Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-01-16
The Burnt Letter.


pending an hour with Mrs. Webb, and Just
lefore she went she had let fly the arrow
she had kept in her quiver.
Z" Your son Grantey goes over the hill to
The Burdock's pretty often, Mrs Webb
said she.
al don't know it if he does" replied the
Did lady.
Naturally he wouldn't tell you until the
last, after old Burdock's quarrel with his
dead father" said the neighbor, Z" but every
body else knows It's said to be a settled
thing. Why Keziah saw him kiss her at the
gate one Sunday night, and even Ann Bur
dock would hardly go so far as that unless
it was so, eh Goodbye"
She hurried off, leaving her hostess dumb
md motionless at the door.
1t was some moments before she even
thought of going in and casting herself into
her chair, but she did at last, and fell to talk
ing to herself in this wise:
"Oh, it's worse than anything that ever
happened to me. I've had trouble heaven
knows, but it was the kind had to bear If
God sent it, but this doesn't seem right.
My Grantley to marry Steven Burdock's
daughter, the child of the very worst enemy
his father ever had, a girl brought up by
woman despise Sarah Burdock never had
the ways liked. nor did the things thought
| right for woman TO do Everything is so
different with the Burdocks, so strange.
| Like ought to marry like, or there'l never
be happy home. But that's the way with
men pretty face strikes them and away
they go, and Grantey like the rest Why
should he choose Sarah Burdock's daughterY"
She rocked to and fro as she spoke, letting
her neglected knitting drop into her lap
There's Fanny White" she murmured,
ga nice. thrifty girl; and Minnie Holm
Whv, her mother is the best friend have
There are plenty of girls could have made
up NV mind to though [ don't know why
Grautley should marry any one vet. But
Ann B1rdock. with her SNOWY ways, and
her airs and graces. never can welcome
her. never. never. | must 90 away aud live
by myself if she comes here to lord it over
the house; and her mother, no doubt, will
come and sit and talk in her foolish, highty
way: and the sisters will sit in the parlor
windows. and take up the table Thev'll be
here half the time, and make nobody of me.
/ know them OH if nv Grantley does marry
Ann Burdock. But it can't be 1t can't l''
inst then foot struck the floor of the
porcb the window raised a little, and through
the aperture came Aying two letters. One a
yellow. .vulgar-lookipg missive the other a lit
. tle white envelope. with monogram upon it
The old lady looked up.
The postman. who had thus easily deliv
cred his letters. looked over his shoulder and
, laughed and nodded at her. as he hurrieG
away with his leather bag upon his arm
aud sbe mt ON her spectacles TO read tn,
snnerscriptions.
, The yellow envelope held only one of thos,
! circulars with which tradesmen of all sort
are in the habit of flooding the country
, In her son. and the monogram was yer,
! pretty silver and blue A. b.
. :. Ann Burdock." said the old lady. - IT.
a note from her. Now, wonder what sh
!, mas written to nv boy I'd like to know
~ very easv opening these enyelope,
,r;,, ~ ;f Inv u,ara sealad. and uba
!, 10" IL ." = :. - &c.. - .,,,,tIsa ~ - y Ia'
Il marin wou'o ~ nc ,0i " iIo'nei " ,eau ie
A ter to her son I've hall MUD TO do II
Only he'd be angry, maybe. Well, theI
~, angrv too and with more reason We
= III :
l. = WIN, ..,
" little olu-iashloheu copper hettle slii
\ mered and bubbled upon the stove. A littl
: spurt of steam arose from its spout
h The old lady looked at it. Then, rising
# she crept across the floor in guilty sort {
A fashion, and held the envelope with its tiaI
m downward, close to the mouth OF the spou
IS She held it for few moments, aud the
e softly touched it with her thumb and hnge
k 1t was quite damp, and one fold peele
!, away from the other very easily, and thel
i lay the little note in her hand.
m She might have read 1t if she chose
there were secrets in it, Miss Ann Burdoc
T. should have secured them better than ST
could with the little touch of mucilage Il
[. maker OF those envelopes had bestowed q
o, each one
Il. Mrs. Webb took of her glasses, wipe