Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-05-28

Good morning. Mis- brigham. SO he's
gone, poor man. and you're Il widder to-
day-and it gives body a sort o mixed
feeling to think that it's thing that
might happen to anyone O us. except
Laviny here, she can't be Il WILDLY WON
an! But mebbe she is just as happy as
il she could be. amt one that $ always
a-thinking that a woman don't more'n
half live unless she has man to hurry
her up to her work at sun-up, and boss
her all day-no, no! Sometimes !
think that the old maids have the best
Of it all round. If they'd look at it right {.
But you've got good deal to be thank
full for, considering that you've been
married to man; now you can begin
to take some comfort. and you and
Mari-Jane can do just as you're a mind
to. long as You live, If you keep clear of
men folks. Have you got your pie
meat aboIin yet? Seems to me smelt
it. | can stay and help you all day as
well as not. and twill be change for
me. I'm tired o lookin at my back
fence. amt hardly been out O the
yard all winter"
'There's no denying that moneys
handy and comforting at all times. but
more SO at times like these" shifted
Deacon Jones wife, who had been
waiting to get in a word edgewise."
Mrs. Staples. too, "had put away her
such times, taking il for granted that
their help and mpanionship are both
needed and welcome, and when Mrs.
Jones paused. she said: "Well if you
and Mari-Jane are a-going to have rs
much money IS the men folks say you
be- you ought to bloom out in pretty
good sort O mourning for the funeral;
if the men are right, you hadn't ought
er buy anything less than good all
wool. And then, soon's you get to it.
l should put a. good, fair-priced stone
on him, not very snowy. but pretty
heavy!"
"They wouldn't say so, if they had
heard Harris Brigham declare. as
many times as ! have. that Mari-,Dane
and | were sending him every day a
little nearer the poorhouse! sobbed
the Vidow.
"You've been kept in the dark. SOS
he could keep on pinching you: nov.
you listen to me. ] know what I'm
talking about, for I've had two hu,-
bands, and men fair to middling. too
but men for all that! And | tell you
that you may just as well begin to
enjoy your freedom to-day as next
week-for Brigham is just as dead
as he will be after the funeral. So
you just flax round and look up his
papers and find out where you rar
get hold of some ready money quick
est. You may find wallet full h;l
up somewheres; there's my first hus-
band. who was. to be charitable TO
the dead, near if not mean with his
money. and we found $50 wadded up
in dirty paper in an inside coat
pocket. 4 regular tramp's wallet?
Iis, but he come of a family as diff
and not been born with fur nor feath-
ers on 'em, Mis- Brigham! I'd
stop sniy'lin' if | was you: we
all know who and what old brigham
was as wcll-nigh about, as you!
You've kept at it pretty stiddy. and
have done enough now to show re-
spect to him that's dead and gone
or to last till the funeral unless
somebody special should call to sea
you! So, as say. brace mp and find
out how much you're worth, if YOU
can, and tell me what you want
cooked up for the funeral supper, and
how many you expect will come back
from the grave, to eat. Then III go
ahead with the cooking. and my
Sam'll go to the village for anything
we can't borrow round the neghbor-
hood. For the lands sakes alive!
Who is that coming up the lane? 1t
looks like-it can't be?"
Who could it be. to create such en-
element? Even the widow and Mari
Jane hurried to the window ant
peered over their neighbours ) shout
ders
"Ma! Ma! It's Jim! Oh, I'm so
glad. SO glad." and Mar-Jane started
1Or the other door.
Mrs. Brigham caught the hem of
her daughters back breadths, as she
reached the door. and pulled her
backward so far that Mari-Jane's out
stretched hand could only nervously
tumble the latch with her finger tips,
but not unlatch it!
"Mari-Janc. Remember that YOUR
pa won't have Jim Reed i'm this house!
l can't hear his words now--'Never.
Mari-Jans. so longs live. so help me
God" Oh Mari-Janc, your pail make
an awful row. I'll go an tell Jim he
must go right away. and we'll never
let on to your pa that he's been here.
l hate to see and hear your pa when
he's crossed in anything"
"Mis' Brigham. Remember tibet
you're now free woman, an you've
no longer got to go like dog when
ole Brigham says Coz nor you ain t
got to Come when he whistles. for
he's whistled his last whistle! You
amt yit sensed your freedom. You
an Mari-Jane is as free to-day to re-
ceive Jim Reed, or anybody else, as
you'll be in year. ] don't say 'tisn't
pretty quick for you to receive any
body on your own account. but !
amt one to deny that you're as free
to do it as you'll ever be! It's only
question of how you feel. and when
you feel like it," said the woman who
had buried two husbands. Her words
of experience prevailed.
"You can go. Mari-Janc. but guess