Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-06-25
Saved by His Sister.

- Anem, LySanQef Sald MISS
Catherine Southernwood, one morn
ing, as she poured out her brothers
third cup of coffee, while he drench-
ed his last buckwheat cake with
sea of maple syrup. 81 was a-think-
ing, Lysander, since you have set
your heart on marrying that Jones
girl' Lysander, figuratively, prick
edzup his ears at this announcement,
for Miss Catherine had been op-.
posed to the idea of her good-looking
bachelor brother consigning his heart
and fortune to the fender mercles of
the ''Jones girl") "I was a-think-
ing," she went on, deliberately, "that
mebbe, seeing they're so kind of
pinched fur means, that / might get
Olympia to come and stay a while
this fall, and help me about the
housework. There'll be heap to
do, with the apple-butter to make,
and the like; and, besides, [ need
some help in the kitchen. Cookin'
is getting to be hard work for me
now. But there's one thing about it,
Lysander," she continued, as her
brother signified his willing consent
and gratitude-''you must promise
me that you won't ask her to marry
you while she is staying here. 1t
would be very improper, you know"
Lysander promised, and went out
to harness the mare, as Miss Cathe-
rine had decided to drive over at
once, and bring Miss Jones back with
her.
She smiled grimly as her brother
strobe away whistling.
"The shortest cut amt allus the
nearest road home," she said COM
placently. "There's more ways to
kill cat than feeding it to death on
beefsteak. There's Huldah Rush is
worth dozen of that girl But, Ia !!
Lysander is as blind as a bat! New
er could see an inch before his nose. J"
"Astonishing how Sister Catherine
has come around at last ~ thought
Mr.. Southernwood to himself. SAT
first she couldn't bear the idea of me
a-marrying Olympia Jones, and now
she's actually a-going to have her in
the house. But that's just like a
woman! Let 'em see you will not
be led around by the nose and they'll
give right up and be as mellow as a
fall apple. But l am glad Catherine
thought of getting Olympia here this
fall. It'll be help to both of them,
for the Joneses are poor. But L do
not care for that! I'd rather have a
poor girl, anyway, than a fine lady,
that didn't know how to make up a
feather bed or fry a slapjack. l like
a woman that can hustle around and
see to things, even if she don't have
to do them herself-one that can
make a pat of butter, or pick a
goose, or spin hank of yarn if need
be. And | like to see woman look
neat" he went on, as he curried the
dappled mare and rubbed her down
with wisp of hay. "Olympia al
ways looks as neat as pin when l
call there. Anyhow, 1 do hope she
will come ~ he added, anxiously.
Of course Olympia would go; and
she ran up stairs to pack up her
clothes.
"Its a mighty good chance for
me-" she thought, as she brushed her
curls before the little looking-glass ;
and I'll improve it, too! But I'll not
help with the housework long," she
added. "Wait till 1 get to be mis-
tress up there, and see who'll do
housework then p
Lysander's heart gave a jump as
the wagon hove in sight with its two
occupants, and visions of the blissful
weeks to come danced through his
mind. He was so embarrassed and
overcome with delight at the coquet-
ish smile Olympia bestowed on him
that he hardly had presence of mind
enough to let down the bars for them
to pass through.
"Now, Olympia, hustled Miss
Catherine, when they had laid of
their hats and shawls, sits time we
begun dinner. Lysander must hey
his it at twelve o'clock, precisely, OIL
he thinks he's killed. There's 6
couple of pullets in the coop, out il
the chip yard, she added, tying 6
clean check apron round her waist
"You may ring their necks, and gil
'em ready for roasting, while | star
up a fire ID the cook-stove."
| Olympia looked at her pink calico
dress, with it's founces and ruffie'
and wondered if Miss Catherine
would offer her a check apron, too
But Miss Catherine did no such thing
and Olympia wrung the chickens
necks and prepared them for th'
oven, with rather cross look shad
owing her pretty face.
"Got 'em in the oven?" asked
Miss Catherine, sharply. 'sThen yol
kin mix up batch of biscuit while
make the johnny cake. Lysande
allus must hev two kinds of breat
for dinner or he can't eat," she ex
planned.
''Humph p thought Olympia "h
won't get two kinds of bread for din
| ner when I'm the mistress here I cal