The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-09-20

MIS-. AOSCeLtef turned ana looked OUT
the window. She threw back her head
and burst out laughing. ooh, that's
what's got into your she said and
went on laughing as if she couldn't
stop.
Mrs. Frazer's eyes followed hers.
The three women sat staring at the
dove colored door. Mrs. Mayhem had
come out on her front porch. She had
birdcage in her hand. She stood
looking off toward a fir grove that ap-
preached the house closely on one side.
While they still watched she turned
slowly and hung the cage up on the
right side of the door. Then she went
into the house and closed the door be-
hind her, the most innocent looking
door in that western town.
Mrs. Hostetter settled comfortably
in her chair. "Now you'll see," she
said. She drew gold watch out of a
pocket crocheted on her noble bust and
opened it. 'In just about Is minutes
by the watch-you'll see."
The other two women sat on the
edges of their chairs and neither
moved nor spoke while the minutes got
themselves by. Their faces were pale
with suspense; their breathing was
noiseless; their backs ached from lean
ing forward; their eyes from watching.
Suddenly a man came out of the
depths of the wood and walked rapidly
toward the house. He kept among the
tall ferns and in the shadow of the
trees. He was young looking man.
His hat was drawn down over his eyes,
and there was something furtive in his
movements. He approached the dove
colored door, which opened at once,
and he disappeared within the house.
When the hearts of Mrs. Dean and
Mrs. Frazer succeeded in pumping a
little color back into those white,
shocked faces, Mrs. Hostetter burst out
laughing again.
"Who is it," said one woman in a
whisper.
"Oh, don't know who it is. He goes
there once or twice a week. It's been
a-goin ON for three months. Ever since
she left off church and choir and liber-
ry board and everything else. That
amt all. I've see fer long time that
there's some cool feelin's between her
and Mr.. Mayhem"
"And Mr.. Mayhem such nice mani"
81 never heard word ag'in him yet"
"And it seems to be on his side. My
mercy! She ust to come to the door
with him every time he went down
town, and last thing he'd do he'd up
and kiss her, like pair of fool lovers.
They'd been married long time too.
He spent all his eyenin's at home with
her unless there was somethin to go
to, and then he'd always take her. And
if she sung piece or played on the
piano or declaimed, my mercy, he just
set and couldn't take his eyes off Of
her! never see his beat for admirin
woman and lettin his admire stick out
all over him, SOS everybody with half
eye could see it. He fairly carried
his admire round on his sleeve! And
when he come home to dinner she'd
run out to the gate, and first thing he'd
do he'd up and kiss her. Well, it's all
changed now. He never goes a step
with her anywheres, he never spends
an evenin at home, and if she comes to
the door with him he just walks off
with his head down, kind of slow and
thinkin and never so much as looks
back once"
"Mebbe somebody's give him hint"
breathed Mrs. Frazer.
Mrs. Hostetter smiled and cleared
her throat.
"Mebbe somebody has," she said
mysteriously.
"Mebbe somebody's sent him an anon
ymous letter."
Mrs. Hostetter fixed her unexpected
ly with stern gaze. "Mebbe some
body has"
"Well, my land! Don't eat body up
with your eyes so! I want accusin
you."
"Well, you can if you want" said
Mrs. Hostetter, undaunted.
'Why, you never did you?" exclaim-
ed both women in breath. Ct"
Eyes, 1 did," said Mrs. Hostetter,
proud as a peacock with an unfurled
tail. 81 give him hint in an anony-
nous letter, just the mildest kind of an
intimation."
"Oh. what did you say? Tell US what
you said"
They were a-quiver with excitement.
Concluded next week