St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-02-14
From the Atlantic Monthly.
CCUPON BONDS.
CoSrINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

i"i pecll tilrOWI Dy her coming.
Did YOU ever said Mrs. Ducklow,
gaining courage TO speak after the visitor
was out Of hearing.
shes got tongue ' said Mr.. Duck
low.
Strange she should speak of your in
rcstim@ money to-day. Dye s'posc
she knows ?
i don't see how she ca!l know And
Mr. Ducklow paced the room in deep
trouble. I've been careful not to give a
hint ont to anybody, for | knew Jest
what folks would say: If Ducklow has
got so much money TO dispose of, he'd
better give Reuben lift | know how
folks talk
Coming here to browbeat us :, ex-
claimed Mrs. Ducklow. / wonder We
didn't he a little more plain with her.
father | wouldn't have sot and been
dictated 10 as tamely as you did,
You wouldn't? Then why did We
She dictated to YOU as rauch as she did to
me: and you source opened your head
you didn't dars' te say yer soul was your
own
Yes, | did, =
You ventura TO speak once, and she
shet We up quickcr'n lightnin' Now tell
about you wouldn't have sot and been
dictated to like tame noodle, as |
did
4 didn't say tame noo,Ue.'
Yes, We did. might have answered
back sharp enough, but | was expectin'
Yo" to speak. Hca don't like to dispute
with tromtH.'
That's you gt-oti,, said Mrs. Duck
low, trembling with vexation. You
was .iost rs much afraid of her rs | was.
| never see ye so cowed in all my life
'Cuwcd , ! wasn't cowed. neither.
How unreasonable, now, for you 10 cast
all the blame On to me-.
! And Mr. Ducklow. his features con-
/ tractcd into Il black scowl. took his boots
! from the corner.
'le ha'nt got to 20 out, have yeE said
/ Mrs Ducklow i shouldn't think you'd
pat on yer boots jest to step TO the barn
and see 10 the hoss.'
10 Reuben's, Not tonight, faith
cr."
Yes. think better. He and Sophro-
ny'll know we heard OF his gittin' home.
and they're enough inclined already to
feel We neglect en-. Haven't We got
! somcthn' yc can send r.
! 4 don't know, -curIly. I've source
ever been over t. Sophrony's, but Eve
carried her pie or cake CT something
and mighty little thanks got tor il, a=
! 1t turns Qua
Why didn't We say that to Miss Bcs-
wick when she was runniu' us 80 hard
about our never dom anything tol
en-
1t wouldn't have done no good l
knew Jest what she'd say. 'What>a a pie
or cake HOW and then that's jest the
reply she'd have made Dear me, what
have | been doing
Mrs. Ducklow, rising, had but just
liscol cred ih.t she had stitched the patch
and the trousers to her apron.
SO much for Miss Eeswlck = she eN-
claimed. untying the apron-stringS. and
tin.in4 the united garmepts >pltctuIly
down upon chair. i do wish such folks
would mind their own business and stay
to home,'
You've got the bonds safe , said
Mr.. Ducklow, putting Oh his waist
coat.
Yes: but | wont engage to keep 'em
safe. They make me ;ls narvous as can
be- I'm afraid TO be left alone i'll the
house with GIN Here, you take en-
Don't be foolish. What harm can
possibly happen to them or you while
I'm away You don't s'pose ! want TO
lug them around with me wherever ] 20,
do yc ?
I'm sure its no great lug. | s'pose
you're afraid TO 90 acrcst the fields alone
with EN- in yer pocket. What in the
world were going TO do with 'em L don't
sec. Ii we 90 out, we can't take 'cm
with u. for fear of losing EN-, or of be-
ing robbed: and we sha'n't dare to leave
en- to home, for fear the house'll burn
up Of git broke into
We can hide 'cIn where no burglar can
! llli! til. Sstl'l MI IPuChlON
Yes, and where nobody else can find
EN- neither, provided the house burns
and neighbors come in TO save the things.
= don't know but it'll be about as Miss
Bcswick said we ant take no comfort
with property we ought to make over to
Reuben
Do you think it ought to be made
over to Reuben II you do, it's news
TO me.
No, don't y replied Mrs. Ducklow,
decidedly. II guess we better put 'em
in the clock case for tonight, hadn't
we 2
Jest where they'd be discovered, if the
: mouse is robbed. No; I've an idee. Slip
EN- under the settin' room carpet. Let
Inc take EN- | can fix a place right here
by the side of the door
It'll great care and secrecy the bonds
were deposited between the CARPET and
the floor, and chair set over them.
What noise was that?' said the farm.
, er, starting,
'Thadderls,' cried Mrs. Ducklow. .i.
that YOU ?
1t was Thaddeus, indeed who, awaken.
: ed from Il real dream of drum this time
and, hearing conversation in the room
below, had once more descended tho
stairs to listen. What were the old peo
pie hiding there under the carpet L
must be those curious things in the Ell
velope. And what were those things
about which SO mnch mystery seemed
necessary Taddy was peeping an(
considering, when he heard his name call
ed He wOuld have Ulided hack TO he,