o run his farm from then on. Well, old man Ely
says you need n't tell him as there ain't no All-wise Providence after
_that_, 'n' he rubbed his chin with his hand a long, long while 'n'
shook his head 'n' then said 'need n't tell _him_' all over again. He
says he joined the church the very next Sunday 'n' him 'n' Tilly was
married in September like he 'd always planned. He says they was very
happy on the whole 'n' after a while Old Pearson got where he got around
pretty well, only for a crazy idea he had as suthin' unexpected was
goin' to hit him sudden. He says he had the idea so strong as he never
was free from it while he was alive 'n' it was a mercy when he died. He
says as he see how good things can turn out, for, Tilly always jus'
loved him half to death 'cause he 'd loved her enough to cut that rope
in two. He says he means her to have a very handsome monument, 'n' if he
ever marries again he shall keep her picture in the parlor just the
same."

"Do--" said Mrs. Lathrop.

"Well, I think he 'll try to," said Miss Clegg, "but his other wife may
not see it in the same spirit, Mrs. Ely not bein' no great ornament, 'n'
the farm is safe now anyhow."

"I--" said Mrs. Lathrop, further.

"Yes," said Susan, "I thought so myself but it did n't seem to strike
him that way."

* * * * *

THE WOLF AT SUSAN'S DOOR

PART FIRST

MISS CLEGG'S SPECULATIONS

Mrs. Lathrop, rocking placidly in her kitchen window, was conscious of a
vague sense of worry as to her friend over the fence. It appeared to her
that Susan was looking more thin and peaked than nature had intended. It
is true that Miss Clegg was always of a bony and nervous outline, but it
seemed slowly but surely borne in upon her older friend that of late she
had been rapidly becoming sharper in every way. Mrs. Lathrop felt that
she ought to speak--that she ought not to lead her next door neighbor
into the false belief that her sufferings were unnoticed by the
affectionate spectacles forever turned her way,--and yet--Mrs. Lathrop
being Mrs. Lathrop--it was only after several days of rocking and
cogitation that the verbal die came to its casting.

That came to be upon a summer evening, and it came to pass across the
barrier-fence where Miss Clegg had come to lean wearily, her shoulders
and the corners of her mouth following the same dejected angle, while
her elderly friend stood facing her wit