Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-07-29
Amanda saw him come in and hang the
key behind the koepinr-room door

shawl over her shoulders Just as the clock
struck eleven, and took down the key
stealthily looking over her shoulder all the
while. 81 must have the piano at all
odds" her thoughts ran, and as for the
premium I'll make it up to Nell some
day" The moonlight was so bright she
had no need Of lantern. She hurried
across the fields into the highway, brushing
the dew as she went straight to the town
hall and let herself in. The moon, playing
fantastic pranks among the strange as.
there, startled her at first. A
cabbage seemed to be shaking its
head at her the eyes in the potatoes
wiukcd at her knowingly; the air was rank
with the odor Of fruit. She knew exactly
whore her butter box had been placed, and
Nell's too she remembered that the boxes
were counterparts Of each other, both small
and uupauted All she did in the world
was to put her own box in the place Of
Nell's, and exchange cards with her. Then
she slipped out again, and the great door
groaned on its hinges and the groan echoed
through the silent hall and before she was
fairly out Of its shadow, somebody passed
by on the other side, whistling, The rose
that all are praising" She drew the shaw
over her head, for it was Tom Briefly who
paused and looked after the retreating
figure. Where had Tom been at this hour ?
At Nel's, perhaps, looking at the piano.
She had seen it arrive that night with her
own eyes, and had not plucked up heart
enough TO 90 in and prasei il. II seemed too
bad that Nell should have the piano and
premium both, for the foolish girl hadn't a
doubt but Nell's butter would be the best
it had taken the premium once, and people
we're not apt to retrograde in the matter Of
making butter. But then, if Tom should
find her out how he would despise her
and at that thought, though she was hurry
ing away from her misdced, she would
gladly have returned and made it all honor
bright again, but for fear of meeting Tom
aud being detected.
The next day the roads were gay and
alive with folks hocking in from the neigh
boring towns, dressed in their Sunday best
There was plowing match worth seeing,
at which Tom Briefly himself took a prize ;
and, to crown all, there was a grand dinner
in the big tent to which everybody walked
by twos to the music Of the fife aud drum
from West Briefly, and all tho nobodies
stood aside and stared, and consoled them
selves with sarcastic remarks on the toi-
ettes in the procession, and then went and
peoped through the chinks Of the tent till
their mouths watered,
Tom Briefly came in little late to the
dinner, flushed and handsome from the
plowing, and Amanda's heart gave great
thump when he dropped into vacant seat
beside Nell, while she sat opposite with
nobody but Deacon Small to do the gal
lantries.
al hope I'm not putting myself into
somebody else's place. said Tom.
guess it's all right" answered DIR,
Thorouehwort " There's many who'd
like to put themselves into your shoes, |
reckon"
And Amanda crnged as if somebody
had struck her, and Nell blushed a becom.
ing rose-color. And then followed speeches
and toasts, and hirtAtions, and philopena'
ing, and Amanda sat through it all, shiver-
ing and burning by turns hearing nothing
Of the pleasantries going on about her, with
no relish for cake or com6t, because Mel
Eustis had taken the first premium on but
ter That has been the result of her night
work of exchanging cards and butter boxes
with Nell To be sure, it was Amandai
butter that had taken the prize, in spite o
her want of faith, but how could she maxi
it known ? With what face could she dc
clare it? Surely her sin bad found her out
"Seems ter me you amt got your usua
spirits nor appetite, Miss Mandy" said thu
Deacon. " Ia love, eh ? Won't you hev {
drop of this honey, say It'll make youl
cheeks red an your hair curl. Patty Jone
took the premium on honey, did you see
The Doctor he asked her, tho wag, if sh
made it, or the bees. | s'posc Miss Nell
rather set up with her premium on butter
amt she2 Young Briefly is kinder swee
on her, eh ~
At the other side Of the table Ton
Briefly was whispering to Nell 80 | Sc
your rag mat took the prize. If it was 70
sale should buy it,
"Oh, III give it to you, if you want it
Tom, said Nell.
"There's something else | wish you
give me instead, Nell. Have you taste
these gilly.nowers2 What's the matter
You look pale. Any deadly secret on you
} mind. Make me father coniessor, Nell, do
, I'm afraid that it doesn't agree with yo
, to take premiums I'll tell you what, Mel
Q if you'll marry me, and come up to tn
r Hall to live, | shall think I've drawn tn
a first premium in the country"
4 "Oh, Tom" gasped Nell, under he
. breath, 81 don't know what to do!
}. must tell somebody I'm almost wild
/ i didn't take the premium for butter
p Somebody has exchanged cards with m
G You see should never have found it ou
i but stamped my butter with strawberry
r and that which took the premium has II
card attached to the box, but it is stamp'
!. with-well, no matter what; it's ditleren
e that's all. 1t isn't my butter"
n is that all?" cried Tom. 4" You ga
y me such a start thought you were 6
ing to tell inc that your affections were e
If gagged to the Deacon, or you'd been chang
d in your cradle"
Il Now don't laugh at me, Tom
10 e" It's no laughing matter, | can assu
you, when a fellow offers his heart and &C
g nothing back"
10 "Oh, Tom, what do you want more thI
" I've given you already"
"You've given me the rag mat, and nc
" | want you. Give some folks an inch, a
they'll want a Nell"
Q. d" But what shall do about the butter
ON tell the judges there has been
mistake made"
m "And then she'll know that she has be
il found out"
"And she ought to know it,"
Is "But it'll hurt her, she'll never be al
" to hold up her head again. And don't y
in see, she has been punished alrcadyP"
"Yes, dare say she's heartily asham
ar of herself. Perhaps you had better let
ye 20, aud give the money to the poor !"
But do hate to take credit that does
belong to me-"
However, Mrs. Wheaton herself came
w the rescue. She went into the town b
yn to taste the prize butter by means Of viii
af poor Amanda had lost her piano.
"Bless my eyes said she, "that's l
be Mandy's butter, if was to die for
od There isn't another lot here stamped will