St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-08-05
NSBURY, VT, FRIDAY, AUG. 5, 1881.

she grew defiant, and, taking a streak
of reckless inconsistency, blamed him
for it, and nerves and temper together
led her to IA climax of bad behavior, in
Guiding the sins of kindling the fire
with his treatises and glueing his spec
linens upside down upon the lid of
bandboX, that might have made him
believe in her total depravity had his
insight been less penetrating and kind
ly than it was.
RetributiOn came at last, though not
at his hands.
There was company at dinner one
day--a gentleman who had come down
to buy some land of Clover'S uncle, and
was going to build thereon. Glover re-
fused to appear at dinner, because she
would not be at the trouble of making
herself presentable.
She had taken her station at the
kitchen table, Just before the open din
ing-room door, where she could hear
the conversation and enjoy IA little
lunch all to herself at the same time.
A sentence from her uncle suddenly
startled her.
Just come out here. You can see
the best site you'll have for il buildin'
spot square from the kitchen door"
And there was sound of showing
back chairs and of footsteps.
ClOVer's dress was torn and her apron
showed indications of an acquaintanc e
with the sOoty wash-kettle. Her tiaXen
coil was escaping from the comb and
rollicking down her back, and she
was armed with the iron kitchen spoon
with which, am sorry to say-tOr 1t is
very unromantic-she had been eating
rice pudding out of il yellow earthen
dish.
She could not make her escape ont of
the kitchen door, because the dining
room door commanded full view of it,
and she would he detected by the in
vadcrs yet it would not do to be found
thus.
Again the big fireplace came to the
rescue, and in Il flash Clover was be
hind the board and among the black
eyed peas.
As she sank down among them they
rustIed and creakcd, seeming to lift up
accusing voices, and to reproach her
for her deception.
But now the strange gentleman in
the kitchen WAS speaking, and his voice
drowned theirs
''IIcrc is something | want-a real
old-taShioned fireplace. How wide is
it %
She heard his footsteps approaching
and knew she would be discovered.
She jumped to her feet with some dim
idea of trying to climb up the inside
upon the Jagged, broken rocks. The
quick, nervous motion brought her
elbow in abrupt contact with the board.
Down it went with bang, and there
stood terrified, blushing Glover among
the black-eyed peas, still grasping the
big iron spoon and there they all
were glaring at her, her limp, stony
aunt, her astonished uncle, the amazed
stranger, and Mr.. Clarendon, looking
down at her with grave pity.
With sudden desperation she broke
| through them all, and never stopped III
her flight until she reached the cool,
quiet attic, with its soothing Odor OF
dried herbs and fruit and hops.
1t was late in the evening when she
went down stairs. Supper was over,
but she did not care for that.
"Pcrhaps you'll finish shelling them
there peas now, Miss FLEETWOOD hcl
aunt observed, with chill politeness, as
the small figure glided through the
dusky hall.
And Glover gathered them up in the
big basket, and carried them out of the
back door, sitting down under Il locust
tree beside the long pine table where
the milk pans were turned up in row.
| The moon was up IA little way, and
Il a Glands
drifting from the east.
"They are angels with great soft
wings" said Glover ''they are going
up there , And | am, oh, so fan
away! The angels wouldn't come neal
such wicked little wretch as me :"
Some one laid gentle hand on hen
shoulder.
"Clover- Clover, child - Mr.. Clar-
endon said, ''yOu are tired-and.
think, sad. Let me help you"
She bent over the pan of peas, Will
rush of tears.
"Yes,n she said, $50 tired, and Sc
hateful, and so disagreeable :"
"No." he answered ; that is not al
true. You are child, and your feet
have not yet found the paths of peace
but they will in time. | could hell
you, | think, if might-if You woulo
let me. But | fear you will not"
She glanced up slyly, forgetting hel
tears.
Il have cried sometimes" she muir
INJURED, ''because | was afraid you carco
more for the bugs than for me-"
And here somebody's arms werC
around her in such tight hug she for
got the pan of peas, and it slid from
her lap and the peas rustled and rat
tied as if in soft laughter, and the
bright tin pans on the table, catching
glints of moonlight, smiled at eacl
other: and perhaps even the angels III
in the clouds did not disdain to rejoice
il little over the happiness that hac
come to the rcpentant little sinner, anC
the help that was to assist her i'll hel