River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-08-28

outwardly.
Don't you think it is very-very
lonely to be a widow, Mrs. Johnson
| asked timidly to see what she would
say about Mr. Johnson. who is really
lovely, / think He gives me the gen
tlest understanding smile when he
meets me on the street of late weeks.
Lonely, lonely, Molly? You talk
about the married state exactly like
an old maid. Don't do Tits foolish
and you will get the lone notion really
fastened in your mind and let some
fool man find out that is how you
feel. Then it will be all over with you.
| have only one regret. and ii is that
If / ever should be a widow Mr.. John
son wouldn't be here to see how quick
Iy | turned into an old maid. by the
grace of God" Mrs. Johnson sews by
assassnating the cloth with the needle,
and as she talked she was mending the
sleeve of enc of Mr.. JOhnSOn's shirts.
81 think an old maid is just wo-
man who has never been in love with
a man who loves her. Lots of them
have been married for years. / said.
! just as innocently as the soft face of
pan of cream and went on darning
one of Billy's socks.
"Well, be that as it may. they are
| the blessed members Of the women
tribe" she answered, looking at me
sharply. Now l have often told Mr..
| Johnson But here we were inter
rupted in what might have been the
rehearsal of a glorious scrap by the
appearance of Aunt Bette Pollard.
and with her came long. tall, lovely
vision of woman in the most wonder
full close clingy dress and hat that you
wanted to eat on sight. I hated her
instantly with the most intense adora-
ton that made me want to lie down at
her feet. and also made me feel like
| had gained all the more than twenty
! pounds that / have shaved off me and
doubled them on again. | would have
liked to lead her that minute into DR..
Johns Office and just to have looked at
| him and said one word-"String bean!'
Aunt Betty introduced her as Miss
Chester from Washington.
"Oh, my dear Mrs. Carter. how glad
l am to meet your she said as she
lowered over me in a willowy way, and
her voice was lovely and cool almost
to slimness. II am the bearer of so
many gracious messages that | am
anxious to deliver them safely to you.
Not six weeks ago ! left Alfred Ben
nett in Paris, and really-really his
greetings to you almost amounted to
10 l,1-r II 70
Cherbourg to see me off, and almost
the last thing he said to me was, Now,
don't fail to see Mrs Carter as soon as
you get to Hillsboro, and the more you
see of her the more you'll enjoy your
visit to Mrs. Pollard Isn't he the
most delightful of men," She asked
me the question. but she had the most
wonderful way of seeming to be talk
ing to everybody at one time, so Mrs
Johnson got in the first answer.
Delightful. nothing! But Al Ben
nett is a man of sense not to marry
any of the string of women | suppose
he's got following him." she said. Miss
Chester looked at her in a mild kind of
wonder but she went on numbering
Mr.. Johnson's shirt sleeve with the
needle without noticing the glance at
all.
"Well, well, honey, l don't know
about that" said Aunt Bette as she
famed and rocked her great, big. dar-
ling, fat self in the strong rocker
always kept in the breezy angle of the
porch for her. 'Al is not old enough
| - h nd
from what | hear
She paused with big. hearty smile
that she always wears when she be-
gins to tease or matchmake. and she
does them both most of her time.
But at whom do you suppose she
looked? Not me. Miss Chester! That
was cold tub No. 2 for that day, and /
didn't react as quickly as might. but
when / did | was in the proper glow
all over When l revived and saw the
lovely pale blush on her face l felt like
a cabbage rose beside teabud. | was
glad Aunt Adeline came out on the
porch just then so | could go in and
tell Judy to bring out the iced tea and
cakes When l came from the kitchen
1
one of Alfreds letters from the desk
drawer and opened it at random. as
you do the Bible when you want to
decide things. and put my finger down
on line with my eyes shut. This was
what it was:
and all these years have walked
the world. blindfolded to its loneliness
with the blackness that came to me
when l found that YOU
/ didn't read any more. but showed it
back in a hurry and went on out on
the porch. comforted in a way. but
feeling some more in sympathy with
Mrs. Johnson than / had before Aunt
Bette and her guest from Washing
ton had interrupted our algebraic
demonstration on the man subject
You can't always be sure of the right
answer to Y in any proposition of life;
that is. woman can't.
And. furthermore. l didn't like that
next hour much. just as a sample OF
life, for instance. Aunt Bette had got
her joining together humor we'll started
and right there before my face she
made present of every nice man in
Hillsboro to that lovely, distinguished.