The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-08-10
THE BLAckshtrH

3 NM fbfttEt tsf ptsNhs1h's "Nf
hurryins .lons tie stree, iOwsid htr has
bands shop.
/ II bad been her daily custom Tor years
/ 10 cary bin bic noondsy meal, ss Pnker
declared that zoo mach time ss eoo'en
Cd 10 soiss 10 aud iron biz shop.
He v.s . big. barley fellow, With
SEQ log eonniessbee and night .rGl
strong enough to fell 40 OF aud ss - bis
eisposition YES none OF the bss. people
we're careful 20, TO provoke bin TO sDssr
hi. vile ss hn opposite 10 every Par
tieulsr. shs being ,ioy, tiIii cresture OF
. mild patute. aud. like Alice OF "Ben
Bollr fame, trembled With tear si bis
ifovp.
Why che ever chose Parker ass bus
band OF Why be selected her for vile vas
q us,ter OF comment, ss there seemed 10
be no love between them. Yet Mrs. Park
er W.. i.iihiol spouse aud suove TO I'D
N minlster TO her husbands comfort thoogh
sue never ftctiNcu os' N''N"
words aud surly looks Tor ber pains.
0lsucing st = clock 10 . shop vindow.
she perceived II vas past the dinner hour.
sud her heart sank within her in antieips
tion OF the scoiding she vas sure to re
ceiye, % the blacksmith set ! Iunrtuslity
above oil things,
Ga rescbias tue shop sbe vas relieved
st not seeing her husband within. lbe
place, however, bora evidences OF his re
cent presepcs. and everything indicstsd
lbst be hsd taken hssiy lepsrtnrs A
fire bl zsd in the forge. aud horseshoe
shich still retained its warmth. lay upon
the anvil. Mrs. Parker glanced around
10 hope oil fading . suitable spot on
which to place the dinner pail. but. see
ipg nothing more convenient than the
anvil, deposited the pail beside the horse
shoe and took her departure.
Upon arriving home she busted herself
With household %, airs, as she was sthrif
ty housewife. despite any other shortcom
ings.
That evening, when Parker returned
from his work. be was 10 3 worse humor
than usual. and his babituslly scowlIns
countenance was more iorbldding than
ever. He iiung his dinner pail upon the
table with a crash which startled his wife
into Q cry OF terror. She fully expected
the viaIs OF bis wrath to be poured upon
her, Is railing ut bis vile was was Psrk
er's chief occups pstion when at home. Bot,
strange to ssy, on this occasion he never
even glanced toward her, but be strobe
across the room and. tAkinga basin of
water. began removiog the traces Of toll
from bis hands and face, after which be
made his way into sn adjoining room for
the purpose OF substituting fresh gar
ments for his grimy ones.
Mrs. Parker bresthed more freely as the
door closed sharply behind him, and she
picked up the pail and examined 1t. A
Sigh escaped her as she discovered deep
den, in the side which had coms 10 ON
tact With the table. On removing the lid
she perceived that the nice meal she had
prepared had been scarcely tasted. Al
other Sigh escaped her as che emptied the
conteuts OF the pail into receptacle near
by.
Pres, ptly 9 rst-.at-tst sounded upon the
door and Mr.. Cobb stood without Mr..
Cobb was short. stout individual, with .
bald head and rubicund oouutensnce. .
coroner bv occupation, yet, not~ithstand
ing the gloomy nature Of bis business. be
vas jolly chsp. and frequently dropped
in 10 enjoy chat with the Psrkers, with
~hom be had sttuck ups sort OF friend
ship. 10 bis younger days be had been
something OF ventriloquist. but this fact
vas unknown to many OF bic late scqusint
ances.
Oh, good evening, Mr.. Oobbl Mrs.
Parker said IS she perceived her visitor.
Walk tight ip. James will be here direct
ly. He has gone to get cleaned up bit.
Cobb entered the kitchen snd took q
seat. Mrs, Parker continued her work.
You are as Industrious IS ever. be re
marked, glspcipg ct the pail she was rub
biua. don't believe Satan ever 6nds
any mischief for your hands to do.
Well, 1 always Hud plenty to keep me
busy, she replied, smiling at the implied
compliment.
The blscksmIth's vile was invsrisbly
pleased at . tribute 10 her industry. l
believe it. answered Cobb, as | never yet
have seen you idl,. oh, hello. Parker
IS The blacksmith sppesred. How are
your suppose you have heard oil The
mnrdera
I-no, replied Parker confusedly. Whist
murderf And rs be spoke be turned
toward the msntelshelt and began filling
bis pipe With tobacco.
Isupposed every one 10 town had hesfd
OF il by this time; said Cobb, news travels
90 fast
have 20 time for gossip, said Parker,
With . irown.
Certsinly not. Bot one cannot always
avoid hearing OF certain happenings,
Well, old man jenkins ws found dead 10
his barn this siternoou.
Mrs Parker clssped her hsods together
10 ,peechIsss horror.
How do you know 1t vas murdei1
aueried the blacksmith, sitting doun near
his visitor, bat not looking st him.
Iseems like 1t. snswered Cobb. cross
ins one leg over The other, rs be sestsd
himseIf more comfortably in bis chair.