The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-05-02
: An Idyl of .
!. Oyster Point ,
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sS SSSssss Sose seeseSS $3.50 1861
Whitewash, sunshine, a pervasive
smell of crabs, omnipresent oyster
shells-and Mrs. Carruthers. Such is
my impressionistic recollection of Oys-
ter Point. Though there were other
Oyster-Pointers, Of course. There was,
for instance, Mr.. Sprockett.
Early in my acquaintance with Mrs.
Carruthers I acquired a light-headed
feeling that Mr.. Sproekett was with me
one of the elemental facts OF con-
sciousness-so casual SO unexplana-
tory was even her first casual intro
duction of his name, 1t so permeated
In the same way our subsequent inter-
course. And yet never really knew
Mr.. Sprockett, though after awhile
accidentally became aware that the
name appertained to sandy-haired,
middle-aged man of retiring demeanor
! whom l had daily seen passing-the
sort of man we are always vaguely
surprised to find SO far differentiated
as to have a name. am not sure that
was further differentiated, I dis
covered, by a nervous horror Of any
situation requiring speech; and mer-
cifully assisted his frantic efforts to
| escape me whenever had occasion to
,all at Mrs. Carruthers' in his Off
hours. What his business was have
forgotten, If ever knew. l somehow
associate oysters with him; but wheth-
err because of his occupation or of his
personal peculiarities I cannot under
take with any degree Of assurance to
say.
The white paling of the house in
which l was for time sojourning,
of Mrs. Carruthers' demesne; similar
paling alone divided the respective
back yards of the two establishments.
A day or two after we moved in we
heard wild and distressful squawkings
from our yard, and upon investigation
found that our chickens were being
| fercely pursued by turtle-head-ap
parently as little inconvenience by
its bodiless condition as a Raphael
cherub.
what did 1t want with a chicken"
asked Mrs. Carruthers when she
called with earnest apologies; for it
was, it appeared. fugitive remnant
of her dinner. She did not know, but
she seemed much surprised at my
laughing.
A tall, brawny woman with a deep
voice and faint trace of dark down
on her upper lip, she had the small,
light blue eyes of baby, almost, and,
as / afterward found cheering ire
sponsibility of manner which l have
never seen in any other adult This,
however, was on this particular occa-
sion overloaded by a sincere regret
all my assurances could not suffice to
dispel.
81 told Mr.. Sprockett," she said, that
you all certainly would think l was
poor manager-leaving turtle-heads
running around like that and bother
ing the neighbors. But just as l was
going to bury it my pickle began to
boil over, and when came back twas
gone"
AS the call was somewhat a formal
one, she wore, remember, her Sunday
best-a voluminous black silk, large
bonnet gorgeous with purple roses, and
lace collar pinned with the gold
framed, half-length picture Tin hori
zontal position) of some gentleman
unknown; unknown, l mean, to Mrs.
Carruthers herself.
81 got it mighty cheap at sale,"
she told me afterward; Thought it
would look sort O. dressy."
1 had not unnaturally supposed it
to be the portrait Of Mr.. Carruthers
Ito whose decease five years before the
black silk and purple roses were refer
able-Mrs. Carruthers' natural inclin-
alton being for what she called CHEER
full colors").
She stared little when mentioned
my assumption. "Mr. Carruthers"
she said. She meditated awhile.
That's SOL l could have it put in if
you think l ought to. never thought
of it. There was picture of him
bout the house somewhere that would
be just the thing-if could lay my
hand on it."
Apparently she found it, for the next
time l saw the brooch the rather un
sympathetic countenance of Mr.. Car
ruthers stared from the rim, looking
for some mysterious reason somewhat
larger than life, and crowned by tall
and inflexible hat-for the accommo-
dalton of which the picture was per-
force curtailed below, so that the chin
whiskers barely escaped.
cit does look better, reckon" she
said, simply; "and want to do what's
right-as said to Mr.. Sprockett. But
lor me! Mr.. Carruthers wouldn't have
cared. He was mighty PRACTICAL"
From all ever learned of him 1
should have inferred certain lack of
poetry and sentiment in Mr.. Carruth-
ers.
II never will get over not having had
any wedding" she said one day.