Graham guardian., 1911-05-26
Cy Whitaker
! Place |
SOY
~
Place


Il res pardon for coming In" shout
ed Phoebe. "You are Mrs. Beasley.
aren't your
II don't want none." replied Debby.
with emphasis 80 there's no use
your wasiin' your breath"
After some strenuous minutes the
visitor managed to make II clear to
Mrs. Beasley's mind that she was not
a teddler. She tried to add a word Of
further explanation. but II was effort
wasted
""1nin't no usew snapped Debby.
II can't hear yon. you speak so faint
Wait tn I get my horn It's In the
settin ROOM"
T'hoebe's wonder as to what the
"horn" might be was relieved by the
widows appearance a moment later
with the biggest ear trumpet her caller
had ever seen
There. nowr' she said. adjusting
the instrument aud thrusting the bell
shaped end under the teachers nose.
"Tnlk into that. II you aln't peddler,
what be you-sewin' machine agentT'
Phoebe explained that she had come
some distance on purpose to see Mrs.
Beasiey She was interested In the
Thayers, who used to live in Orham.
particularly In Mr.. John Thayer. who
died In 1871 She had been told that
Denly formerly lived with the Thay-
ers and could no doubt remember q
great deal about Them.
Mrs Beasley, her hearing now with
In forty five degrees OF the normal.
grew interested. She ushered her vis
itor into the adjoining room and prof
fered her u chair,
"what you so Interested In the
Thayers forr inquired Debby zone
of the heirs, be your They didn't
leave nothin'."
No, the schoolmistress was not an
heir. was not even a relative Of the
family. But she was--was interested
1ust the same. A friend of hers was
a relative and
"what is your friend" inquired the
inuuisitor-"a man?"
There was no reason why Miss
Dawes should have changed color. but.
according to Debby's subsequent tes-
timony, she did: she blushed. so the
widow declares.
"No," she protested. "Oh. no: It's
she's a child. that's ALA little girl
Mrs. Beasley remembered many
things, but nothing at all concerning
John Thayer's life in the west
"He never wrote home but once OF
twice afore he died." she said. "and
when he did Emily. his wife. never
told me what was In his letters. She
always burnt 'en. guess J used "a
hunt around for 'em when she was
out. but she burnt 'em to spite me.
cai'late. Her and me didn't get along
any too well She said talked toe
much to other folks about what was
none of their business. Now. anybody
that knows me knows that ninf one
of my failin's ! told her so; sny'
IT,
And 40 OH for ten minutes Ther
Phoebe yentured to repeat the words
tout west" and her companion ven
of on new tack She had just beer
west herself She had been on vist
to her husbands niece. who lived II
Arizona-in 'Blaxeton. Ariz Its tn
incest town ever you see." she contin
ued. land the smartest. most up tt
date place. Talk about the west bein
oncivilized. My land. you ought Z
see that towu-electric lights and tel
ephones and--and-I don't know wha
alll''
This was but the beginning 1t wa'
evident that Mrs Beasley had thor
oughly enjoyed herself In Blazeton an'
that the sorrows of the bereaved De
sire Higgins had been one Of the prin
cipal sorrows Of that enjoyment. tn
echoQlmistress endeayored to turn IN
subject, but II was useless
~ fetched home a whole pile Q
them newspapers. continued pebhy
aThey was awful interestin': full o
pictures of Blaxeton buildin's am
leadin' folks and all. And In some o
the back numbers was the advertise
ment about Mr. Higgins, do wish
could show EN- to you. but lent er
to Mrs Atwood. up to the Center,
twant such ways I'd go and fetc
'em Mrs. Atwocd's been awful mic
70 me She took ca(s Of my trunks an
things when went wast-yes. an
afore that wheni went to Bayport I
keep house for that miser'ble Cap
Whitaker l aint told you about tina
but will by and by Them trunk
had lots Of things In 'em that didn
want to lose or have anybody see NJ
diaries I've kcp, diary since 1850
and
."Diaries?" interrupted Phoebe, grasl
Ing NJ straws. Ibid you keep diar
while you were at the Thayers?"
""yes Now. why didn't think (
thai 'afore: More p likely thered
somethin' In that TO help yau with th'
geographical tree. used to put dow
everything that happened and Whe
you goin'?"
Miss Dawes had risen and was pee
Ing out Of the window.
II was looking to see II my driv,
was anywhere about" she replied
thought perhaps he would drive ov
TO Mrs. Atwood's and get the diary Z
you But ! don't see him."
Just then. from around the corner
the house. peeped an agitated face;
hritated fore6nger beckoned pebl
steppcd'to the window beside her vi
ter, and the face md Anger went q
Qf sight as u pulled By q string.
Miss Phoebe smiled.