Evening star., 1899-03-04
Chapter IX.

Chapter IX.
There was but one topic discussed in the
country side that day, and that was the
life and character of Agatha Webb.
Her history had not been happy one.
She and Philemon had come from Port
chester some twenty or more years before
to escape the sorrows associated with their
native town. They had left behind them
six small graves in POrtchester churchyard; /;
but though evidences of their aff1iction were
always to be seen in the countenances of
either. they had entered with so much pur-
pose into the life of their adopted town that
they had become persons of note there till
Philemons health began to fall, when
Agatha quit all outside work and devoted
herself exclusively to him. OF her cbarac-
ter and winsome personality We can gather
some idea from the various conversations
carried on that day from Portchester Green
to the shpyards in Sutherlandtown.
In Deacon Brainard's cottage the discus
sion was concerning Agatha's lack of van
ity; virtue not very common at that time
among the women of this busy seaport.
For a woman so handsome" the good
deacon was sayinG-C'and think can
safely call her the fnest-featured woman
who ever trod these Streets) she showed as
little interest in dress as any one l ever
knew. Calico at home and calico at church.
yet she looked as much of lady In her
her silks or Mrs. Parsons in her thousand
dollar SealSkinS.''
As this was a topic within the scope of
his eldest daughters intelligence she at
once spoke up: Il never thought she need
ed to dress so plainly. don't believe in
such a show of poverty myself. If one is
too poor to go decent, all right; but they
say she had more money than most any
one in town. ! wonder who is going to get
the benefit of it?''
why. Philemon. of course: that is, as
long as he lives. He doubtless had the
making of it,
rs it true that he's gone clean out of his
head since her death?' interposed a neigh
Dor who had happened in.
so they say. l believe Widow Jones has
taken him into her house,
DO you think asked a second daughter
with becoming hesitation, that he had
anything to do with her death? Some of
the neighbors say he struck her while in
one of his crazy fits, while others declare
she was killed by some stranger, equally
old and almost as fnfirm.'
I'VE won't discuss the subject" objected
the deacon. Time will show who robbed
US of the greatest-hearted and most capable
woman in these parts.
And will time show who killed Batsy?''
1t was morsel of a girl who spoke; the
least one Of the family, but the brightest.
m sorry for Batsy; she always gave me
cookies when l went to see Mrs Webb"
'Batsy was good girl for a Swede," al
lowed the deacons wife, who had not
spoken till now. when she first came into
lO"H on luS SpdIS Oh Indt wrecked snip we
all remember. there was some struggle be-
tween Agatha and me as to which of US
should have her. But l didn't like the task
of teaching her the name of every pot and
pan she had TO use in the kitchen, so
gave her up to Agatha; and it was for
tunate L did. for I've never been able to
understand her talk to this day
Il could talk with her right Well" lisped
the little one. She never called things by
their Swedish names unless she was wor-
ried. and | never worried her.
Il wonder if she would have worshiped
the ground under your feet, as she did that
under Agatha?" asked the deacon, eyeine
his wife with just the suspicion of a ma
licious twinkle in his eye.
Il am not the greatest-hearted and most
capable woman in town." retorted his wife
chckinS her needles as she went on knit
ting.
In Mr.. Sprague's house on the opposite
side of the road Squire Fisher was relating
some old tales of bygOne Portchester DAYS
Il knew Agatha when she was a girl' he
avowed. She had the grandest manners
ard the most enchanting smile of any rich
or poor mans daughter between the coast
and Springfield. She did not dress in calico
then She wore the gayest clothes her
father could buy her and old Jacob was
not without means to make his daughter
the leading figure in town. How we young
fellows did adore her. and what lengths we
went to win one OF her glorious smiles
Two of US. John and Jacob label have
nVed bachelors for her sake to this very
married and" Something between a sigh
and chuckle filed out the sentence.
NAT made Philemon carry off the prize?
His good looks?
Yes, or his good luck 1t wasn't HE
snap: or that you may be sure James
ZabeI had the snap, and he was her first
choice, too but he got into some difficulty
never knew just what ii was but IL wa 6
regarded as serious at the time-and that
match was broken off. Afterward she mar
Fieu thhemon- You see, l was out of 1t
altogether; had never been in it, perhaps;
but there were three good years of nv life
In which l thought of little else than
Agatha / admired her spirit Won see
There was something more taking in her
ways tnan IN her beauty, wonderful as that
was She ruled US with a rod of iron and
yet we worshiped her. i have wondered tc
see her meek of late. / never thought
she would be satisfied with a brick-fi -fioored
cottage and q husband of falling wits But
no one, to my knowledge has ever heard a
complaint from her lips, and the dignity OF
her afflicted wifehood has far transcribed
the haughtiness OF those days when she
had but to smile to have all the youth OF
Portchester at her feet"
Il suppose 1t was the loss OF so many
children that reconciled her to quiet life
A woman cannot close the eyes of six chill
orer, one after the other, without some
modification taking place in her character
es: she and Philemon have been unfor
tuniite, but she was splendid-looking girl
men now.'
In a little one-storied cottage on the hill
slce a woman was nursing baby and talk
ins al the same time of Agatha Webb.
1 snail never forget the night my frs
oaoy Ieii SICK. she faltered. IT was jus
out OF ped myself. and, having no neare
neighors then than now l was all alone OF
the hillside Alec being away at sea, wa
100 young 10 know much about sickness
but something told me that / must hav
help before morning my baby would die
Ihough could just walk across the floor
threw shawl around me, took my babl
IN my arms and opened the door. A blind
ing gust OF rain blew in. A terrible storm
was raging and had not noticed 1t, 1 wa
so taken up with the child
could not face that gale Indeed
was so weak fell on my knees as il strucl
me and became dripping wet before I coul,
orag myself inside. The baby began I,
moan and everything was turning dark be
Tore me, when heard a strong, sweet yoic
cry out in the roadway:
Is there room in this house for ma IA