Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-03-14

ful WIKI ~ ASapn. Out u Wuut
hears true she can keep house. Any
how she's kept one for forty odd year.
Her names Deborah Beasley. she's q
widow over to East Trumet. and u
don't miss my guess she's In the depot
wagon now headed In this direction"
.'rhat's her on the aft thwart l Judge.
She amt what you'd call spring pull
let, Is she!''
She certainly was not The occu'
pant Of the depot wagons rear seat
was thin. not to say scraggy. female.
wearing black. befowered bonnet
and black gown. A black knit shawl
was draped about ber shoulders. and
she wore spectacles.
Whoa" commanded Mr. Lumley.
plotting the depot wagon to the side
door of the Whitaker house. Dan'l
Webster came to anchor Immediately.
Gabe turned and addressed his pas.
benger.
Here we ber' he shouted
"HeyY observed the lady In black.
"Here-we-be! repeated Gabe, rails
Ing his voice.
See? See whatY'
"Oh, heavens to Betsyi I'm gettin'
the Group from howlin.' I-say-here
-we--be! Get out!"
He accompanied the 6nal below
with an expressive pantomime indi
eating that the passenger was expect
ed to alight. She seemed to under
stand. for she opened the door of the
carriage and slowly descended Mr.
Bangs advanced to meet her.
How dye do. Mrs BeasleyT be
said. "Glad to see you all safe and
sound"
Mrs. Beasley shook his hand Hers
were covered as far as the knuckles
BY black mitts.
"How dye do. Cap'u Whitaker
she said In shrill voice "You pret.
ty smart?"
Bailey FASTENED to explain.
II amt Cap'n Whittaker!" he roared
I'm Bailey Bangs. the one that wrote
to you"
"HeyT
Mr.. Lumley and Asaph chuckled
Bailey colored and tried again.
II amt the cap'n" be whooped
"Hara hp is-hprep
He led her over to her prospective
employer and tapped the latter on the
chest
How dye do. sIr?" said the house
keeper. II don't knows l just caught
your name"
In five minutes or so the situation
was made reasonably clear Mrs
Beasley then demunded her trunk and
carpetbag. The grinning Lumiey bors
them into the house: then he drove
away. still grinning Bailey looked
fearfully at Captain Cy.
"She Is kind of hard OF hearin'. aim
she?" he said reluctantly. "You re
member ] said she was"
The captain nodded.
"Yes." he answered: you're trut!
tellin' chap. Bailey. III say that fo'
you You don't exaggerate your state
ments-"
Hard Of hearin'w snapped Mr.. It'd
dit IF the lust trump amt stran
whistle she'll miss Judgment day II
stop into Simmons ON my way alon.
and buy you bottle Of throat ba lsam
Cy. You're goin' to need It,"
The captain needed more than throa
balsam during the fortnight which !oi
lowed The Widow Beasley's deafness
was not her only failing. In fact. sh'
was altogether a failure 80 far III hr
housekeeping was concerned She coult
cook after fashion. but the fushio;
was so limited that even the bill o
fare at the perfect boarding ho'is'
looked tempting In retrospect
Baked beans again. Cyr' exclaime'
Asaph. dropping In one evening afte
supper. "'Tain't Saturday night NJ
soon, is III"
mo" was tho dismal rejoinder
Its Tuesday. II my almanac mint ou
Of Joint But we had beans Saturday
and they amt all gone yet. 80 ] pre-
sumo we'll have 'em till the last one.
swallowed. Aunt Debby's got wha
the piece In the Reader used to call /
frugal mind She don't intend t
waste anything. Last Thursday
spunked up courage enough to yell fo
salt fish and potatoes-hxed up Will
pork scraps. you know. same's We us"'
to have when was boy We ha'
'em, all right, and II beans Of q Satur
day hadn't been part Of her religion
we'd be warmin' 'em up yet | tool
In a cat for company t'other day. bu
the critters run away. 10 see II lool
at the beans In Its saucer and then u
me was pitiful. felt like handin
myself over to the cruelty to anlma
folks"
sis she neat?" inquired Mr.. Tidditt.
II don't know. ! guess so-On tn
| installment plan II takes her weel
to scrub up the kitchen. and then on
| end of II Is 50 dirty she has to begfl
again; consequently the dust Ii s.
thick In the rest Of the house that