Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-04-13
When
PeSSy
Gam e
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JANE
MEREDITH
COPYRIGHT
1901. br A. s.
Richardson
t with my own eyes"

"Yes'm. I saw 1t with my own eyes"
"Do tellr'
who'd "a thought itT'
"Are you sure he kissed her? P'raps
be was just picking leaf or something
out OF her hair"
well. Mrs. Demming. you needn't
think that Just because amt been
married no man ever kissed me. I've
had as many beaus in my day as ever
you had"'
Dear me, Miss Laviny. didn't
mean anything personal! Only it's
quite a step from your porch TO Mrs.
Burketts, and l thought
Il wasn't on my porch"' answered
Miss Lavina shortly. Il was right
close 10 the hedge. picking wine cur
rants"
The last phrase was spoken apologet-
ically. as II prompted by latent shame
at thus spying on n nelghbor.
"Oh, don't know but it's your duty.
Laviny, to keep your eye open when
there's such doings In the heart Of q
respectable community like ourn." was
the unctuous reply of Mrs. Smithers.
well, that amt all I've seen, Ell
Their" announced Miss Lavinia, rising
60 this skillfWly baited hook. "You
know Cousin Sallie left her theater
glasses behind. and they're heap Of
help. can stand In my second story
front with them and see straight into
her parlor."
A girlish figure bending over a strip
OF renaissance lace in the rear of the
shop Strengthened uP suddenly, and an
exclamation escaped her lips. But the
women clustered round the front door
gossiped on excitedly.
Didn't he take the train for town
yesterday morningT' queried Mrs.
Smithcrs.
Yes, but he came back at early dusk.
with his arms full of white paper bun
dies, and when he got on the porch he
tossed them heller SHELTER on the set
tee nd-and-hugged herr
"Oh!
"Aint that dreadfulY
IF anybody but you, Laviny Hart,
had told that, wouldn't believed ity'
murmured Mrs. Smithers.
ut may look out OF place for sin
gle woman to say, but it does seem to
me like q judgment on Doc Burkett for
going of to marry a frivolous. do moth
Ing Boston widow instead of some de-
cent. thrifty girl in his own town. He
amt been dead three months. and here
is another man hanging round his wild
ow. Perhaps he's an old sweetheart.
Everybody knows Doc was well fixed"
Yes, and they do say" interposed
Mrs. Demming. them as was round
when he was brought home that day
that she stood round like a statue. new.
er shedding a tear and just doing what
old DIR. Green ordered. like some ma.
chine"
Perhaps she knew Il wasn't no use
70 do anything anyhow" suggested
Mrs. Marsden, who had q retreatins
chin and weak. flshy eyes.
whats that, Becky Marsden p
snorted Miss Lavinia. turning severely
on her Insignificant neighbor. "what
do you know about it?''
Nothing" hurriedly replied Mrs
Marsden. "Only I was reading a move
yesterday where woman got tired OF
her husband and put something In his
coffee that didn't smell nor taste mol
anything-and he
"Lawzee Becky, l always knew you
was light headed" snapped Miss La
vinia. Nevertheless the group OF Cos
sips turned suddenly silent and gazeC
at each other. wide eyed.
MY. wouldn't II be awful If we haC
a poison case hereT
The girlsh figure I'm the rear ros,
now, and n clear voice rang across tn,
stufy little shop.
You've no right to say such things
You don't know Mrs. Burkett and new
or wanted to treat her right, and your,
wicked, wicked women to talk abou
her that wayr
Astonished silence fell upon the wo
men. Then Mrs. Smithers' voice. n,
longer oily and compliment. rose cut
ingly.
That's a nice way for you to speal
60 your elders, Peggy Smithers. anC
I'm ashamed OF you. D'you mean {,
call Lavinia Hart a Harp
The girl fingered her bolt OF brait
nervously.
mo. aunt; but can't sit here anC
listen TO such dreadful things abou
Mrs. Burkett. I've worked for her. an,
know she's n lady through an,
through, and she's not doing anything
wrong. There's a reason