Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-06-02
Ir. phlor prnbbed him by the coaL.tails. and

Mr.. Phlox grabbed him by the coat.tails, and
away he walked to the village lookup.
Mrs Appledore passed a sleepless night
she imagined the whole town was wide awake
and discussing her, and long before daybreak
she had resolved to sell her home and Dix
vile bank stock and move west.
"Tve got my comeupance," she groaned
"rvo always been romantic and wanted a ro-
nance such as I've read about, an I've had
one Oh dear Oh, dear !"
About eight o'clock in the morning there
came lively rap at the kitchen door. and un-
strung by excitement and loss of sleep, she
shrieked aloud.
"On'y me; on'y Deacon Bliss" cried
pleasant voice through tho keyhole.
Mrs. Appledore slid back the bolt with
trembling fingers. "How thankful l am,
she said, holding out her hand 81 feel 30 in
need of somebody"
"'Twas fortnet / come along jes' rs did,
then" said the deacon, taking off his straw
hat and slowly rubbing his face with his am
pie bandanna 1t was q shrewd, though be.
vevolent face, framed in waves of iron-gray
hair. "I see ye looked kinder peaked. The
weather has been tryin' I've felt it myself,
an ached in my jnts the wust way"
"Its my soul deacon" walled the widow,
dropping into a chair and covering her face
with her apron. "Tve always hankered af-
ter a romance. an I've had one, an l wish
was dead an laid beside Caleb"
ooh, no ye DON'T Miss Appledore," said
the deacon in the caressing tone in which he
would address q sobbing child. "This worlds
a pooty good place, an with q few excep-
tions folks are pooty good l come over to
fetch few of my sweetins' and to tell ye
thet that offer l made ye a spell ago holds
good yet. ! rally wish you'd consider it
again"
Mrs. Appledore remained silent behind her
apron.
'Ef ye'd hev me-" repeated the deacon in
a low voice. II know l amt half good 'nuff,
and thet I'm kind of an old fellow, but I've
| got a comf'able place, and comPable things
in it, an We been sot on ye this long spell,
as ye know dare say was 'tached to Lu-
cy more'n shall ever be again. We sort NV
growed together like, but so did you and Ca
! leb, an I'm sure I'll try ter make yer happy,
an yer two little gals, as sweet as two pinks,
| II be to me jes' like the little gals lost"
Mrs. Appledore did not remove her apron,
aud after n pause the deacon falteringly con-
tinued 81 s'pose faint no use to argy.
Folks has their own idees of such things
but anyways I'll always be yer friend
The widow rubbed her eyes and slowly let
fall her apron. GIVE always had the greatest
esteem for you, she said, with little shake
| in her voice, "but never knew how good
| uOW muCh L Nhlhh VI ybus VIII
The deacon started up. ''Will ye? 2"
Mrs. Appledore had taken refuge in her
apron.
"will ye really, Rosetta ?" he repeated.
The bowed head covered in the blue ging-
| ham nodded.
''Ye shan't regret it" said the deacon sol
emnly, and awkwArdly laying his big hand,
coarsened by labor, on her shoulder. Lord
bless the little woman-an' our home Oar
home" he spoke softly as if to himself.
"P'rapsnow, he continued after moment,
"Td better drop in an see him. an in telling
the news l might mention casual like, we're
TO be married soon. An that nobody will
trouble anybody that stays ter home, and that
I'm able ter help an eddicated man to good
place, real neighborly, cause my brother
Eben out in Kansas wants a clerk"
Mrs Appledore said nothing, but the dea-
con seemed satisfied with her silence, for he
did Just as he had proposed. Professor st.
| Clair Smith was discharged from jail, and in
three days he and his pale little wife had left
Tony Alerton's cottage on the mile strip to
return no more.
In about q fortnight DR.. Ollapod attended a
quiet wedding You've had romance at
last, Rosetta, l might better say two of 'em, 3"
whispered Mrs. Phlox, as she gave the bride
a sisterly kiss. THE alteration of the pro-
fessor was like things in a novel book, but
marryin' a man whose goodness an farm can't
be paralleled in the county is a romance that
has sense in it, an wish you joy."-OuT
| Continent.