his face from the expected
missile There was no danger, howev-
! er, for the tiny hand seemed to sweep
! harmlessly through book, stand, and
all, and moment later its owner re-
sumed her former position with look
OF intense annoyance on her face.
II declare" she exclaimed, sit so ag
| gravates me TO talk with you that | for
get the changed conditions under which
exist. If could come back to you in
the flesh" she added spitefully, 81
would make that bald spot on your
crown grow like church scandal"
Byron looked at her thoughtfully
Her recentfutile attempt to infiict phys
ical violence upon him had given hin
courage. The creepy feeling that he ex
perienced when he realized that hi
companion was being not OF earth haC
passed away and he was more inclined
to look upon the situation with the eye
OF philosopher. After all, it was no
SO bad as it might be. She could bur
his feelings, it was true, but she coulC
not injure his skin. 1t was clear tina
the spectre was not nearly so formidable
as had been the woman.
Suppose, Phoebe" he said, present
ly, II conclude to let this wedding G,
right on as though nothing had happen
en-what will you do about it?"
dol" she Kissed, 81 wall become you
shadow. No eye but yours will see me
no ear but yours will hear me, but
will never leave you, will stand be
side you at the altar and tell you wha
a bald-headed old imbecile you are.
will accompany you on your weddini
trip, and for every word your bride say
l will say ten. l will return with yO
to your home and whether you are work
ing or resting my voice shall ring il
your ears during every waking moment
l am not limited by physical weakness
now" she added ominOusly, ''and new
or get out OF breath"
Mr.. Ravne contemplated for a me
ment the picture that arose before hi
minds eye at her words and his hear
sank like lead The widow Snow wa
demure, dainty, and altogether desir
able, but what a price to pay for her
Truly, his was a most wOeful prediCa
ment.
ANY decent man." said his visitor
suddenly breaking out in a new spot
would show some respect for his wife
memory. Here you are planning &
marry again and my grave still un
marked. It's a shame, q burning
sbameW
"Now, there, Phoebe, you do me Crea
injustice" said he warmly. "Yo
ought to know that / am never mean o
close in money matters. ! ordered
monument for you the week after yor
died, no cheap affair but one that evel
you would be proud Of. IL was all com
pleted within month except larg