News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-09-24

rye been to a meetin' of the par
sonage committee at AliZ Strong's,"
she announced. You wasn't on 1t,
WA you. Tabitha"
Habitha looked up from the sewing
machine near a window and furtiyely
glanced at Mrs. Wittekind. She was
afraid her sister would offend the Wis
itor by keeping her back turned as she
stood arranging the dishes in the cup.
board.
"Yes: / was on it, but l thought it
was agoin to meet tomorrow" an
swered Tabitha, relieved by seeing
Mrs. Wittekind nod at Hettie.
ut was to meet tomorrow" replied
Hettie, "but Miz Strong changed the
date to keep Lizzie Menefee from bein
thar"
Il call that downright sneakin' -
Mrs. Wittekind turned to the visitor
With a sharp stare over the edges of
her spectacles-''a eff you uns think
tie Lord is agoin to sanction sech
meetin's you are powerful mistaken.
Thar hain't no lovin' of yore neighbor
In that sort of doin's."
''We couldn't "a tuck the action we
did right fore the woman's eyes," eX-
planned Hettie stubbornly. "The fact
Is, the whole parsonage idea has busted
higher'n a kite in a hurricane. Miz
Wilson lowed that she'd withdraw her
hundred dollars eff sech a huzzy as Liz
Menefee was agoin' to live in the
house. She said things had come to a
purity pass eff we uns was to set in to
fix up for the like Of Liz Menefee. Miz
Strong testified that she had planned to
surprise the bride with a new ingram
carpet in addition to her subscription,
but that il would be a cold day in Au-
gust when she let her own floors bare
TO keep Liz Menefces feet often the
cold planks when she got Outen bed.
Thar wasn't single vote in favor Of
buyin' the house, an Seth Bowen is
agoin' to sell to somebody else. It's as
plain as the nose on a body's face that
Liz was intent on entrappin thatyoung
simpleton when she started such a
strong movement toward the parSOn-
age, an Miz Wilson says Liz had the
cheek to hint jest week fore the we'd
din that Mr.. Murray's salary ort to be
raised sense lie had a notion of gettin'
married. With all her i'll gotten money
she's tryin' her level best to squeeze all
she kin outen the pore members. Now,
thar's pore Mary Senter that only
makes $15 a month dressmallin' an
gives ten of it a yeer to the preachers
salary. Now, amt it a sin an shame
10 take her money to give to a little up
start that's married his grandmother
fur her cash"
You don't know that, Hettie," inter
posed Mrs. Wittekind in a tone of mild
remonstrance. 81 believe he was in
earnest. He looks to me like he thinks
a powerful sight of her Eff anybody's
at fault, it was Lizzie fur maxim her
self so attractive. | don't exactly think
that was right, but now they are mar
ried'-
"Huh!' interrupted the old maid. 81
Believe in cuttin her dead They say
he has tuck notice that nobody has
called on 'em sense the weddin' an
tother day he aXed Miz Wilson to
please go TO see his wife. Amt that
a how de do fur him to be a-aXin',
R-beggin', folks to go to see Liz Meme
fee, who was up to her devilment in
this place fore he ever seed the light
Of day? NIiz Strong laughed an said
she had this text fur him to preach on:
4 was a stranger, an she tuck me
IN"
N,I ho1 efnrN 1NA viT,rr
chine and was giving a willing ear to
the conversation; but, catching her sis
ter's warning glance, she started the
machine again and Hettie's seductive
voice was drowned in the metallic
ciatter. So, seeing that she was not
meeting with great encouragement, |
Hettie went into the store to tell Ike
what had happened in regard to the
parsonage movement.
The next morning Mrs. Murray's
cook came over to the store and told
Tabitha that her mistress wanted to
see her at once and asked if she would
be so good as to come over for a few
minutes. Tabitha turned pale and
glanced questioningly at her sister.
I'D go, l believe" counseled Mrs.
Wittekind. Its my opinion the pore
creature has about reached the end of
her row. 1t wouldn't surprise me eff
she wants to beg yore pardon an beg
you to help her"
Tabitha shook her head doubtfully.
IL don't want to go into that |
House" she said family. 81 hain't been
nigh in sence Joe's death, an some
how jest can't bear the idea"
That's fact" answered Mrs. Wit |
tekind sympathetically. but it shorely
Es yore Christian duty. Liz is feelin'
BAD about the way they've all turned !
sgin her, an she may want yore as
sistance."
Tabitha rose and put on her sunbon
net. She went out at the side door
and crossed the vacant lot that inter
tyened between the store and Mrs. |
iMurray's cottage. Mrs. Murray met
her at the door. Tabitha shrank from
The cold, hard stare in the woman's |
eyes and held back on the Threshold
ready to beat Il retreat
"Come in" said Mrs. Murray, almost |
diercely. II want to talk to you. Come !