West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-06-19

what's got into your she said and
went on laughing as II she couldn't
stop.
Mrs. Frazcr's eyes followed hers.
The three women sat staring Mt the
dove colored door. Mrs. Mayhew had
come out ON her front porch. She had
birdcage in her hand. She stood
looking OF toward fir grove that ap-
preached the house closely on one side.
While they still watched she turned
tlowly and hung tho 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 I'm that western town.
Mrs. liostetter settled comfortably
In her chair "Now youll see" she
said. She drew "A gold watch out OF
pocket crocheted on her noble bust and
opened II. ''In just about 10 minutes
by the watch--youll see.r
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
noiselcss: their backs achcd from lean.
Ing forward; their eyes from watching.
Suddenly n man came out OF tho
depths OF the wood and walked RAPIDLY
toward the house. lie 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 furtlvc I'm his
movements. lie approached the dove
colorcd door. which opened at once,
and he disappeared within the house.
When the hearts OF Mrs. Dean and
Mrs. Frazer succeeded I'm pumping n
little color back into those white.
shocked faces. Mrs. Hostettcr burst out
laughing again.
"Who Is itT' said one woman I'm n
whisper.
"Oh. don't know who Il IN. lie goes
there once or twice n week. It's been
n-goin on for three months. Ever since
she lcft OF church and choir and llbcr.
ry hoard and everything else That
ain't all. I've see fer long time that
there's some cool fcclin's between her
and Mr.. Mayhem"
And Mr.. Mayhem such u nice manw
~ never heard word ng'in him yet"
And IL seems TO he 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 n pair of fool lovers.
They'd been married long time too.
He spent all his evenin's at homo with
her unless there was somcthln TO 20
TO, and then he'd always take her. And
if she funG Il piece o. played on the
plano OF dcclaimcd, my mercy, he just
set and couldn't take his eyes off OF
her! / never see his bent FOR admirln n
woman and lettln his admire stick out
all oyer him. SOS everybody with half
n eye could see It, He fairly carried
lis admire round on his sleeve! And
when lie come home to dinner she'd
run ont to the gate, and first thing he'd
do he'd up aud kiss her. Well. it's all
changed now. lie never goes n step
with her anywhercs. he never spends
an cyenin nt home, and IL she comes to
the door with him he just walks of
with hIg head down, kind OF slow and
thlnliin ana never so much as looks
back once"
''Mebbe somebody's give him n hint"
breaihod Mrs. Frazer.
Mrs. Hostctter smiled and cleared
her throat.
"Mebbe somebody has" she said
mysterlously.
"Alebbe somebody's sent him an anon
ymous letter"
Mrs. Hostctter fixed her unexpected
ly with stern gaze. "Mebbc some
body has."
"Wcll. my land! Don't eat body up
with your eyes SO! I want accusin
YOU"
"Well, you can II you want" said
Mrs. lIostettcr. undauntcd
"Why. you never. did you?" cxclalm.
cd both women In n breath.
"Yes, did" said Mrs. Hostetter.
proud as peacock with an unfurled
tail. 81 give him n hint in an anony-
nous letter. just the mildest kind of an
intlmation."
"Oh, wbnt did you say? Tell MS what
you said"
They were a-qulver with excitement.
"Wcll, just sald"-slIc leaned bncls
md half closed her eyes-"that when
the birdcage hung on the right side OF
the door young man went there early
and stnid all the afternoon. told
him"
"Oh. good for your
II glory In your spunk. You are
grit"
GOOD for you! Ncrve-unhw
II told him"-Mrs. Hostettcr swelled
out her bust superbly-"tlat he didn't
need to take any anonymous letters
word for 1t. All he had 10 do was TO
watch FOR hissclf any Toosday or Fri
dag"
And did bcT'
Her countenance fell. "well. no, hc
didn't must say"
"Wlnti Didn't he neyerY
''No, not once"
"Wby. how do you known
"I'yc set here at my window every
ToOsiay aud Friday since. I've set a
little back. SOS couldn't be seen. but
I've never took my eyes of Of that
House. It's strained my eyes so. a-keep.
in 'om set right on one spot. almost
without wlnkiu fer fear ia miss some
thin. tlIht I've had 10 keep a-bathln
'em iD strong salt water. It's terri
bic good fer the eyes. Well. II her
husband had n watched he'd been
sure TO sec the man, and then, OF
course. he'd n gone straight to the
houso lowell. to-cr-hum- beard
him." she added IN n deep voice, "ln
hls-cr- hum-den. But be never went
there n once. But zee him the day
after he got the letter. she continued,
with n return to triumph "and he
looked DIS gray as an ash pan. I bid
him the time Of day. ard he could hard
~ speak. Oh. he felt IT deep. II was
pitiful TO see him try 20 smile and alI
wamed -A Good aslise and r.sron.lbIo