Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-08-29
The Leisure Hour.
LOy.E .1.V'D logging.

Louisa's father had gone off with the OK
team up into the woods, sixty miles away,
to make the camp before the winters log
ging should begin. She felt very lonely as
soon as he was out Of sight, for more rea-
sons than one. In the first place, there was
nobody at home but little Tom, who could
dig the paths, to be sure, and look after the
cattle; grandmother, who was companion
able enough, with her stories OF old times,
but care more than protector; and Su-
sette, who helped about the house. but was
only a child. The second reason was that
she had quarreled with Ben and last, but
not least, he and her Uncle Simon had
driven off on the OK team with her father.
IT there had ever been a time since
their quarrel when she had felt disposed to
make ii up, it was when the oX-team had
disappeared from sight, and it was impos-
sible TO do so.
The fact of the case was that Ben had been
looking upon Louisa as his own property
ever since he could remember. He had
beaued her to and from singing school; he
had helped her out with hard problems at
district school, and had carried her homo
on sled at quilting, sewing circle, or pic
mic, he had chosen her for his partner in
the dance. had paid his forleits to her, and
had revolved about her daily. And she
had seemed to relish the whole thing till
she went away TO the city one winter to
work in a millincr's shop, and so came
home quite ont of conceit with country liv-
ing and country men, and had given Ben
the cold shoulder, refusing his gifts and at
tentions and showing pretty plainly that
she looked higher But Ben, with the in
stincts of free-bor American, felt him
self as good as anybody, and charged her
one day with having come by hiialutin
ideas of herself and life in the city, which
didn't in the least become her, and aver
red that she couldn't do better than to mar
ry him.
"Well, Mr.. Benjamin Thurman, hope
you are concerted enough" she answered
him. marry you l won't say but you're
well enough yourself; but to live in this
slow, backwoods place forever would be
the death of me-; and not so much as lee
ture or concert to while away the time to
be wearing homespun all my days, and
worrying about the crops. Oh, dear, no,
thank you; I've had enough of hard times.
/ believe I'll wait while before l settle
down."
"Perhaps there's somebody else ?" VEN
tured Ben.
"No, can't say that there is; though l
don't mind telling you that didn't come
single for want of chance. He had a
house, too in the suburbs, and house
keeper, and he said l should never bring
the water to wash my hands,"
"And why didn't you marry him ?" ask
ed Ben, frigidly.
"Oh, he didn't exactly suit me; +; he'd lost
his front teeth and his hearing. "There's
as good fish in the sea as ever yet were
caught" she sang, eayly.
"Well," said Ben, rising, and looking
blue lightniDgs, "on the whole, Pm glad
| that you won't marry me, for you've gol
| no more heart than an adder" AID then
| he could have bitten his tongue out for say
ing what wasn't true, when his heart was
| almost breaking for love of her and if she
| had showed that she was wounded, by
VOL or look, he was ready to abuse him.
self beneath her feet, and take it all back.
"You're amazing polite, Mr.. Thurman,
must say" she returned. "Im sorry yor
asked for what you didn't want, because i
would have been awkward if l hadn't re-
fused. didn't know that this was the way
the folks made love-calling names, wher
I've always treated you we'll"
"Treated me well with vengeance I
cried Ben, his face as white as a star, and
his eyes like thunder bolts. "Do you cal
IL handsome treatment to let me go on low
ing you year after year, while it strength
ened with my strength, without a hint tina
you couldn't return measure for measure
And then to go back upon fellow, ant
throw him over because he doesn't liv
like nabob, though he loved the groun'
you walked on, and thought nothing to,
hard to do for you If that's what yor
call treating me well, good by-I dom
want ever to see you again."
Louisa had been looking at him will
sparkling eyes. She rather liked to SCI