The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-10

There was but one topic discussed In
the cou4tryside that day, and that was
the life and character OF Agatha Webb.
Her history had not been a happy
one. She and Philemon had come from
Dorchester some 20 or more years be-
fore to escape the sorrows associated
with their native town. They had left
behind them six small graves In Port
chester churchyard, but though evil
dences Of their affiiction were always
to be seen in the countenances of Ell
Their they had entered with SO much
purpose into the life Of their adopted
town that they had become persons Of
note there till Philemon's health began
to fail, when Agatha quit all outside
work and devoted herself exclusively
to him. OF her character and winsome
personality we can gather some idea
from the various conversations carried
on that day from Dorchester green to
the shipyards in Sutherlandtown-
In Deacon Brainerd's cottage the dis
cussion was concerning Agatha's lack
of vanity, virtue not very common at
that time among the women OF this
busy seaport.
For a woman so handsome" the
good deacon was saying, "and / think /
can safely call her the finest featured
woman who ever trod these streets, she
showed as little interest in dress as
any one 1 ever saw. Calico at home
and calico at church, yet she looked as
much of lady in her dark sprigged
gowns as Mrs. Webster in her silks or
Mrs. Parsons i'm her 81 900 sealskin."
AS this was a topic within the scope
of his eldest daughters intelligence
she at once spoke up: II never thought
she needed to dress so plainly. l don't
believe in such a show of poverty my
self If one is too poor to go decent, all
right: but they say she had more mon
ey than most any one In town. I won
der who is going to get the benefit OF
it?"
'Why. Philemon Of course. That is.
as long as he lives. He doubtless had
the making of it."
lis it true that he's gone clean out of
his head since her death:" interposed
a neighbor who had happened In.
$50 they say. l believe Widow Jones
has taken him into her house"
do you think" asked second
daughter, with becoming hesitation,
"that he had anything to do with her
death? Some of the neighbors say be
struck her while in Que of Lis crazy
fits, while others declare she was killed
bv some stranger equally old and al
most as infrm."
1--WE won't discuss the subject" OBJ
jected the deacon. thine will show
who robbed US Of the greatest hearted
and most capable woman in these
parts"
and will time show who killed Bat
sy?' 1t was a morsel of a girl who
spoke: the least one of the family. but
the brightest I'm sorry for Batsy.
she always gave me cookies when !
went to see Mrs. Webb"
"Batsy was good girl for Swede,"
allowed the deacon's wife. who had not
spoken till now. When she first came
into town on the spars of that wrecked
ship we all remember. there was some
struggle between Agatha and me as to
which Of us should have her. But ]
didn't like the task of teaching her the
name Of every pot and pan she had to
use in the kitchen. SO I gave her up to
Agatha And 1t was fortunate 1 did,
for I've never been able to understand
her talk to this day"
Il could talk with her right WELL
iisped the little one. "She never called
things by their Swedish names unless
she was worried, and ! never worried
her"
II wonder IL she would have wor-
SHIPPED the ground under your feet, as
she did thar under Agatha? asked
the deacon, eying his wife with just
the suspicion Of a malicious twinkle in
his eve
Il am not the greatest hearted and
most capsbleeEoman IN toMn--retort