The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-02-03

/ law who has right to 'em. I've rent
ed the house myself OF its owner, an
| won't have my doors darkened by
any Of them
Miss Sharpe adhered to this resolu
tion, politely but firmly refusing ad
mittance to several Of the claimants
who called during the following week
ito talk II over" with her and possibl,
to carry the china home In triumph.
Besides the china, there was nothing
among Mr.. and Mrs. Trips few poor
belongings that the relatives coveted,
all OF the furniture Of any value hay
ing been sold or given IN payment of a
few bills that came In after the fu-
neral.
Accordingly Miss sharpe was soon
left IN undisturbed possession Of what
was left, and the china, guarded by
the faithful dogs, still rested on the
old walnut whatnot three weeks after
the old couple to whom II had given
pleasure had been laid away In the lit
tie cemetery behind the village church.
Mrs. Cephas King and Nancy John
son had been next door neighbors aud
very warm friends up to the time the
dispute over the china arose, but now,
alas, they scornfully passed by with
out word or smile Of recognition
when they met, and the King children
were forbidden to have anything at all
to do with the johnson children.
Mrs. Cyrus Masterson lived directly
across the street from Beulah Hovey,
and so frequent had been the friendly
pleasant little calls the ladies had
made upon each other that smoothly
worn path led from one house to the
other. Now all was changed. The
path was wholly disused, and Mrs.
Masterson carefully gathered up her
skirts when she met Mrs. Hovey on
the street lest they should suffer con-
tamination by coming into contact
with those of her once beloved neigh
bor
Mrs. Ezra Simmons returned GER
tain basque pattern she had borrowed
Of Selma Sharpe with note stating
that .'in consequence Of the course you
have seen fit to pursoo in relations to
my husbands own dear dead cuzzen's
chiny tea things, which now rightfully
belongs to me. return the inclosed
bask pattern an would thank you for
my cup cake reseet an my polynay
pattern, not desiring that anything OF
yours should remain In my possession,
an visa versy. an that We do not
speak to each other from this date"
SO 1t was that there were discord
and enmity where there had once been
peace and harmony. Not one Of the
contending claimants condescended to
speak to any Of her rivals to the in
heritance
A month had passed and the bad
feeling was at Its height when Mr.. and
Mrs. Ezra Simmons one evening con
cluded to spend an hour with their
friends Mr.. and Mrs. Deacon Drewe
The deacon and his wife were not at
home when Mr.. and Mrs. Simmons ar
rived, but Sally, the maidservant, said
hat she was expecting them every mo-
ment and invited the callers to wait |
until their return.
They had waited In the parlor few |
moments when the bell rang and Sally |
was heard to tell other callers that her |
master and mistress would be In very
soon and to Invite them also to come
In and wait. Directly afterward Mr..
and Mrs. Cyrus Masterson were ush-
cred In. Seeing the Simmonses, the
newcomers haughtily withdrew to
corner OF the parlor and sat down in
silence,
A third ring Of the bell and Mrs.
Beulah uovey appeared at the parlor
ioor. She gave the previous occn-
pants Of the parlor a stony stare and
hen went to sit siifly erect In the
enter Of sofa. where she seemed
.ngagcd In studying intently the pat.
ern Of the paper on the wall.
Perfect silence ensued for a moment
when the bell again rang and Nancy
Iohnson's voice was heard at the door.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Drewe followed
III these callers into the parlor. strange
is II may seem. they had with them
'frs. Cephas King, who was too cour-
Igcous woman TO be In the least
launted by what she beheld. She
almly seated herself In comforts
'lc rocking chair aud coinposedly re-
urned Mrs Nancy Johnson's stare
While Alr and Mrs. Drewe were
'niniy endeavoring TO start a general
the village fire bell rang
or the first time In many months
he fire company consisted Of those
rho could he FIRST IN getting 10 a small Il
oom In the rear of the postofiice,
Fhere there we're six FIRE erfinguish-
rs and a hand reel and hose.
The entire population Of the village
Gas in fhc r;reei In lees than Eve riin,
ties after the frst sounding ~ the bell.
nd II was soon known that the FIRE ;
ras In the little brown house lately
coupled by Mr. and Mrs. Trip but
ow IN the possession ~ Miss Selma
harpc.
The first comers found the present .
pnant of the cottage aging wildly /,
roaBd. throwing heF few belongings .
ITO the street aud screaming "Fire.' ,
I the top Of her volce,
When the occupants II MI. Drewe's !
aFier reached the collage they found |
be root ia flames aud sa'gke Psurins /