The Meeker herald., 1913-02-15

Mace to pale dismay. Vi cOurre FuoS-
be would run hither and thifher about
the village aud relate the scandaious
fact that her queer Cousin Agatha
Moore had refuxed to rent the west
wing Of her big house to nnybody In
the village. but hnd LEAKED II for any
length Of time up TO twenty :'earS NO
would run the story, to Mr. Fen low. the
tall, good looking man whO mad charge
Of the building Of the new stone chun.h
near the river. Mr. FentOw had been
s&aying 1t the hotel. but II had been
rumored that be swax dissatisfied and
desired to make . change.
Agatha Moore had aeeD him once or
twice and had never spoken to him in
her life. Indeed. 20 casual mad been
her Giances At him that ahe hardly
knew Just bow he looked Now she
felt terror stricken TO think that she
had involved 4 perfectly harmiess and
strange man 10 some Of Cousin PhOc-
be's gossip. OF cour.e II was Agatha's
fault. She had no busineaG to try to
1est with Mrs. West. Phoebe had no
sense Of humor.
II was not until after supper that
Agatha decided to run over to Pboebe's
and confess that she had been joking
about the new tenant for the we~t
wing and thus nip In the bud any Cos
sip that Phoebe's busy tongue might
propagate.
Alas. 1t was too late: The mischief
had already been done. On her way to
Phoebe Vests Agatha met several
neighbors. and each one was thorough
~ informed concerning the new ten
ant who was coming to occupy the
west wing Of ARatha's big house.
where's be going to get bis mealsr'
asked one.
Cook 'em himself. for all know"
snapped Agatha impatientIy A. she
faced about home. aud thus she added
another bit Of fuel TO the flame Of Cos
sip.
~ wonder what ought TO do" mus
ed Agatha three days later az she
wandered distractedly around her lit
tie garden. 1t lacked two days Of tho
6rst Of the month. and her mOlehIil Ut
4 Joke had developed Into q mountain
Of incontrovertibIe fact.
People watched daily to see II Aea-
thn's new tenant had arrived to take
possession Of the west wing. and I'h"e-
oe WeSt mao made |. 'ast ana oesINr.
ate effort to induce Agatha to take old
Mrs l'ederson into her house AZ 4
chaperon.
"A woman OF ny aee os'*nt neea
cnaperOn. ret"neo Aeatna' nas'eh'ns
away. Sne avoioeo s'no~hp nowhohyS-
on the "a! 0efore me nrst Agathn
FOUND COURAGE morn OF desperation ana
wrote mttIe note 10 ssii'e'h reh"".
sne ASKED MN 10 eau "on imiHrtant
busint-s. explained her pr'm hft'e
oote.
Tnat evening" toe eve OF the orst.
Simeon Feniow called upon Agntha
Moore. Agatha almost sw"o''td with
a9sfahoo - sns ontNoeo ner inquiry
to the bix. broad sh"uldA'rsti man
whoae voice doomed like the Waves IN
the beach whenever be spoke. sin,ss'n
Fenlow watched her keeniy az she re
lated the story OF her Inn'Hent joke
upon EoasipinR Phoebe Wext and how
the Joke had become boomerang or
retribution.
Agatha was too much excited 10
notice now interested he was or to
realize that he was Q very handsome
man with Keen hazel eyes and ir"n
gray mir ana tnat the hazel eyes
grew very humorous and tender az the
penitent little woman shed tears over
her recital and ruined her brown hair
With her little hands and grew pink-r
and plnker With modification At her
own folly.
When abe bad ended SImeon feni"w
threw back hh head and laughed such
Q hearty roar that Agatha was faln to
join In after awhile. and 10 her tenrs
Of mirth the bitterness Of the last few