The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-24
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AYE, we still calls 1t BiuebGnrd's
cottage. though tho old mans been
dead THIS twenty summer, an there be
few more as rightly rcklfiect his story
1 was standing In the garden 81
Bluebcnrd's cottage, my back to stte
Wicket Looking Mt n, whilst my land
10y stood on tito doorstep, her arms
cfosscd fendy for what, knew, was
dear to her sofia gossip.
The cottnge Itself was a low build
ing, with outer walls, hidden by a pear
tree that thrust inquisitive bstigfis into
the open lnttices OF the chamber VIM
dows, ana n thatclied roof. under the
caves 'of which swallows had built
from time immemorfal. The heavy oak
door stnod open, giving me a glimpse
OF white walls, the gliminer Of a fire
and the red cushion In the rocking
chair. There was row OF bee hives
benenth the parlor window; under that
OF the Kitchen slab OF stone. which
my landlady called a "bink," and
under which she kept her calf-pails,
for the cottage was small holding,
and had buildings and fields adjoin-
ing.
.'rt was Just the name the lads gavo
him." continued the good woman "bo-
cause O. his wives, but 1t stuck to hin
all his life. an It's sticking to the
place stir an will stick, my man says,
80 long as there's stone OF II stand
Ing. Would you like to hear about
him sir? It's not much but mind
me OF the time when my mother ha'
been tellin' folk o. him and Rachel l
ha' stood by and seen EN- fair greet
aloud.
"she was his last wife.-but there,
~Ssn ,eSatk -. a.. a 4. Il.
four afore her. The first three we've
nought to do with. He married them
one after thu other. an when the last
went he wouN be somewhere atween
fifty and sixty. q hale. hearty man ana,
t'-spitc oflhis years. not one o. that sort
to be long q widower. =
1T was quite an argeyment atwixt
the. uelghbors as to which OF the wo-
men or maids he'd be making UP TO
next Some said II 'ud BIO Mary Binks,
OF Stonefold. She wero keeping her
b2other's house at the time, fine
stout woman OF sensible age, ana
the best butter maker in the country.
Others were sure 1t would BIO Jano
Dawson--"Lady Dawson" we used to
call her In our fun because of~her fine
ways. She lived in her own house,
that her father had left her, and.
though ill-looking and not blessed WI
the sweetest OF tempers. she had at
one time or other every man in the
place at her feet. Mind you. 1t wasn't
that they lost their hearts to her, poor
blighted body. but to her money. so
went tho tale. Then there was Thomas
Grey's eldest daughter Alice am
Martha Greensit an clump more that
were all likely In their several ways.
But can tell you. sir. we were
just thunder-struck when we heard
the banns T. church between him an
Kate Lumley. There was not one OF
us had dreamt such thing. for Kate
was little more than u girl: an, be.
sides. who would ha' thought of a
man like John Bell wedding himself
to such flighty, careless lass?
But it's just. as the saying goes,
there be no fool like an old one. An,
Kate. she was really bonny enough
lass. as far as looks goes. to turn any
mans head. but, she were that light
hearted an skittish her mother. item
teIt mine there was neither guiding
nor driving her.
Never III our village was there sucf
a match. Husbands there have been
that have beat their wives. and wives
there have been that ha' driven their
husbands to drink and worse an fius-
bands and wives there have been who,
like father and mother. have never
got across. but never such pair as
John and Kate Bell. No one could say
whose the blame was. Father said It
lay atwixt them. Perhaps John was
over old-fashioncd and precise T. his
ways. in spite OF his quips and cranks.
and perhaps Kate wns hot-temperea
and careless. But however 1t was.
things went wrong from the very first
month, and ever after. sir. until she
died, married just year and three
months. III