Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-06-19
WAS IT DOROTHY

fin. And is he really 50 superstition
about breaking the promise that tina
unreasonable virago Of a wife exacte.
from himT
"Unquestionably be is" said Franz
Worrall. 81 suppose he actually be
ueves that my Aunt Hephsibah wouit
haunt him II he married again withou
her express permission. For a mar
Of ordinary intelligence Uncle Button
hall is superstitious."
"HowT queried Dorothy.
ooh, he sees winding sheets In ths
candle and believes there viii be &
death In the family If a dog chances
TO howl under the window"
Frank" hesitatingly began Dor
othy, what sort Of woman was Won,
Aunt Hephsibah? You know / never
saw her. She died before / came &c
Hopton to live"
"A little, fat woman, with spectacles
and brown fore top. who always wore
brown Bingham and talked through
her nose. l forgot. though, she had a
monstrosity of a cap, with a friIl two
inches wide all around it."
"Not at all like Paulina Pepper. /"
said Dorothy. "And Paulina really
likes Mr.. Buttonball, and she needs a
home, poor thingI Not to speak Of Mr..
Buttonbalrs evident admiration for
Paulina! 1t would certainly be a
match if'-
IF 1t wasn't for the departed saint, .
said Frank, with an irreverent imita-
ton of his Uncle ButtonbalI's peculiar
intonation when speaking of his de-
parted wife,
"Poor PaulinaP' said Dorothy.
"And poor Uncle Buttonballg' echoed
Frank Worrall.
"Past IL o'clock" said Uncle Button
ball, looking up at the clock over the
rims Of his silver spectacles. We'll. l
hadn't an idea it was so late. And
showing and blowing like all Dos
sessed, and the wind bowling down the
chimney fit to set a mans teeth on
edge! Just such a night as DOOR
Hephsibah died four years ago, and
bless me-" with slight cold SILVER
down his spinal column, IF it amt
the Goth of November. the identical
anniversary of the sad event! Poor
Hephsy" folding his hands and look
ing thoughtfully into the fire.
And then Mr.. Buttonball fell into a
dOze or reverie-he never could be
quite certain which-from which he
was aroused by the old kitchen clock
striking r.
Midnight! 1t amt possibleP' cried
Mr.. Buttonball, chilly, uncomfortable
and superstitious. "And the fire eena-
most out. guess III rake it up and
80 to bed"
But as he rose with a sort of rheu-
matte stiffness from his chair the door
leading from the buttery creaked,
slow, heavy footstep sounded on the
hOOr, and, looking around with star
lied and dilated eyes, Mr.. Buttonball
beheld-the departed Hephsibah!
"Benedict!' spoke out the, quavering
and nasal voice. Benedict! Bene-
dict~
"W-w-well, my DEAR" suffered Mr..
Buttonball, holding tightly to the
arms Of his chair lest his teeth should
chatter him of from 1t.
I have brought a message from the
other world, Benedict" solemnly ut
tered the presence. "You want to mar
p again"
"N-not If you object to it, my DEAR"
ALTERED the shaking widower. I'll
that IS
Peace! Disturb not the voices of a
higher sphere"
@NO, my dear, won't" said the sub
missive husband.
Peace, l say, and listen: You are
aosOlVed from your promise to con-
uaet no second marriage You are a
nee agent. My eyes are opened now
y many things and among them the
ioLJ OF my earthly jealOusies. Go.
marry whom you will, and my bless
ing rest upon your bride. The word Is
spoKen; the oracle is closed
SLOWLY the brown ginghamed form
tstreated backward, with cleaning
peetaeies and uplifted finger. through
Ne Outtery door into the back kitchen.
Nale Uncle Buttonball sat staring and
aanshxed with an agony of supersti-
uoas terror.
He has really asked you to marry
an, PaulinaT'
les, really" said Paulina Pepper,
Il blooming face all smiles and dim
mes very nice old mani mean
ooie aged gentleman" said Dorothy
demurely. "But thought he
- determined never to marry again"
Va that's all settledP' cried PAUL.
cooking cOmplacently down at the
- SHINE Of her garnet engagement
He thinks he has had vision
~ MS departed wife appeared to
- and released him from hts vows -