Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-05-30
Both Sides Of q Step.Ladder.

abandoned herself TO grief and regret
A carriage drove up TO the door and the
bell rang. Mrs. Bronson, drying her eyes
as well as she could, ran down stairs, sure
of whom she would find there.
"Oh, Aunt Eunice - she exclaimed, open
ing her arms to receive serene-faced and
white-haired old lady who stood smiling on
the doorstep. "Pm 30 glad you've come"
The welcome shone in her eyes and
needed no words, notwithstanding the
flushed and tear.stained face at which Aunt
Euuce looked wonderingly.
"Ive been house-cleaning more than
week." Mrs. Bronson explained as she led
the way into the little sitting-room. al
you see couldn't quite accomplish it."
"Aud somebody has been painting and
papering, see. This is delightful |"
Mrs. Rowland looked about the room
with evident pleasure.
at is certainly delightful to have a clean
house, but, Aunt Eunice, I'd give more just
now for a clean conscience"
Mrs. Bronson's lip trembled and the tears
began to fall again.
"Tell me all all about it, my DEAR" and
Mrs. Rowland drew the younger woman
down beside her upon the sofa, with tender
invitation of confidence and mute promise
of unlimited sympathy.
| II was not easy for Mrs. Bronson to be-
gin the telling. She touched the plain
gold ring on. her aunt's 6nger-a wedding
ring.
"Fve had my first quarrel with Harry"
she said at last, in a queer, broken voice
the result of her effort to keep her self.con-
| troll" that is, we've had a dreadful time,
but it always takes two to make quarrel,
as we'll as bargain, doesn't il 2"
"And there was only one in this case ?"
Mrs. Rowland asked.
"Only one-and l was the one. That's
the worst Of it. You see, never worked so
hard in my life as l have the last week.
Why, Aunt Eunice, I've actually scrubbed
floors !" and she spread out her plump little
hands with comical gesture. al hired a
woman for two days-I couldn't afford to
have her longer-and between us we got the
carpets down. But there wasn't a single
thing in place when Harry came home last
night; nothing, mean, except the furni-
ture. All the books and knick-kuacks were
piled into the closet and the pictures were
standing around-you see every picture-nail
was pulled out Of the wall and 1t was any
thing but easy to drive them in again, SO
far up. Well, asked Harry to wipe the
dishes for me after tea, so we could get to
work as soon as possible. OF course sup
But what do you think, Aunt Euuice? He
Just came into the sitting room, threw him
self down on the lounge, and took news
paper out of his pocket 1 never was 20
astonished in my life. | was too astonished
to speak, even, so didn't speak. l went
for the step-lsdder, dragged it along to the
mantlepieoe and climbed up on it to pound
that great nail into the wall. My hammer
wasn't half big enough either, and hurt
my hand awfully-see there" and she
pointed to little bruise on one of her fin.
gers. "Then got down again and lifted
that Madonna, your wedding present, Aunt
Eunice, and managed-Im sure l don't
know how to get it on to the nail. Just
as l was pulling the ladder away, Harry
became conscious of what was about. 'Oh
let me help you he cried, as pleasantly as
possible, threw down his paper, and took
hold of the ladder. By that time was just
furious. Think of his not noticing and moi
trying to help me all that timeI NO,
thank you,' said as hatefully as | possibly
could 'tisnt likely you would feel any in
terest in fixing up your own home If you
could have seen the look he gave me But
didn't appear to notice him. The ladder
, was so heavy had all could do to manage
it. | gave it vicious twist and it toppled
over, struck the mantle and the picture, ant
smashed the glass into fifty pieces. Harry
laughed, and that was the worst Of all
will you let me help you nowP he said
mo, won't, Harry Bronson, never as long
as livep He gave me that queer look
again, muttered something-I don't know
what, but Harry never swears-and took W
his hat aud left the house, OF course l ex
pected him back in few minutes, bu
. Aunt Eunice," and Mrs. Bronson laid he
hand ON her aunt's knee to emphasize th'
statement which she made in a most i'm
pressiye manner, cit was half-past clever
, bed, though / worked the whole evening
as hard as / could spring you know how yol
, can work when your temper's up-though
a don't suppose you do, Aunt Eunice," sh
added. You're too good"
/ Mrs. Rowland smiled significantly, anC
! shook her head.
! Harry thought was asleep when h
came, but didn't sleep one bit all night
I We didn't speak to each other this morn
: ing, either not-one-single-wo
! never was so miserable in all the days o
. my life, and Harry won't be home till 81,
!, O'Clock tonight !"
/ The temporary excitement OF her tai
!. died away in another storm Of tears. Mrs
a Rowland frightened the clasp of her arr
about her nieces waist
. "We'll talk this over sometime whe
\ you're not so ex cited" she said gently. I"
4 insist upon your lying down for an hour An
a using all the will power you possess to &c
4 calm again."
"But the house is in such a state, an
!. then there's lunch, and
r "Nsver mind about the house. ca
help you myself when am little resteS
and we needn't think about lunch for thre
hours yet"
Mrs. Rowland had her way, as she gene
J. ally did aud for that reason it was fortr
Q nate that her way was generally a wise ON
q She sat beside her niece until the teal
ceased flowing, and the tense, hsrrowe'
II nerves gradually relaxed under her soothin
d presence, then left her to fall asleep
D possible.
!, Twenty minutes after, Harry Bronso
l. came home. He greeted Mrs. Rowland I
4 sffectionately as his wife had done, the
II looked anxiously into the next room.
q "Where's Sis 2" he inquired
Y "Up-stairs-asleep, | hope. | made hi
2 lie down. But why are you home at tn
e hour, Harry 7"
# al don't feel very well, Aunt Eunice.
O. didn't sleep much last night. The fact is
1. and he looked as If she would find 1t har
10 one to believe, i treated Sis like brui
,r last night"
Mrs. Howland's eyes invited further Co
fidence.
n. "You see" he went on with sort Of de
n peration, "weve been all torn up here latel
m painting and papering. Sis has had hal
a. time OF it, for we couldn't afford TO hi
~ much help have II hard, too, all the tin
,e slaving at my desk from morning till nigh
I'm always tired out when | get home.
was last night, but | offered to wipe Il
dishes for her, she looked so dragged ou
m After that l lay down to rest and read Il
. | ..aDaH Iha Rrai thinex L Enauu Ihara M.