News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-09-03

journey up the single aisle to its affin-
fly. the dead man in the coffin before
the pulpit.
Lizzie Menefee, all alone, occupied
the seat of distinction, the first bench.
She kept her face well covered by her
handkerchief and now and then pressed
portions Of it to her eyes. She wore u
black cotton gown which bore evidence
of having been hastily and nervOusly
constructed. A close observer might
have noticed the white basting thread
appearing and disappearing in The
hem.
Tabitha Bogsworth, who, with beJ
sister, Mrs. Ida Wittekind, sat imme
diately behind the widow, was sufi,
GENTLY observant to be a good gather
er of details.
''She hain't sheddin' single real
tear" she whispered to her sister.
Mrs WittQkind shrugged her fat
shoulders impatiently.
ut amt bcholdcn in us to judge her
grief" she said in tone of mild re-
proof 1--WE heerd tell that some folks
takes sorrow jest that away, dry eyed
an famshed-like. She certainly has
lost a good husband"
Tabitha's face took on frown, and
she clinched her bOny hands.
"Yore jest too all powerful good to
zee when a body is downright mean"
she whispered, her eyes flashing. II
believe rs I'm alive that Cf you went
to the bad place you'd think all the ill.,
mates was shore Dough angels. Watch
the wretch now. She's beginnn' to
Sniftle jest bekase Mr.. Murray has
tuck his place in the pulpit. Mark my
words, the minute he begins to preach
she'll take on more an more, an eff he
makes the least mention of the widow
Or pore Joe she'll yell tell you can't
heer what he's got to say She jest
wants to attract the sympathy of the
new preacher; that's her aim. Eff she's
SO sorry Joe's dead, why didn't size
nuss i'm better when he was dyin?''
"For the love of mercy. hush" cried
Mrs. Wittekind. EFF you don't mind.
people will think you still hold spite
agin her for cuttin' you out of Meme
fee, Eff | was in yore place, I'd not
let 'en stir up thing that was buried
twenty yecr back
81 don't keer what they say" dog
gedly replied the old maid Sister
Ida. you know what that woman has
done to me. Do you reckon | kin sit
by calmly and see hep
;,,+
approach of Ike Wittekind He
sIouched up the aisle in his shirt
sleeves and sat down by his wife. He
had closed his store out of respect for
his dead neighbor, but he had kept it
open to the last minute before the
services commenced, and he intended
to open it again Immediately after tn.
burial.
The young minister, who was hardly
more than a boy and who had arrived
only that week to take charge of the
parish, awkwardiy began his discourse
on the breyity and responsibility of
life. 1t was plain to his hearers that
it was no easy task to preach the flu
neral sermon over the body of man
whom he had not known There was
nothing at all pertinent to the person
ality of the dead man in his general
remarks, but Tabitha nudged her sis
ter and whispered
"Thar, now. What did | tell your
And the would be prayerful Mrs Wit
tekind was compelled to note that the
widow, true to Tabithan prophecy,
was beginning to mop her eyes and
utter a low sound not unlike the sob
bling of a child.
Mrs Wit.l.ind ha'f turned her back
on her sister 81 wish" she said-"I
wish YOU would tend to yore own bust.
ness an let the pore critter alone.
You always was a perfect fool about
Joe Menefec"
Il don't keer eff ! have BEEN" re
torted the critic and she drew herself
up and angrily bit her lip as she wit
messed the contest between the weep
ing of the widow and the turgid elo-
quence Of the young preacher
When the services were concluded
and Mrs Menefee leaning heavily on
AuG arm VI luG young IllllSlGI, uuu
followed the coffin and the pallbear-
ers out to the open grave in the church
yard, Ike Wittekind and his wife and
Eister-in-law found themselves in the
edge of the crowd which had assem-
bled round the new grave.
What on earth was the matter with
you uns inside the meetin' house" he
asked. 81 thought you never was ago
In to let up"
"Tabitha's all out of sorts fur some
reason or mother" answered his wife
in a guarded tone, not intended for
her sisters ears. "She's been actin
powerful quar- ever since Joe tuck
down"
! 81 lowed she had laid aside that old
gredge," said Ike redectively, "but l
reckon ST. Paul was right when he
lowed
Fur the love of mercy, don't talk
Scriptur'," broke in Mrs Wittekind.