The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-09-26
Neverth .less, she did stalk about it,


a wide awake girl at that time, pc
culiarly susceptible to first impress
sions, imbibed an impression of the
late Mr.. knapp's eccentricities that
was not altogether complimentary to
the departed gentleman.
Poor dear!'' said she one day. HE
tried so hard to speak. If he only could
have told his wants. We never asked
her any questions. We just let her talk
on, feeling that this was the kindest
and best. inferred from this last re-
mark that her husband had been af-
fected by paralysis. particularly as she
had said on another occasion: Il used
to sit at my window, and James sat at
his, l sewing. he looking out of the
window at what was going on in the
street. He seemed perfectly happy as
long as | was there. But then we can
never tell | often wish now that |
had done more for him or could have
learned better what he wanted
What did the physicians say or do?'
l asked.
They said it was the breaking up of
the system by old age. l never felt
that they quite understood the case"
Poor little thing! Married to an aged
paralytic and yet regretting his death
as the breaking up of the one tie on
earth. What desolation-what utter
| deSolation her case seemed to me!
was moved to take her in my arms and
weep with her, which was great deal
| for me.
Not only was the late Mr.. Knapp old
and imbecile and paralytic, but he had
other traits which must have rendered
him highly Objectionable as daily
companion.
"Just about this time every afternoon
| always gave James bowl of cream
with fresh sponge cake in it. He would
not touch it unless it was in certain
bowl nor unless it was fresh from the
bakers. And yet they tried to per-
suade me that he didn't know any
thing!"
From which I inferred that, added to
his other peculiarities, the late Mr..
Knapp possessed an extremely un-
pleasant temper.
"And, oh, Mrs. Curtisv' she walled,
gone. they wouldn't let me bury him in
the family lot" From which l infer
red that the dear departed had come of
a family of unpleasant tempers. Such
heathenish doings | never heard tell
of. Surely, however they felt toward
him during his life, nothing but fiend
would deny him the family resting
place after he was dead!
But | forgot my interest in Mrs
Knapp and her affairs by reason OF
some of my own. l had a delightful
letter from Tom Dixon, saying be
would be with US for a week. Now
Tom was favorite cousin of mine
and l spent a good deal of time fur
nishing up my little belongings so thai
l might look my very best when ht
came. And then, l was putting finish
ing touches to Toms room, too, unit
the minute he arrived, so that | really
had no time to talk co Mrs. Knapp Of
to listen to her if she wished to talk tt
me.
Dear old Tom! How good twas to Sc,
him that day with his blithe ways ant
"bonny brown hairv' We talked an(
,, talked till supper was called, and theI
we still talked all the way to the dinin:
room door, and yetwe found time to sa.
nothing about any one but ourselves
AS we seated ourselves at the table
saw Mrs. Knapp's vacant place (for sh
, was a little late) and realized that
had not mentioned her presence in Ou
household.
"Why. we have a boarder, Tom,"
began, in answer to his look of inquir,
at the empty place. Just as | spok
she glided in.
"Why, who on earth would hav
thought of finding you here?' and h
, shook her hand in a grasp so heart
that | could see it was painful to her.
She colored family and said a littl
, unsteadily, ''This is indeed a surprise
;. Mr.. Dixon" and | read between tn
lines that the surprise was not an a.
:, together agreeable one.
But Tom didn't seem to notice any
:, thing most men are dumb about sue
= things. You know. so l kept my eye
. and ears open and waited for develop
n mentS.
|
a startling manner.
q So hear poor Jim is gone at last?
p said Tom. turning to Mrs. Knapp as
9 buttered his seventh biscuit CTom a
a ways was rather a greedy youth an
enjoyed most heartily the good thing
, of this life, mothers cooking anon
V them.
s "Oh, Mr.. Dixon. how can you spea
Il of him in that wayw exclaimed th
V widow, hurrying from the room in a t
of sobbing.
# Tom stared.
II "Well. I'll be darned! What undt
It the sun is the matter with the woma
.e anywayT' he exclaimed.
t. "YOu ought to be ashamed of you
self" replied | severely. No wondt
d the poor woman is shocked to he;
If you speak of her husband in that wa
s. after he's dead and gone
X Tom stared again And then he brol
it into such spasms of laughter that
re thought he had suddenly lost his min
Ie had heard of such things, but | hf
,e fortunately been spared the sight
nj | them SO far.
lv "Eer husbandr' he exclaimed. VIII,
We he could catch his breath, as he wipe
nj the tears from his eyes. Her hu
W band! She hadn't any husband. 81
n. never was married. Jim was her o
q. black catr' And then he went off aga
into spaSms.
-ic No wonder the hard hearted relativ
Iy had objected to having all that W
ed mortal of ''the late Mr.. Knapp" la
ID. in the family lot!