The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-05-14

my impressionistics recollection of Oy-
ster Point. Though there were other
Oyster Pointers, of course. There
was. for instance. Mr.. Sprockett.
Early in my acquaintance with Mrs.
Carruthers | acquired n light-headed
feeling that Mr.. Sprockett was with
H. Oh" of the elemental facts of con
sciousness-so casual. so rneNplana-
tory was even her first casual lntroduc-
tion of his name, IL 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 n sandy-haired.
middle aged man of retiring demeanor
whom | had daily seen passing-the
sort of man we are always vaguely
surprised to find so far differentiated
as to have name. am not sure that
ever met him even. for he was fur
ther differentiated. | discovered. by a
nervous horror of any situation re-
uuiring speech; and | mercifully as
sisted his frantic efforts to escape me
whenever | had occasion to call at
Mrs. Carruthers' In his OFF hours.
What his business was | have forgot
ten, II ever knew. | somehow as
sociate oysters with him; but whether
because of his occupation or of his per
sonal peculiarties | cannot undertake
with any degree of assurance to say.
The white paling of the house In
which I was for time sojourning,
continuing. formed the front boundary
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 inconvenienced by its
bodiless condition as Raphael cher
ub.
What did 1t want with a chicken?"
I asked Mrs Carruthers when she
called with earnest apologies; for 1t
was. IL appeared, a 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 a baby, almost, and.
as [ afterward found, q cheering re-
sponsibillty of manner which | have
never seen in any other adult. This,
4. III. lou lar
sion overloaded by a sincere regret
and chagrin ut the contretemps, which
all my assurances could not suffice to
dispel.
Il told Mr.. Sprockett," she said,
that you all certainly would think
| was poor manager-leaving turtle
heads running round like that and
bothering the neighbors. But just as
was going to bury 1t my pickle began
to boil over, and when | came back
twas gone"
AS the call was somewhat a formal
one. she wore, remember, her Sun
day best-a voluminous black silk, a
larger bonnet gorgeous with purple
roses. and lace collar pinned with
the gold-framed, halflength pic
ture lin horizontal position) of some
gentleman unknown; unknown,
mean, to Mrs. Carruthers herself
II got it mighty cheap at a sale"
she told me afterward; thought 1t
would lok sort O. dressy."
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
Cheerful colors.D
She stared a little when | mentioned
my assumption. "Mr. Carruthers."
she said. She meditated awhile.
That's so! could have 1t put in If
you think | ought to. | never thought
of 1t. 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 1t, for the next
time | 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 a tall
and infiexible hat-for the accommo-
dation of which the picture was per-
foce curtailed below. so that the chin.
whiskers barely escaped.
1T does lok better. | reckon" she
said, simply; land | want to do
what's right-as | said to Mr.. Sprock-
EFT. Nut, lor me! Mr.. Carruthers
wouldn't have cared. He was mighty
PRACTICAL"
From all | ever learned of him |
should have inferred a certain lack OF
poetry and sentiment in Mr.. Carruth'
ers.
II never will get over not having any
wedding" she said one day.
mot having had any wedding!"
repeated blandly.
She did not notice my surprise.
"I'd saved up money. and ALL" she
went on. ''Id set my heart on white
ctIlr 1rooc and vail and wraath-aud