Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-05-02

uOuSekbtptT Ill lOWHs anu sic tdn SiIiS
like lark, and hasn't any encumbrances
either.n
"And they do say she has pretty lit
tie sum in the bank, too; but then she
is uncommon humbly,n objected Alr. L.,
rubbing his nose reiectively with the
handle of his umbrella,
Handsome is as handsome does" re-
turned Mrs. Selchow. g." Keturah has a
great deal of sound good sense, and her
butter took the prize at the cattle show
last fall. t4 a3
"Well, here she goes-number four, -
reluctantly admitted Mr.. Lazier. " I'm
a great mind I'll go and see her-if it
want for her bein' so prodigious plain
featured. Well, I'm greatly obliged to
you, Sister Selchow, and I'll do as much
for you some time" said the bachelor,
with an innocence which upset Sister
Selchow's gravity, and with it the pan of
skim-milk which she was emptying into
the pigs pail. The unconscious author
of the mishap was already ambling
peacefully through the Selchow garden,
bright with phlox and poppies, with a
rear-guard of melons and cucumbers.
"Hezekiah Lazier ~ said his mother,
few hours later, "I do declar' fort, if
you amt CROWN deef! I've blowed
the horn e'ena'most times enough to bring
down the walls O. Jericho, and here ye
be out behind the house all the whilen'
"Sho, now," protested her son; l
concluded you forgot to blow the horn.
| was a-calculatin' whether or no twas
best to buy another cow" he added, in
an explanatory tone.
Il don't see but we shall have to, if
you keep on at this rate; here ye be a.
helpin' yourself to butter again when
you've got three pieces on your plate
a'ready,n remarked the old lady.
I've great mindful go and see her
this afternoon-the COW, | mean, " hastily
added Hezekiah, putting salt in his tea
Its right on the road to Jones'
mused the same individual, after din
ner, as he leaned pensively over the pig
pen chewing straw. " 1t wouldn't
hender much, as know Of and Jest now
may ketch her unaware, Wa'al, any
how | can call, and if | don't conclude
to take her, I'll go and see Jones COW,
SO 'twon't be wasting time"
Half an hour later Farmer Lazier and
his green cotton umbrella might have
been seen vending their way along the
road.
I'm e'ena'most mind not to stop
to-day" murmured Mr.. Lazier, as he
caught sight of the white cottage with
its porch covered by morning glories.
" | don't know as I'm afraid to go in
| don't know as be-" he pursued, wip-
ing his face with the Prodigal Son.
While he was deciding this question,
q burst of song foated out through the
open window. 1t was an fashioned
hymn; the words were hOmely, the tune
was commonplace; but the soul of the
woman who sang seemed to fill and over
flow both song and words. Uncon-
sciously the listener drew nearer; before
he knew it he had passed up the little
walk bordered by verbenas and Glove
pinks, and reached the dazzling row of
milkpans set to dry upon the porch.
"Ill ketch her unaware" repeated the
bachelor, with triumphant chuckle.
But alas for his precautions! his green
cotton umbrella slid out of his hand,
and, with crash worthy of one of Jove's
thunder-bolts, knocked down the whole
row of pans.
"Why, Mr.. Lazier, how do you do?"
said Miss Kiddle, coming to the door to
send away Mr.. Jones' dog, as she sup
posed, and looking somewhat surprised
to find the intruder of different order.
" Yes, it is an uncommon dry spell, -
remarked the visitor, absently.
The kitchen had not suspicion of
dirt anywhere, the dinner dishes ap-
peared to have been washed ages ago,
the stove shone like star of the first
magnitude, and Miss Kiddle herself wore
the most immaculate of calicoes and
white collars. She was plain, but her
face was full of character and goodness,
which even Mr.. Lazier could not help
feeling, and his small soul seemed to
shrink, as he looked at her, till it almost
ratified within him.
"What charming weather we are
havingn' - said the hostess.
Yes-good for punkins,n admitted
our utilitarian friend.
" How is your mother nowP" asked
Miss Keturah, trying to keep the con-
versational ball rolling.
She means business, sure enough, {"
thought the bachelor, with internal con
sternation.
She amt so young as she once were, :"
he answered aloud after which remarka-
pie announcement he relapsed into si-
lence. He was surmising what Mr.. Kid
die was worth when he died, and calcu-
latlng how much, at an interest of seven
per cent, it would amount to by this
time.
Miss Keturah attempted to insert an
other conversational wedge. az Mr..
Lazier," she began, are you calculat-
ing MIR. Lazier gave a guilty start
"are you calculating to raise many
melons this yearpn 1895.
NO said the farmer, looking much
relieved. Melons are going to be a
rather slim crop this year, so far as /
know"
" have few vines, but they haven't
done much," pursued Miss Kiddle. II
find it Troublesome to get a man to do
my planting when it ought to be done.
they are all so driven right in planting
time"
Therem thought Mr.. Lazier, feeling
in his pocket for the Prodigal Son; "she
means that for hint-women are so
suspicious =
i've let my land out at shares this
year" went on the unconscious Keturah.
" Mr.. Jones has taken the garden, and
have all the vegetables / can use.'
Our wary friend felt that it was high
time for an explanation -.
Il was just a-going by to look at
Jones' cow, and | thought I'd stop in a
spell and see you too, and / guess must
be getting along now" s...t.S
Its lucky none of the neighbors hap
pen to. be going by" he thought, as he
walked out of Miss. Keturah's dooryard.
ignorant that at that very instant Cor
nelius Jones, Jun, was sweeping the
horizon with aspyglass from his fathers
barn window. 'Well, it's plain to be
seen she's all ready to jump at the
chance" soliloquized Mr.. Lazier. 81
believe she would have made me pro-
posal herself if I'd staid five minutes
longer. It's lucky / got away when !
did, for | should hate to tell her it was