Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-12-24
Indisputable
Evidence
A Christmas Story
BY IDA SPEED
Copyright by Frank a. Munsey Co.

When Miss Cecilia Cary come to this
western country from back east to
teach music she was regarded as a
rank outsider
Old man Seeberger, whose word amt
worth 10 cents. but whose signature
is worth all of $4,000 said the
first Sunday she sung before preachin'
that when she got up on them high
notes she put him in mind of bronc
when it's been throwed and gifts to
gaspin' and wheezin as the rope is
tightened
But old man Seeberger's opinion was
not shared by all the male population
Of Canadians, for them boys shore
swarmed, and, rattle the pianner and
holler her vocal tingin' as she would,
she couldn't git 'em to settle.
She went to bOardin' with the Wild
ow Hughes when she first come. Bill
Hughes was gittin' up some horses one
day and was doin' fast piece Of ridin'
when his mount turned over with him.
Gopher hole, you know. Bill under the
whole works.
Never spoke afterward, and in two
hours his pretty young wife was known
as the Widow Hughes, and in spite of
much persistent courtin' she's known
as that yet.
1t looked once like her and Red Mar.
tin was gOin to make hitch up of it
but that seemed to fizzle out, and he
was one of the leaders with Miss Cary
when she first come. for Red is the
leadin' kind
He done in this case same as he had
with several women before-hit the
trail to Arizona with a herd. right
and Hick Fuller and Sam Harman took
his place so complete he never was
missed
Now, maybe you've noticed how
woman does about Il solitary diamond
ring. If her folks give it to her or she
buys it herself she'll always try to let
on like it come from her beau.
If feller gives it to her she'll init,
mate thgt it's FreS,..s =. her.pa.
SO nobody knew where nor Just when
Mrs. Hughes come by her ring. In fact
very little was said or thought about
it, as Bill had accident policy, until
she raised great hue and cry about il
bein' stole.
Chances are few for robbery here.
where everybody knows everybody else
and there ain't no suspicious charac-
ters, such as crooks, hoboes, promoters
and the like, 50 it shore looked plumb
odd when Miss Cecilia Cary moved
over to the Citizens hotel to board and
simultaneous begun TO wear dia-
mOnd the size as the one the widow
Hughes had lost. only in a woman's
ring instead of a heavy settin' like
Minnie Hughes had Wore.
This would NOT have looked 50 bad
by itfyIf, hut Adolph Warner. who was
the postmaster and express agent
knew that Miss Cecilia had sent off a
small registered package one day just
before she changed her boardin place
He said he remembered it particular
because while she was waitin' for her
receipt at the pustoflice window Red
Martin got up from off the cracker box
he was settin' ON back by the stove and
told her if she was ready to &c he
would walk home with her. rs he wa
leayin as soon MS the rest of the outfit
come by.
Adolph said she told Red all right
and that she WAS roin' to be on th.I
move that day too.
Red says. where to|'
And she tells him The Citizens bot,I |
and he says. Good" ana then Adoln1
handed the recent to her. and thnv
walked ort togofhcr
Some dayS later she gjts express
package about the s;2n of thn ono Sin,
sent Off b., mail. and then she con,o