The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1914-02-21


fact that her queer Cousin Agatha
MOORE had refused to rent the weHs
wing Of her big house to ANYBODY N
the village. but had leased It for any
length of time up to twenty Years 'so
would run the story, to Mr.. Fen!ow. the
tall, good looking man who had charge
Of the building Of the new stone churcn
near the river. Mr.. FenlOw had been
staying at the hotel. but 1t bad been
rumored that be was dissatisfied ana
desired to make q change.
Agatha Moore had seen him once or
twice and had never spoken to him In
her life Indeed. 70 casual mad been
her giances at him that she hardly
knew just how be looked. Now she
felt terror stricken to think that she
had involved a perfectly harmiess and
strange man in some Of Cousin Phoe-
be's gossip. OF course It was Agatha's
fault. She had no business to try to
Jest with Mrs. West. Phoebe had no
sense Of humor.
1t was not until after supper that
Agatha decided to run over to Phoebe's
and confess that she had been joking
about the new tenant for the west
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 teu-
ant who was coming to occupy the
west wing Of Agatha's big house.
where's he going to get his mealsT
asked one.
Cook 'em himself. for all ! know"
snapped Agatha impntiently as she
faced about home. and thus she added
another bit OF fuel to the dame Of Cos
sip.
II wonder what ought to do" mus
ed Agatha three days later a. she
wandered distractedly around her lit
tie garden. 1t lacked two days Of tho
q joke had developed into mountain
Of incontrovertible fact.
People watched daily to see IL Aga
thn's new tenant had arrived to take
possession Of the west wing. and Phoe-
be West had made last and desper-
ate effort to induce Agatha to take old
Mrs. Peterson into her house a. q
chaperon.
"A woman of my age doesn't need
chaperon." retorted Agatha. Fastening
away. She avoided Phoebe nowadays.
On the day before the first Agatha
found courage born Of desperation and|
wrote little note to Simeon Fenlow.
She asked him to call ION. important
business" explained her prim little
note.
That evening. the eve Of the 6rst.
Simeon Fsnlow called upon Agatha
Moore. Agatha almost swooned With
agitation ~ shs unfoided her iniquity
to the big. broad shouidersd man
whose voics doomed like the waves ON
the beach whenever be spoke. Simeon
Fenlow watched her keenly a. she ~
lated the story Of her innocent joke
upon gossipins Phoebe West and how
the Joke had become q boomerang Of
retribution.
Agatha was too much excited to
notice how interested be was or to
realize that he was a very handsome
man With keen hazel eyes and iron
gray hair and that the nazel eyes
grew very humorous and tender as the
penitent little woman shed tears over
her recital and rufiied her brown hair
with her little hands and grew pinker
and pinker with modification at her
own folly.
When she had ended Simeon Fenlow
threw back his head and laughed such
4 hearty roar that Agatha was falp to
join In after awhile. and In her tears
Of mirth the bitterness Of the last few
days was washed away.
"Now tell me what can do. Miss
Moore" be said after awhile.
II was wondering II you wouldn't
come and be my tenant for a few
days. just to carry out the Idea. Yon
needn't pay anything. you know. and
II you would Just say that you didn't
like 1t or something Of that sort people
would understand. don't suppose
ought to ask such a thing of you.
though
~ don't know why" bristled Mr..
Feniow. why can't have the west
wing really and truly. Miss Moorer
There's my dear old mother pining
away for me at home. while I'm nailed
down here on this job. It would be
mighty nice for o. to have your west
wing for few months. What do you
say! rd rather be your real tenant
than borrowed one"
What conld Agatha say?
One evening the go&sipa Of the town
were startled at the report that Sir.
FenlOw had been seen to drive up In
carriage to Agatha's house and hand
out white haired old lady. who went
in. and little later an express wagon
followed with some trunks that were
carried upstairs.