Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-03
An Idyl of Oyster Point.
BY ANNIE sTEoER WINSTON.


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 l acquired light-headed
feeling that Mr.. Sprockett was with
me one of the elemental facts of con
sciousness-so casual. so unexplana'
tory was even her first casual introduc.
ton 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 10 a sandy-haired,
middle-agej man Of retiring demeanor
whom | had daily seen passing-the
sort of man we are always vaguely
surprised 10 find so far differentiated
as To have a name. am not sure that
ever met him. even. for he was fur
Their differentiated, ! discovered. by a
nervous horror of any situation re-
quiring speech: and ! mercifully as
sisted his frantic efforts TO escape me
whenever l had occasion to call at
Mrs. Carruthers' in his off hours.
What his business was have forgot
ten, il ! ever knew. ] somehow as
sociate oysters with him: but whether
because OF his occupation or of his per-
sonal peculiarities ! cannot undertake
with any degree of assurance to say.
The white paling of the house in
which ! was for a 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
fiercely pursued by turtle head-ap-
parently as little inconvenience by its
bodiless condition as Raphael cher
ub.
What did il want with chicken? 2
I asked Mrs. Carruthers when she
called with earnest apologies; for It
was, it appeared. a fugitive remnant
of her dinner. She did not know. but
she seemed much surprised at my
laughing.
A tall. brawny woman with deep
voice. and a faint trace OF dark down
on her upper lip. she had the small.
light blue eyes Of baby. almost. and.
as | afterward found. cheering re-
sponsibility of manner which ! have
never seen in any other adult. This.
howver. was on this particular occa-
sion overloaded by a sincere regret
and chagrin al the contretemps. which
all my assurances could not suffice 10
dispel.
Il told Mr.. Sprockett." she said.
that you all certainly would think
] was a poor manager-leaving turtle
heads running round like that and
bothering the neighbors. But just rs
] was going TO bury it my pickle began
10 boil over. and when l came back
twas gone
AS the call was somewhat 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 positionD of some
gentleman unknown: unknown, ]
mean. 10 Mrs. carruthers herself
Il got it mighty cheap at sale"
she told me afterward; thought it
would lok sort o dressy.'
had not unnaturally supposed it TO
Ia
whose decease five years before the
black silk and purple roses were refer
able-Mrs. Carfuthers' natural inclin-
alton being for what she called
cheerful colors.0
She stared little when mentioned
my assumption. Mr. Carruthers,
she said. She meditated awhile.
That's so. ! could have it put in if
you think ought to. ] never thought
of it. There was 2 picture of him
bout the house somewhere that would
be just the thing-if ] could lay my
hand on it
Apparently she found il, for the next
time ] saw the brooch the rather I'M
sympathetic coun:enance of Mr.. Car
ruthers stared from the rim. looking
for some mysterious reason somewha;
larger than life. and crowned by tall
and infiexible hat-for the accommo-
dation of which the picture was per
foce curtailed below. SC 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. lcr 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.
Il never viii get over not having any
wedding" she said che day.
Not having mad any wedding"
repeated biandly.
She did NOT notice my surprise
I'D saved up money. and all" she
went on. I'D set my heart Oh white
silk dress. and veil and wreath-and
bridesmaids-aE everything. Bur
Mr.. Caruthcrs put his foot down. He
said COW would do me a heap more
good than fFills and furbelows
and wedding fixings would
and maybe he was right Twas
a mighty coed cow bought Il
was teaching when he married me
eut oilf IN teach hut think I waS raollv