Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-04-27

now she said reproaohfully. But Bel pre-
tended not to hear.
"What do you think Of the strawberry
bed, Mr.. Tully3' she said complaccntly.
" You haven't been disturbin' the roots dig
gng round cm at this time Of the year ?" he
said.
Yes, have" said Miss Bell. I didn't
like to see them struggling about 80 sovenly,
so dug up every root and planted it neatly
over again.
"Land O. Goshin :" said farmer Tully, Il
believe yere crazy. And what's them pots
in the Window Posey seeds2"
"Why," said Miss Bell with conscious
pride, " it was too wet for me to work in the
fields this morning, so I've started my sweet
corn in crooks so as to be ahead Of the sea-
son."
Mr.. Tully turned of deep apoplcctic pur-
pie, in consequence Of trying to convert a
burst Of laughter into a ft Of coughing.
" But how be you going to get your potato
crop into the ground ?" he demanded "wo-
men can't plow."
" | don't know why they can't" said Miss
Bell, argumentatiycly
Because they are women" said the con-
seryative farmer Amt thatreason enough"
Not by any means" said Miss Bell. Il
am going to follow the example Of the Ger
man women, who work out in the open fields
just like men. Germany is great country 20
Z" should think it must be- said Mr..
Tully, obviously.
And he took his leave, after some very
kindly meant advice, which Miss Bell resolved
mentally not to take
So the days went on at Elm Brook-by
which euphonious title Miss Martin had de-
cided to call her hrm-until one evening,
returning late from a survey Of her premises,
she came on Katie Appleton leaning over the
stilc, talking to somebody in the twilight
" Katie" she cried warningly as the con-
science-stricken little damsel futtered toward
her with both hands full of the lovely pink
blossoms of the wild azalea, was that a man
you were talking 2'
lit was only the rector" laltered
Katie, q" to know why we weren't at church
last month";
Miss Bell was not exactly satisfied with
her cousins explanations-bu she said moth
ing. Verbal silence, however, does not re-
strict the freedom Of thought and within her
self Bell Martin was by no means at ease.
The rector" she repeated. a rector is
only man, after all--and | should think
Katie had had enough of the false hearts aud
shallow professions of men But there it is
some people will never learn by experience.
And between the obstinacy of her Mercer
potatoes which absolutely declined to come
up, and the ill-advised thoughtessness of ka-
tie in persisting in any intercourse with the
forbidden ranks, Miss Bell was really quite
miserable that night
She had cause to be more miserable yet in
day ortwo-for in hand to hand encounter
with refractory pig, who hadhad the greedy
taste to prefer the vegetable garden to the
precincts of his own pen, she sprained her
ankle.
"What are we to do now ?" she groaned,
when, by dint of much fortitude and resolu-
ton, she had hobbled to the old chintz-cover-
ed lounge
"Dont you think" hazarded Kate " that
we had better send for the rector ?''
" The rector indeed p cried Bell, irascibly
" think the doctor would be great deal
more to the purpose !"
The doctor came, and so did Mr.. Milburn
the rector, with his brother a handsome
squaro-shoudered man of forty.
Il thought" said Mr. Hugh Milburn,
apologetcally, " that you might like some one
to have an eye to things around the place till
you are better. june is bad month for
working farmers to fall sick"
"Im sure I'm obliged to you" said Bell
despondently. d" If Katie had the spirit of a
grey kitten she would attend to matters and
things herself-but she screams if the COW
shakes her horns and is actually afraid of the
Chinese goose"
The rector looked admiringly at Katie
whose bushes at these enumeratons of hei
faults were certainly rather becoming, and
Mr.. Milburn assured Bell that he woulC
look after the interest Of her agricultural de
mense.
| like that man." said the unwilling in.
valid, when Hugh Milburn had gone out
| to look after the cattle and his brother had
also departed. There is no nonsense about
him.
Who, the rector ?" innocently questioned
Katie.
No. tartly responded the cousin "
mean his brother, MIR. Hugh Milburn."
The early summer dawned bright and soft
over Elm Brook. Old Speckle having main,
tained troubled existence under the board
for some weeks suddenly decided to set il
good earnest, and divers other biddies follow
ed her example. Mercer potatoes sproutet
feebly above the earth--the sweet corn trans
planted from Miss Bells earthenware crock
died and made no sign, but the later crop
made the turrowed fields beautiful with theil
silver green blades, and the farm throve glc-
riously under the new administration.
4" How nice it all looks" said Bell sigh
ing nevertheless, when she first walked out
leaning on Mr.. Hugh Milburns arm, to se
the young wheat beyond the corn lots.
4" 1t is beautiful farm in beautiful loca
tion,' said Mr.. Mlburn quietly. hav'
always thought should like just such farm
as this"
"Why don't you buy one, then ?" demand
ed the straightforward damsol.
What for Am | not a cipher in tn,
sum Of humanity? A solitary old bachelor 2
8" But you needn't be an old bachelor"
"Need | not ?" His blue eyes sparkles
with merry amusement "This is Just wha
| wanted you to say, Bell. You have trustc,
llt WIN JOuI luIiu lOT mOutui uOW huppOh'
you trust me with yourself for lifetime ?"
" Do you mean that you want me to MARI,
you ?" she asked bluntly.
"Exactlyw
" Dear me! !" mused Bell, dropping bi
arm, " had never thought of that But
do believe that We could manage the farm
nicely on shares"
"Well," said Mr.. Milburn, who had pa
tiently waited with the amused sparkle in hi
eyes, while Bell thoughtfully twisted greer
blackberry round and round her dimpled fin
ger, is it yes or no p
" 1t is yes,' said Bell.
She was sitting by the window that even
ing thinking how she could best explain hei
change of programme to Katie Appleton
Truly, it was an embarrassing thing to do
In her own mind she felt that she had acte'
wisely, yet to the undiscriminating world i
would seem n pusilanimous furling of he