Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-11-04
ABEL WEBB'S CHOICE.
The Story of Fathers Devotion.

was met by his daughter, Polly.
"Why, you're rather late, father,
amt you ?" inquired the girl, springing
to her feet, and giving old Abel such a
sounding kiss that it might almost have
been heard on the pavement outside, if
anybody had been curious enough to lis
fen. 1--WE been home long time"
"Well, Polly, I've been to the saw
ings bank, and afterward to Alderman
bury--yon know where. I took five
pound ten; and Mr.. Baker, junior,
spoke so kindly that the time slipped
by, and twas seven o'clock afore knew
where / was Almost.
"Heaven bless Mr.. Baker for these
kind words I" responded Polly, giving
her father another hearty kiss as she un-
wound tn woolen comforter encircling
his neck. Then, after pause, che ask
ed: "Does not that mako ninety
pounds you have paid2"
eyes, ninety pounds. It's good
deal, amt It'll All saved, too, by you
and me, Polly"
"Oh, father, I don't do much to it.
If you weren't to deprive yourself of
comforts, why, we shouldn't have paid
OIL twenty OF 1t.
"Don't say that, Polly. If it was
not for your earnings, how could I put
my wages into the savings bank. as l do
nearly every month";"
"Well, daddy dear, you know it'sonly
you I've got to live for" said the girl,
archly.
"What's that you say9" replied old
Abel, highly pleased with his daughters
remark, but determined not to be hood
winKed. Chow about Tom Smiths
Dye mean to say you don't care for
him ?"
"Hush Don't speak SO loud"
Polly blushed, and looked half fright
ened toward that corner of the room
where the big bureau cast its shadow.
"Why, there's nobody can hear"
eyes, father, the children might; and
children sometimes make lot of mis-
chief" observed that little wiseacre,
Polly. Then. with desperate inten-
tion of changing the subject, she said
You must have great coat this win
ter, or you are sure to have the rbeu.
matics, as you lad 'em last year. Oh,
I saw beauty in the Horseferry road
to night-so thick, with nice warm lin
ing inside, and the price only eighteen
shillings. Secondhand, of course, but
almost as good as new"
"Oh, / think l can do without it this
year. Lets save the eighteen shillings,
and send it to Mr.. Baker, junior"
"No, 1 shan't allow anything of the
sort. I'm just as anxious as you are to
pay our debts but I'd rather work my
fingers to the bones than that you should
suffer another year as you did last"
"And I, too," added strong, manly
voice, which seemed to issue from Mr..
Webb's sleeping place.
Polly gave shrek, then burst into
ringing laugh that seemedto fill the room
with joyous harmony, like the sound of
bells upon frosty night and Abel,
turning suddenly in his chair, saw the
burly form of Tom Smith emerge from
the dusky corner.
"Hallo, Tom - shouted Abel. $50
you've been listening. Well, luckily,
you amt heard no secrets. I suppose
you are ono of those children that makes
mischief, as Polly says"
This retaliation upon his daughter
struck Mr.. Webb as such an extraordi-
nary masterpiece of witticism that he
fairly roared with laughter. By-and-
bye Tom Smith roared, too and when
he had had his laugh out, finding that
Abel's attention was still engrosst by
the wondrous joke, seized the oppor-
tunity to throw his arms round Polly's
waist, at which the damsel, who did not |
like being laughed at, told the devoted
lover to "a-done, and hot be so silly"
Mr.. Tom Smith considerably waited
until his old friend had completed his
simple repast, and then explained the
object of his visit. Polly, who was busy
clearing the supper table, wanted to
leave the room, but her betrothed
hear of such thing and by
lndbye that gallant swain exercised his
influence with such marked success that,
all aglow with blushes, she was induced
10 take seat upon the footstool be-
tween the two men. of whom it would
be hard to say which loved her best.
"You know, Mr.. Webb, Polly and I
have been ccurting long time, nigh
upon eighteen months, aud we're be-
ginning to think-that is, I'm begin
ming to think" (this alteration in re-
sponse to p protest from Polly)-" it's
time We got married I don't like to
see her wearing her young life out in
cur hot wo,krooms. My salary, as you
know, is at present ESQ year, and I
live on the premises. Now think if I
was to tell Loostring the facts of the
case, and that 1 wanted to live away,
he'd give me E130. Now, amt that
enough to get married on, and have you
any objection to Polly and 1 being mar
ried at once2"
Here Tom Smith paused, not because
ne had exhausted his subject, but for
he reason that he was out of breath.
Then Polly took up the parable.
Siding her stool to her fathers side
md resting her head upon his knee, she
'aid, tremblingly:
"Don't think, daddy dear, that my
being married will make any difference
o you and me, for you are to come and
i've with us eh, Tom 2"
MIR. Smith, thus appealed to, vowed
hat his father in laws residence with
hem was considered quite a settled mat
er, as in truth il was.