Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-11-20
~well-ana ifn Is =

sssed in'any way be should DOT" ne
marked the young lady. warmly.
"He's eheatingi villain p replied
5oe. Indignantly.
.sYeu don't know him he's nothing
Of tie kind.
ats you thar dent know him: but
yOa will before long. I've been deceived.
and | amt afraid to say sol It's the
money that he presends to have that's
lost NE wife but when you want 70
seaeA 1t. just as like IS. not you won't
= able"
He rushed from the house as be Ut
sered these words. and hurried home
wand. He found his mother still up
and vas eagerly interOgAted BY her as
70 the luck be had net with. He tsld
her al. and little coincidence was she
enabled to offer in return.
For two or three days following Joe
Chiekweed said very little, but he tho't
much. One morning he net his mother
with smiling face and q sort of tn
umph IN his lock. The old lady was
somewhat surprised at this sudden
change in her sons manner.
"Why. what on earth's the matter
now. Joe ?" said she; i hope you amt
gOin' crazy"
Not by long shot" replied joe;
Il amt quite 50 big fool SIS that"
Then what ails you ?"
''Oh. I've got it all arranged at last
-Tve got him now"
who? What ?"
why. Melinda Martin and that vag-
aboud. Reuben Sparks-ha! ha-Tn
surprise him -
We'll. how are you going to do it?"
'-Oh. it's all right" said Joe. laugh
ing slyly. "I'll do it. darned if l don't:
I'll fix the sneaking eritter."
But hov-hOw. Joe? Can't You
speak out ? What's got into the boy ?"
cried the old lady. dying with curiosity
70 know what was his plan
We'll. I'll tell you all about it." be-
gan Joe, assuming more sober tone.
"WeIl. l wish you would"
.'You know the widder has always "a
vored ny keeping company with Melin-
d.
"Well 90
"And I do believe she's desp'rate
down On that feller. Reuben Sparks.
coming into the family"
-Ye-"
''In that case she wouldn't very vii
lingly let her property go into his
hands"
But according to the will of old Mr..
Martin the property amt to 60 out Of
her hands till she's dead.
Just 50. and now I'm coming to the
point; It's just right there-I'm going
to f1or Reuben Sparks
well. let ne hear"
The widder Martin herself amt a
had boxing woman l'' Joe remarked, in
= sort Of mysterious tone Of voice, glanc-
ing up suddenly into his mothers face.
No But what has that got to do
with the matter y replied the old lady.
imPatisntly.
And she amt very old. neither. :"
continued lie. with the same air.
why, she can't be nOre'n forty"
\ so l think she has a good chance Of
living forty more"
well. and what Of It ?"
Just this" said Joe; ..I'H marry
the -idder r.
Mrs ChickEeed, expecting. -. she
vas. something awful, vasD's prepared
for this She uttered sH exclamation Of
surprise. started uDs2rd from her seat
then sunk back and fxsd her eyes with
vacant stare upon Der sons face
well, said Js~, Il hope you don't
SAP anything tsat's agin it. "
-No-uofS stznmered his mother
recovering somewhat from the shock she
had received; but are you really il
ezrset-Eill yOu marry the vidder =
..To be sure / will; and that's no
the Ehole Of tim going 70 see be
this very day III marry her if shell
have ne, ard Be revenged on Melinda
. for cutting ne = she has for that blast
ed S1zrks. III teach EN- what's What =
ice vas as good as his word HI
! sought The widow and made his proposal
She vas more zstouished than she knes
. h9w 70 express. but she vas more graft
: fed than she vas zstonishe1 Fresh al,
: fair IS she vzs. Considering her years
J she had never given up the idea Of win
ming another husband BAT il rad neVe
: entered her head thar she eould POssibl
secure % young and estim2ble Priz
a. Joe ChiekEeed
Joe made It sp4cizl Pr0viso IN b
proposal that they should Be marie
privately tie d2y before the marriage
: SPARKS -ith The sidoE's daughter. an
that II should be kept secret Til q
: wedding had taken place To this Il
widsE readily agreed. although IL was
hard task s0Eaetlues f9r ker . restrzl
o the enjoyneut sbe experienced. and Pr
? vent the secret heing discovered