Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-11-30
LIBBYS MARRIAGE.

On Thanksgiving day I'm sure to think of
Libby Binns (Bnns was her maiden name),
and she sends me invariably a noble brace of
turkeys, besides sundry boxes of wonderful
mince meat and preserves from her own won
derful kitchen. Libby is a born cook she
can make luxuries wholesome and dgestible
in preparing them. Hence her little history
and my little story.
Twenty years ago. when 1 was a young
doctor in the village of Kinnewasset, Maine,
1 was called, one day in early November to
the "Sachem House"-the one hotel OF the
place AT the door was Iarael Binns, the
lsndlord-a slow moving bloated, red faced
lymphatic soul.
"Well, Is, who's sick ?" said l.
"Wa'al, Doc, :" he answered, "the crsnki-
est, cross grainedest, dernedest customer that
ever sot foot inter my house is took pretty
bad"
"where is her"
II dun know" Israel sat down leisurely
in one of the chairs on his front porch. II
dun know, an don know as l care, nuther.
Libby'l tell yer"
found her in the long low, white. washed
dining. room, busy sanding the floor with that
free, graceful action of sowing seed or NOV
ing grass. Now, how Israel's faded dark
eyes and heavy features, and the sandy hair
and freckled face of Martha, his wife, became
so glorified and modified in this daughter of
theirs, only Mother Nature can tell. Libby's
skin was like the lining of q ses-shell, trans
parent and daintily pink. Her eyes were
large, long.lashed, and black-velvety black
and her hair was like red gold, the "crisp.
ed gold" that the old poet wrote about. She
had plump yet 1.-THE figure, aud although,
since those days, l have seen the whole gal
axy of Professional beauties have solemn
ly set down that never saw a woman 80 per
feet, from the top of her shining head to the
arch of her shapely foot As was that Yankee
landlords daughter, Libby Binns.
"Sekes alive !" exclaimed Libby, on seeing
me, "such a to-do as there is Why, we've
got furriner sick up stairs. He's real sick,
too. And look here, see them fxin's. l
guess he's come a-huntin.' She pointed to
a stack Of leather cases containing an assort-
ment of costly firearms. He come down
Canada way day before yesterday. and 'aint
done nothin but get mad ever sence."
l looked at the hunting gear, on which
were stamped the initials "V. NJ. de v" and
a small coronet. Presently a man burst into
the room-a fat creature in livery suit. He
cssped his hands wildly, and spoke great
deal with rapid, oily utterance, but in French
"a tongue of which l knew perhaps doz.
en- common words
"Is this Mr.. De V. p l asked of Libby.
II guess he his hired man. " she answered.
"Hark :"
From above. stairs came some querulous,
chatteTing, angry cries, like the call of a vi
cious little wolf or fox; and, following the
sound, entered bedroom where, huddled
in an arm chair, was what seemed only bun
die Of furs and rich quilted silks. Presently
a small yellow face appeared, and from the
ugly little shrunken mouth issued what, even
with a limited knowledge of the language, l
understood to be string of violent and pro-
fame French expletives. When exhaustion
had followed this outburst, | asked,
Whats the matter with you Z"
"Sare, answered the manikin, II am the
Marquis Victor Maurice Mabillion de Yaril-
las de Villanteuil. l sm entered into this
PAYS Pierre, lie dictionnaire." He shut
his eyes while the fat menal brought book,
which tine marquis rapidly fingered and from
which he translated from French into Eng
lish Entered, he went on, into this re.
gion--land-countree for to shoot the beasts
and make my health. The Paris doctor had
recommended much exercise and enlargement
of climates. Into Quebec l sm come, and
find too much city therefore with my valet
am travel in much villages and much beds
Che ran over the dictionary skillfully)-
much forest - thicket - woods a bosky
place and am here in this village arrive,
and find much-many" Che referred to the
book again )-''many fOol-idiot-dementeC
"a zany, and nobody what speak the French
and SQUIRE des douleurs affreuses-Oh, que
diable-" and he broke of in frenzy of pair
and fury.
l found the gravest symptoms, and quickly
| forcing some medicine down his throat, or
dered the valet, "Get something hot for hi
feet"
"Eh, monsieur, ah-eh !" and Pierre rolled
his RS desperately, wrung his hands, tried t.
shed tears on my shoulder, but found M
nerve to meet the emergency.
THE beast knows not to care the sick per
son, shrieked the marquis, and snarled a
him, "Va-t-en, cochon !" and a torrent of in
vective that sent Pierre, appealing to Heav
en-, in wild rush out of the house.
called Israel, the landlord, but the mar
quis on a mere glimpse at him, yelled, Eva
ten, bette Sortez vite :"
"He's mad as fire at me" Israel explained
eyer see, he brought his own food in littl
chiny boxes, and l give him his supper ou
of 'em last night guess the sight o m
puts him mind O. them messes again.
Martha Binns came running to the rescue
"Diabesse !" he hissed at her so forcibly that
with "Goodness me !" she too deserted me
went to the barn after Jake Davis, tn
hired man. He was a good natured, loahn
chap, handsome and strong, with merry blu
eyes, and rather addicted to what he calle
'sweet cider" but is known to commerc
under less innocent names.
"All right" Jake answered, cheerfully,
the summons wiped of his hands on tn
horse sponge, and followed to the sick-room
"Hein ?" the marquis snarled, straighter
ing up in his chair. Heinz Is il horse
Al, Z, 10 lto n Iak
AWAY"
There was rather horsy odor about Jake
clothing but he was kindly, and looked {
the small creature in the chair much as
might regard an unwholesome kitten in d
"Come, now, mister" he said, pleasantly
"give US your feet, and I'll rub yer down
no time Whoa, now !"
The marquis had wriggled up, and seizin
a small gold-mounted pistol lying among
confusion of toilette boxes, remarked, wit
villainous distinotness, II will kill the amin
if he not go quick"
"Hello !" exclaimed Jake, laughing.
pushed him out of the room, and Il
marquis dashed a bottleful of Cologne wat
over the spot where he had stood. The
there came fresh agony, and more writhir
and yelling among the gorgeous wrapping
l rushed to the stairs and shouted, Libby
pail of hot water-quick as you can"
In three minutes she brought the waite
and had the pair of shrivelled feet ready #
the bath.
/ 'Lor me !" remarked Libby, "ain't he
'natomy {"
Would you mind helping me ?" l asked
mind Why no, said the sensible gil
"TVe nussed many sick chicken, and
amt no more'n that Gracious amt
poor, thought"
= with her deft, strong hands she settll