The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-06-12
WAS IT DOROTHY2

about breaking the promise that that
unreasonable yirago Of a Wife exacted
from himT
"Unquestlonnbly be is.s said Frank
worrall. II suppose he actually be-
lieycs that my Aunt HephsIbah would
haunt him n be married again without
her express permission. For a man
Of ordinary intelligence Uncle Button
ball Is supersfitious."
"How?' queried Dorothy.
"Oh, he sees winding sheets in the
candle and believes there will be
death In the family II a dog chances
TO howl under the window"
Prank" hesitatingly began Dor
othy, what sort OF woman was your
Aunt Hephsibah? You know never
saw her. She died before ! came 10
Hopton 10 live"
"A little. fat woman, with spectacles
and a brown fore top. who always wore
brown Bingham and talked through
her nose. forgot. though. she had
monstroslty of cap. with a frill two
inches wide all around It,"
mot at all like Paulina Pepper"
said Dorothy. "And Paulina really
likes Mr.. Buttonball. and she needs
home. poor thingl Not TO speak Of Mr..
Buttonbalrs evident admiration for
Paulinal IL would certainly be a
match IT,
"If It wasn't for the departed saint"
said Frank, with an irreverent imita-
ton OF his Uncle Buttonbal's peculiar
information when speaking OF his de-
parted wife.
Poor Paulinal" said Dorothy.
"And poor Uncle Buttonballw echoed
Frank worrall.
Past IL o'clock" said Uncle Button
ball, looking up at the clock over the
rims Of his silver spectacles. well,
hadn't an idea II was SO late And
showing and blowing like all pos
sessed, and the wind bowling down the
chimney 1t 10 set mans teeth on
edgel Just such night as poor
Hephsibah died four years ago, and
bless me-" with a slight cold SILVER
down his spinal column, III 1t amt
the Goth OF November. the identical
anniversary OF the sad eventl Poor
Hephsyr' folding his hands and look
ing thoughtfully into the fire.
And then Mr.. Buttonball fell into a
doze or a reverie-he never could be
quite certain which-from which he
was aroused by the old kitchen clock
striking u.
Midnight IL amt possiblev' cried
Mr.. Buttonball, chilly, uncomfortable
and superstltious. And the fire eena-
most out. guess I'll rake It up and
90 10 bed"
But as he rose with a sort OF rheu-
matte stiffness from his chair the door
leading from the buttery creaked, a
slow, heavy footstep sounded on the
floor, and, looking around with star
tied and dilated eyes, Mr.. Buttonball
beheld-the departed Hephslbahl
'Benedictw spoke out the quavering
and nasal voice. Benedict! Bene-
dictr'
"W-w-well. my dear" suffered Mr.,
Buttonball, holding tightly to the
arms OF has chair lest his teeth should
chatter him OF from 1t.
81 have brought a message from the
other world. Benedict" solemnly ut
tered the presence. "You want TO mar
~ again.
"N-not II you object 70 II, my dear,
faltered the shaking widower. II
that is
"Peacel Disturb not the voices Of a
higher sphere"
"No, my dear, won't" said the sub
missive husband.
Peace. | say. and listen; You nre
absolved from your promise TO con
tract no second marriage. You are
free agent. My eyes are opened now
10 many things and among them the
folly OF my earthly jealousies Go.
marry whom you viii, and my bless
ing rest upon your bride. The word Is
spoken; the oracle is closed"
Slowly the brown glnghamed form
retreated backward. with cleaning
spectacles and uplifted finger, through
the buttery door into the back kitchen.
while Uncle Buttonball sat staring and
transhxed with an agony OF superstI
tious terror.
"He has really asked you 20 marry
him. PaulinaT'
Eyes. really" said PaulIna Pepper
her blooming face all smiles and dim.
ples.s
Hes very nice old mani mean
middle aged gentleman" said Dorothy
Martin dcmurely but I thought he
had determined never 60 marry again."
ooh. that's all settledw cried PAUL.
mn, looking complacently down nj the
red shine OF her garnet engagement
ring "lie thinks he has had a vision
that his departed wife appeared 10
him and released him from his vows"
Dear me.' said Dorothy. How
very stranger