Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-12-11

window 10 the euect tndJ lncre ID &C
commodation within for a respectable
single man it usually means mischief.
1t is the old, old invitation of the spider
to the fly. How on earth could a mere,
ordinary, inexperienced, guileless sim
gle man be otherwise than clay in the
hands of Mrs. Potter?
Originally Whelks, she had married
in the first place a Higson, and in the
second the late, not unduly lailented,
Potter.
The grass on the grave of the latter
having now begun to grow quite lux
uriantly, the relict considered that to
remain a widow any longer would be
z sheer waste of time and opportunity.
Hence the card-six inches by four
with the announcement referred to.
THE rest" said Mrs. Potter, Il
leaves to Providence"
And Providence thus piously invok-
ed, responded with Joshua Jebbings.
Mrs. Potter summed him up in one
word. Ginger" she commented COM
placently, land l never knowed a gin
ger man or boy with what you could
call spirit"
Indeee< = eHadarautory was the SEN
eral kts,ok that she began picking
the grape tucks Off her best merino
without further delay.
"They did for Rigson, and they've
done for Potter, and there's no know
ing whether I've seen the end OF EN-
yet" she told herself, as she folded
them smoothly and laid them careful
ly away in the bottom drawer.
During the first few weeks Joshua
Jebbings rubbed his hands and felt he
was in clover. His new landlady did
for him as he had never been done
for before. When he came in from
work-he was a "wheelwright to his
trade"-there was his dinner ready to
the minute. AS soon as he opened the
door the savory smell of onions, or tie
cheerful sound of sausages, or some
other dainty, frizzling in the frying
nan, saluted him, while there WAS near
~ always lettuce fresh pulled for his
/ tea.
''If you wants to manage a man"
reasoned Mrs. Potter, you can always
DO it, easy as easy, through his Wit
tles."
1t was Joe WhibbIe who first open
ed Joshua's eyes to the snare that was
being spread for him.
Reckon ye'll be for putting up the
bands fore long" remarked this wor-
thy, with significant wink.
Bands" exclaimed Joshua, Il amt
got nothing to do with no bands,
amt"
Joe contented himself with the skep
teal monosyllable, "G'arn."
This was all that passed at the time,
but Joshua went home with the omi-
nous word bands" ranking in his
breast.
He was very silent over his tea and
his landlady kept an intermittent
watch on him out of the corner of her
eye.
Its about time l give him a int"
she thought. Times getting on, and
Whitsuntide'd do as we'll as not"
1t was at this moment that Mr.. Jeb-
bings, looking up, caught her eye. But
for the poison instilled into his mind
by Joe Whibble 1t is probable that he
would have seen nothing particular in
it, AS it was, it seemed to look
Glands" at him-which was worse than
daggers. Mr. Jebbings choked, partly
from emotion and partly owing to
misdireeted fishbone.
Mrs. Potter sighed a sigh of fond
Renaissance.
II declare if you don't remind me for
all the world of Higson. Wonderful
one he were to choke I've knowed
him go black in the face over red
herring. And moren once he's brought
my heart into my mouth with an apple
core. He were jest about your figger,
too, and | made him a knitted wescut
the winter fore he died. Potter were
stout build, and | were thinking of
letting it out for him when he took
chill and, remembering how weak all
the Potters was in their chests, |
reckoned it weren't hardly worth while.
It's upstairs in a drawer at this very
minute, and l should say it'd fit you
like wax You might jest try it on
after tea"
The cold perspiration stood out on
Joshua's forehead as he huskily as
sured her that it vas uncommon kind
of her, but he wasn't in any particu-
lar need of a wescut jest as present.
But she persisted.
I'll go'n look it out soon's ever I've
washed up" she declared
The moment her back was turned
Joshua slipped out and sought solace
and security at the Ham and Chicken.
Joe was there, and to him Mr.. Jebbings
after the usual interchange of opin-