Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-09
snat some Gays II was nung on a nook


door and some days on the right"
They looked at each other and clear
ed their throats simultaneously. Each
face reflected back the modification
OH the other. They shook their heads,
honest, but ashamed. They would tell
the truth though the heavens fell for it.
"Well, you might of, if you'd had
your wits about you," said Mrs. Hos
letter. "You needn't squirm SO. You
both deserve to have 1t rubbed in
alvin right in range of her door, the
two of you" Her tone was bitter with
reproach.
81 have seen that she's looked mighty |
pimpin when she did go out" said Mrs.
Dean, recovering slightly.
'And it's been long spells between
her goin OUTS" said Mrs. Frazer, with
lofty eyebrows.
She's had q pale, scared look.
have seen that she was a-concealin
somethin."
"She amt hardly made call. She
amt even called on the minister's wife,
and her with a teethin baby! She's
made some kind of an excuse every
time Ive asked her to run in and fetch
her work. She's even made excuses
when I've offered to take mine in and
set SPELL"
"She don't want company" said Mrs.
Hostetter. "I'm glad you've seen some
thin, If only that much. If you had
watched that dove colored door leetle
closer, you'd "a seen that when the
birdcage was hung out Oh the
ooh, my land" cried out Mrs. Dean
in great voice for SO thin a lady. She
started forward in her chair Her face
was rs gray as ashes. Hereyes had
wild, strained look.
"Why, forever" gasped Mrs. Frazer,
terrified.
whats got into your" demanded
Mrs. Hostetter, unmoved.
ooh, my land"
"NIis' Hostetter! She's a-goin into
come kind of attack. Git doctor"
"some kind of fiddlesticks! Mis- Dean,
what's got into you?"
ooh, don't you see her eyes all set
out the window? She can't speak. She
can't even utter"
Mrs. Hostetter turned and looked out
the window. She threw back her head
and burst out laughing. ooh, that's
what's got into you" 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
a birdcage in her hand. She stood
looking off toward n 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-youM 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 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 a 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 itY said one woman in a
whisper.
ooh, don't know who 1t is. He goes
there once or twice 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. Thai
amt ail. I've see fer long time that
there's some cool feelin's between hel
and Mr.. Mayhem"
"And Mr.. Mayhem such nice man!
II never heard n word ag'in him yet. ;
"And it seems to be on his side. My
mercy! She ust to come to the dool
with him every time he went dowl
town, and last thing he'd do he'd vi
and kiss her, like pair of fool lovers
They'd been married long time too
: He spent I'LL his eyenin's at home will
her unless there was s0methin to &
to, and then he'd always take her. Ant
If she sung piece or played on thu
piano OF detained, my mercy, he jus
set and couldn't take his eyes off Of
her! never see his beat for admirin I
: woman and lettin his admire stick on
all over him, SOS everybody with hal
a eye could see It. He fairly carried
his admire round on his sleeve! Ant
when he come home to dinner she't
run out to the gate and first thing he't
do he'd up and kiss her. Well, it's al
changed now. He never goes a stel
with her anywheres, he never spends
: an evenin at home, and If she comes t,
: the door with him he just walks of
with his head down, kind of slow ant
: thinkin and never SO much us look
back once"
"Mebbe somebody's give him hint
breathed Mrs. Frazer.
Mrs. Hostetter smiled and cleare'
her throat.
"Mebbe somebody has," she salt
mysteriously.
"Alebbe somebody's sent him an anon
ymous letter."
Mrs. Hostetter fixed her unexpected
ly with n stern gaze. ''Mebbe some
body has"
"yNell, my land! Don't eat a body II
with your eyes SO! Want accusi
you"
well, you can If you want" sal
Mrs. Hostetter. undaunted.