The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26
THE SQUIRE ANDA WIDOW.
TI~OISsITUDES or LOTEM4KING As
TOLD AT THE CHIN CHIN CLUB.

and Ono Sat In the Parlor and the other
In the Kitchen-A Small Boy and II Hired
Girl Played n Part In the Courtship.
A country store and Post ONCE standing at
parting OF four ways. Present, all the loungcrs
OF an inconsiderablo village gathered around
the stove, tho merchant Postmaster in tho
chair. A cold night. accompanied by II biz
Eard. without. but a hot time promised within
as soon as the discussion was fairly under way.
birds NV a fcatherl flock together. We're
all here. The Iury's full. What's the case on -
I'm be Rul derned Ut the case oughtn't to be
on the Jury II It's full. We should investigate.
We've only got one louo saloon in the town
sbin and IL tho jury's full Their liquor must
ave bin piped in 'longsido fuseable oil and va
rious combustible compounds. If Blue Grass
enterprise Ia got so fur. We ortcr know It,"
The frst OF the two speakers who thus sem
tentiously and impressively opened the even
ing's proceedings was in the postal service.
He carried the mail pouch. that is to say, back
and forth once each day between the corners
and the electric traction railway that runs its
cars along tho pike less than two miles dis
tant. He was an active member OF the Chin
Chin club. always ready to set the organic i'm
plement that gave him q title to membership
at work on the slightest occasion. and, as he
had no employment to speak Of except
his service to the Government. he had
ample time to improve his colloquial tai
ents. He was finally thought one Of the
brightest members OF the club. The Soc
ond speaker. was a roughly clad but shrewd-
looking fellow. something short of middle
age, and not quite clearly in either his habits or
habiliments. He was suspected. in fact. Of know
ing more about tho one saloon in the town.
shin than any other citizen except the proprie-
tor. But he was ready witted and companiona-
bic. and the popular suspicion OF his DISPOSE
ton to drink heartily did not prevent tho well
come that he received at the club meetings.
The statement OF the first speaker. however.
when he said that the Jury was full was not
quite accurate. The Squire had not yet re-
ported for duty. and his absence became the
cause for a diversion of the discussion into q
new and highly entertaining channel.
Hey ye heard what happened to the Wilder
Primrose last night Z" asked another member.
after glancing uneasily around the room to
make sure that the Squire was not present.
He had satisfied himself Of the officials alb
sence before he spoke. but Phily, the newsboy.
was observed to prick up his ears at the words.
look furtively around also, and then to tip his
head to one side to listen.
May hev he'd another calf born in 'er corn
field" said tho contrary member. thought
fully, his eyes cast down. and looking dreamily
into tho stove. It's like enough"
This was a critical allusion. A COW belong
ina to a neighboring farmer had broken into
the cornfeld OF tho Widow Primrose and eaten
several bushels OF corn. She drank heavily,
also. from a brook that watered the widows
estate and died as a consequence. But. in the
very throes Of dissolution. she tried to demon
strate her usefulness by giving birth to a calf,
and the lost corn and calf combined became u
cause celebre in the Squire's court. The queS-
ton OF responsibility for the line fence having
been decided against the owner. he had to sub
NIT to the loss OF the cow and pay for the corn.
OF course. But this was not his only mis-
fortune. Tho widow detained the calf.
and when he attempted to get possess
sion by a writ of replevin the Squire
decided that it belonged to the widow
by the accident Of birth. The decision was
reversed on appeal. but the novelty OF such a
judicial opinion convinced the community that
the Squire. who was an old bachelor. must be
soft on the widow. and n good deal OF merri-
ment followed. Hence the critical character OF
the conjecture made by tho contrary member
when he ventured to suggest that an accident
met by the Widow Primrose might furnish a
new cause for compromising a respected mem
Der Of the club.
There yer way off. Doc said the other
speaker. decisively. Calls amt born in that
unprecedented way more'n wunst in a life
time. Try agin."
But l amt guessing. We crank r~ctorted
the contrary member Dye think were here
to be played on What concern is't NV yourn
whether we've heard what happened to the
Widder Primrose or not Z"
AS to that" "aid tho gossip. Il meant tc
hey told ye ef ye'd said no when l asked ye ei
ye,d heard; But We wanted to play smarty, and
thought I'd let you run to the end NV yer line
I didn't think it ud be SO short. though -,
happen to the Widder Primrose % asked Doe
retnlantly. somewhat taken aback., but not
Now yer talking like IA responsible being
and aIm dent lon = he esni,s tie telling ye" said the Cos
It's Importance. Tive good reason to imagine
the SQUIRE wont be here to-night. He wus &c
much better yit. so he's not ike TO come in and
Interrupt the proceedings; He druy out to Sc.
know. fur he wusn't here, and what follcrs is {
tt,p | ESt f5um the widder's hired man know
well. run out yer line, then. and ketch fish
but don't play, with US all night long a little bit
NNever mind the testamentary pSroc aediiinss
We're not likely to believe what ye say yerself
Let alone n the witness we've got in the wilder:
wo5Isn to n thst;" vs sst9 oxn ,H ths gofRs dp ., "yyee
" IL through, But that don't, concern, The
stors I'm INTO to tell ye; said yG al knqTsd tn,
yell blieve that much, Doc. without any wit
ness. But the Squares not the only man tina
goes to see the wilder, and last night he go
left. Dominic Flowerbanks NV Todtown. pas
ture NV the First. Eclectic Church. hes long hec
an eye eZ single fur the wilder ez he's he'd flu
his own salvation. It's my opinion he's neveI
thought NV the arms Nv his Redeemer. exclus
lively, sence he first seen the wilder wasl
dishes: Well: last night. the hired man tells me
yus setting w, in the parlor '~l9ngslde the wild
der. stroking the cat, when the Justice, dru'
ing post, You SEQ I've bin able to, git the de
tails right. because the hired gal. knowing tn,
Dominic was there. and. seeing the SIuar'
TO see where the sklllet had bin mislaid. and
accidentally, ! Imagine. to find out Of the wild
der took in the chances quiet like. But sh,
didn't; no. che didn't. It's my opinion tina
there wldder's got two sides. ono fur the Dom
inie and t'other fur, the Square. But that
neether her nur yender. and 'twusn't her side
that begun troubling 'er list then. 'Twus e
backbone. Ye see, the Dominic and the Squar,
don't yoke together no better n IA dol
both set eyes OH each other. they benz
together under her own vine and flgtree. IN
non-resisting notions Nv the Dominic Nigh
give way before the reservation he keeps il
eternal punishment and hell fire break out
Mn lN