Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-08


writers seldom accomplish anything OF
real literary merit till they are at least
thirty. We don't belong to the fortunate
group Of phenomenal geniuses, and Flo
twitched away her finished brush from
the wise, with quick, practiced move
ment, and began to spread the table for
their simple supper, i'll the back part OF
the store. In cold weather they lived in
this room as much as possible, to save
fuel.
Nettie toasted her feet luxuriously, and
looked rather admiringly at her pretty
hands lying idly in her lap. Her work
at the factory was by no means detrimcn-
tai to their shapcliness.
"If Mr.. Stone had only been at home
the night father brought the money for
him from Ashfield, it would have been all
right. Or if father hadn't had the stroke
before morning. Her lips quivercd and
her eyes filled at the memory
"Nettie, said Flo solemnly, rs she cut
the rye loaf, 1--WE are sure that Mr.. Sackett
is all honest man, and he never would
have said that he sent the money by faith
er if it hadn't been true
"Why do you emphasize MIR. Sackett
30 strongly? Don't You suppose Mr..
Stone is honest too?"
81 don't know anything about it" said
Flo People cant always help their
suspicious. Perhaps he was at home that
night"
Nettie laughed incre dulously.
Nonsense Don't you suppose peo
pie would have found him out before this
if he was rascal? l don't think myself
he's very amiable. Father very likely
put the money in such a safe place till
morning, that nobody will ever find it,
unless the old homestead should be pulled
down or struck by lightning, and then it
will probably be discovered in some mys-
FERROUS Granny of the floor or walls. Sc
crets come to light in strange ways, some
times"
81 know one thing" said Flo resolute-
ly, "you and I are going to pay back that
money, Nettie Cor the remainder, seeing
that Mr.. Stone took the very house from
over our heads), if We have to live on
dry bread and oatmeal for twenty years. "
(Ah, how easy is prospective heroism
ut sixteen y
1--WE shall be almost old women at that
time, and cross and ugly, as like as not, v
said Nettie, taking discontinued bite Mt
her BUTTERFLIES bread. Despite her buoy
ant demeanor ON the street, she was more
subject to ups and downs than Flo.
1--WE needn't be cross and ugly an
swered Flo, carefully measuring ont her
share of milk.from the tiny pitcher.
81 hope the lamp won't smoke again to-
night. How nice it would be to have a
new burner"
A short, bobbing figure, in M immense
rubber cloak, with an umbrella i'll one
hand, and yellow quart bowl in the
other, pressed beaming face against the
glass upper half of the door.
miss Mellayine y said Flo joyfully,
and sprang up to admit her
Their next door neighbor, Miss Mary
Lavina Murray (who had given herself
the name of "Mellavine" when little
child was what Flo and Ncttie called "a
walking sunshine factory" Many time
had her kindly deeds helped to tide them
over threatened collapse in the commits
sary department, and her gifts were as
delicately bestowed as they We're timely.
4 simple, unlearncd woman, with heart
of gold :,
'.You dear things hope you haven't
finished your tea, for | said to myself
this boiled dinner is 80 very savory this
afternoon (you know my habit of two
meals n day in winter, my dears) those
girls must have taste. Don't get n
chair-I mustn't sit down"
She did, however, and smiled on them
benevolently, while pretending not to see
Just how acceptable was her neighborly
Offering
"Oh, Tn used to all sorts of days, you
know. Miss Mellavine. That 5 O'Clock
whistle haunts me III my dreams, but
hope for something better some day.
These parnips are perfectly lovely. Il
beliye that is the current phrase these
days. And what have you done to pass
away the time?'
"Oh, odds and ends, my dear-odds
and ends A little mending and my
houscwork, letter to my sister Celinda'
sou, because it's his birthday, off among
strangers, dear boy, and a bit of tianne
sewing for one of poor Bridget Maloney's
little tribe. I'm so glad You like the
things. Some folks amt any hands fol
boiled dinner, but / must say like them
You get SO much in n small compass
You may cut off two yards of that l.
cent ruching, Flo, my dear. Now l really
) must go. Never mind about the bow
this time.) Caleb Stone is very sicl
again-taken worse suddenly, they say
and Mirandy wants me to come over to
night. He's dreadful fidgety and want
to see me about something particular
:, she says. Mirandy is no hand to do TO
sick folks, you know, though she's not t.
blame, never having been brought to it,
, and the short auburn curls slightly shiv
cred on each side Of the round smiling
: face, nodded "good will and "goo,
. night as she disappeared in the cavern
y !. Gus depths of the rubber cloak and step
: ped out into the rain.
"Caleb Stone very sick If he shoul
| die we may have to hurry up the pay
t ments to the lawyers or somebody sal
Flo, rather apprehensively, getting he
,lish-pan ready.
81 shant worry over that" answere
Nettie, blithely, as she tied on larg
:, apron preparatory to dish wiping. Sh
;, had recovered her elasticity since the ad
vent Of the parsnips, etc.
y IF there's an out-and-out angel on til
:. face Of this selfish earth it's Miss Mella
vine. What difference good mei
q makes in ones moral barometer. wa
cross before supper, Flo, dear" said sh
h penitently giving her sister II quick da
v of kiss on the left ear, 'if any .one Ina
# n right to he cross it's you. shut mn her
all day-with no exercise except to do t,
rands in the evenings when I'm at HON,
- You're twice as good and patient as yor
~ unsatistied sister Nettie.
le Enough Of Miss Mellavine's benefa,
|" ton remained to give flavor to til
t, breakfast, and Nettie went to her wor
with light heart in the dark of the viii
II try morning. Her duty in the factol
r, was packing and labelling stocking
About the middle of the afternoon h,
e quick eye detected something wrong in
n pile Of stockings that had Just bee
o, brought to her for boxing.
" Flows this, Richard q said she to ii
messenger, "there must be mistak
If Mr.. Barker has given you the wrong kim
We These stockings are part cotton, and II