The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-05-10

crony. But 1t wouldn't be marrying
in the Lord to have man that had
got rich out of a lottery. He'll be
church-mauled anyhow, and Just think
of the disgracel'
81 wouldn't have believed it of Ly.
man Bee" murmured Mrs. Fling
family.
II must say he always appeared TO
be real God-fearing, and SO kind of
slow"
Hes sly. That's where he went
clear up to Gobang to buy lottery
ticket, and never said a word to no.
body! There's the postmark; it's
kind of blurred, but the G. is plain
enough. There's where Seth Loomis
bought his ticket, up to Gobang."
would he draw prize so soon?"
asked Mrs. Fling, who had prudent,
practical mind.
La, you can buy ticket just be-
fore the drawing, If you're a mind to, "
returned the postmaster's wife. ''Be-
sides. 1t amt the first time he ever
Went to Gobang."
II don't know as he ever went I'M
beknowh BEFORE" said Mrs. Fling
meditatively.
81 suppose it kinder come over him
that twas business that he couldn't
be too private about" said Mrs. Judd.
LAND, here he comesl You be real
careful to keep out of sight, won't You?
The deacon and L don't ever meddle
with postal cards nor nothing, but you
was such an old friend ana it seemed
nu II A..
how it was between him and Mary
Jane. Don't he look real anxious?
And he's been here every mail since
he came home, and if he came once a
week before twas wonder"
Lyman Bee was tall and spare, with
an ungainly stoop and rugged homely
features. Only n pair of handsome,
frank, blue eyes and manly carriage,
in spite of the stoop, redeemed him
from positive ugliness.
Mrs. Fling, peeping through crack,
saw his face flush and n childlike de-
light appear in the frank bluej eyes.
my, amt he hardened villainl He
looks just as tickled rs IL it weren't
wicked. But he did look kind of
suspicious DIT me, to see if 1 knew
what he meantr'
Mrs. Judd finished her remarks to
the empty air. Mrs. Fling murmur-
ing that she had pies in the oyen, had
slipped out the back door She went
across lots. If one hurried. even
though one was fat and scant of breath,
it was possible to intercept Lyman
Bee at the corner.
They say there's worse things than
that done, right along, nowadays.
There's sight of business done by
church members that amt any better
than gambling or lotteries. Anyhow,
the talk will blow overland proputty
won'tr'
Thus Mrs. Fling communed with
herself, in the watches of the night,
and saw roseate visions until she
drifted into still more roseate dreams:
To see Mary Jane the wife of rich
man had been always her hearts de-
sire. If she had only known what
Fate had in store for Lyman Bee, how
differently would she have treated
himl
But he had seemed to accept the
olive branch which she had that day
(warily) held olt 10 him, She had
limited to him that she could no longer
be firm against Mary James breaking
heart. She had said the same openly
to Mary Jane, and that astonished,
but guileless, maiden had joyfully
made plum tarts for the "little family
tea" to which her mother had invited
Lyman.
AS for Lyman Bee, he was fairly
radiant with happiness. 1t seemed
certain, now, that his great rawboned
hands would never again suffer the
severe pangs that they had periodi-
cally endured from the replanting of
poisonous ivy. He had counted it all
ioy-for Mary jane. At last Mary
Jane would be his own, with no need
of painful receptions and heartbreak-
ing denials.
In n few days the wedding invita-
tions were Quito the astonishmont
Of every one in Enfield. OF every one,
that is, except Mrs. Deacon Judd, who
was forced TO keep her own counsel,
though it was pain and grief TO her.
because the deacon's postmastership
had already been placed in jeopardy
by her habit Of reporting the contents
of postal cards.
The wedding was in church, and the
bride had a troussenu that came from
the very depths Of her mother purse.
Mrs. Fling had said 30 herself that
when You had got 20 brave the speech
Of folks was no time 90 be meaching.
And since Mary Jane was n rich man =
wife, though nobody knew IL yet.
she was going TO have her look like
one.
When the bridal party came home
from the church 90 the houQewarming
Mrs. Fling had lonRed for a we'd
ding breakfast aud tour, but You
couldn't make Lyman Bee and Mary
Jane fashionable there was the calico
colt in the yard Aud Lyman Bee
was just as pleased ~ a boy over him.
oh, no, he had never sold him. he
said; he shouldn't have thought Of
doing that when Mary Jane thought
so much Of him. Re had only taken
him 20 the cattle show 1T Gobang.
" was kind Of foolish and childish.
he supposed; he hadn't meant 90 let
anybody know it-but the colt had
taken n prize the frat prize: . hand
some silver cup. Mary Jane was going
20 keep IL on tho parlor mantelpitce.
fThrwu tuuu L.