Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-04-15


The curious woman is not a spfnster by
any means nor is she engaged in the
newspaper business, though she would
be an invaluable addition to a journal
office. Without stirring out of the door
yard, she could fill the columns to over
flowing with live matter-so very much
alive that its appearance in cold type
would make the atmosphere simply torrid
aud cause streams of indignant language
to flow with the force and volume of a
spring freshet running down hill.
To all appearances she is the ordinary
housewife on domestic cares intent, but
her intentness is not confined to her own
household. No, indeed; she is not so
narrow and self-centered but that she can
take an active and intelligent interest in
all the households of her acquaintance.
\ While she is hanging out the washing
that she rose at dawn Monday morning
4 to finish before anyone else could posi-
/ bly, get ahead Of her, unless they were
willing to incur the suspicion OF break
/ ing the Sabbath rest, she has an eye on
every clothesline roundabout, and SO
/ speaks from knowledge when she tells
I you that you would be surprised IL you
knew what ragged underclothing some
people are willing to wear under silk
dresses.
The curious woman is more adroit In
her methods than the curious man and
rarely exposes herself to rebuffs. She is
never openly concerned in the affairs Of
others to an offensive degree nor does she
ask direct questions. She just "won-
ders" II Mrs. Brown isn't house cleaning
q little early this spring, as she saw the
stuffed furniture all out for a good stiff
beating. Mrs. Brown says she is expect
ing q visit from her mother-in-law and is
making preparations accordingly. The
curious woman "wonders" IL Madam
Brown is one OF these particular neat"
women, and Mrs. Brown, Jr., xpresses
the opinion that il the old lady should
discover a cobweb in the attic she would
consider it sufficient ground for her son
to secure q divorce. The curious woman
''wonders" IL the mother-in-law is likely
to stay long and learns that only Merci-
full Providence knows.
II some one happens to mention that q
team has run away, she "wonders" whose
team it is; IL there were one horse or two;
il one horse, what frightened it, where it
started, how far it ran, who caught it, il
any one was hurt, il the vehicle or har-
ness was broken, il the horse was in
A
many times, etc. Every occurrence is
thus indirectly but thoroughly inVesti-
gated until the parties attempting to sat
isfy her wondering are pumped so dry
and SO empty they 'swonder'' themselves
that the weight OF the atmosphere does
not crush them.
The curious woman sits behind her lace
curtains and keeps one eye on the street
while she knits or sews-herself invisible
to the passersby. Not neighbor has a
GAIA or goes out but the fact is duly not
ed with all the particulars as to costume,
, length of call or absence, that close and
careful scrutiny can determine. In the
evening she has no light and, il the
, weather will permit, opens the window,
closes the blinds and peers out between
the stats. Then to her keen ear the night
! air carries many chance remark not
meant for general publication and gives
her more than a clue to affairs the speak
: ers mistakenly consider private.
Sitting behind her blinds, alert as
spider in his web, she notes that Willie
Jones, who has just gotten into long
pants, is affecting grown-up airs and call
: ing on Mary Greenland she old
g enough to be his motherlp Then shs
+ counts up on the fingers of both hands
how many youths the amiable Miss Greer
, has trained into young manhood for lesl
mature maidens to marry. She surmiseI
7 that Mrs. jerks doesn't know with whom
her Mabel is walking most Of her SPAR
J time, and Mabel is surprised and annoyed
little later at her mothers persistent
: companionship.
The curious woman knows, too, all th'
Y trials OF the unmarried minister and how
be has to twist and turn to escape being
8 led away captive in the bonds of matri
+; mony by some one Of his infatuated Bibl'
e class. She knows as well as he does tina
d he feels like hare the hounds are afte
and pants like one sometimes when h'
dashes down q side-street to avoid an sp
preaching carriage with vacant seat fol
!. him, and him only. She could tell him
! il she wanted tc, that he never dares t
/ saunter leisurely but always goes at tn
!. speed OF limited express in order to b