Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-05-11

for the first time since the catastrophe He
had taken of his hat with bow whose thrill
ing nature no words could describe. 1t was
an accurate copy indeed, from that of a
young gentleman for whom Jack acted as oc-
casonal valet, and humbly admired as pat
tern of manners and graCe1.
"Ho couldn't have bowed no prettier to n
queen" thought Viney, showing her teeth,
in spite of herself in little smile "Poar
Jack :"
Miss Viney," said a voice.
"What start she gave Jack stood in
the doorway.
OF went his hat with one Of those same
wonderful bows, and while he held it in one
hand, he extended the other to Vney, with
basket laid with straw.
Heres some fresh aigs, said the youth,
modestly. "You see, Miss Viney, l knowed
things was gittin skeerce to'ards Christmas
so TUX dc liberty OBJ fetchn' desc roun ter
you. kin vouch fur deir bein' fresh, seein'
as how laid EN- myself"
Law" broke from Yiney, with an un.
willing giggle.
'I mean my hens cried Mr.. Chaney-
'my hens laid 'em. Hain't | bin a feedin'
'em on raw meat, an oyster-shells, an roast
corn, an what not to bring 'em up to deir
duty? An eff it amt takin too much Oh
liberty, Miss Viney, ef you would let mo
fetch you over dozen ebery week till after
de holidays, it would be a real pleasure to get
shet OBJ de aigs'
"Plenty of use for eggs at dis time oh
year, cried Niney, with a slight toss of the
head. DE white folks would buy 'em Oh
you at most any price"
"Yes," responded Jack, Il know white
folks is terrible shif'less when dey has
Christmas ct on en-, an don't kcor how dc
money goes SO, ef you didn't want de aigs,
Miss Viney, you might sell EN- an buy Christ.
mas ribbons
~ am not wearing ribbons just now, said
Viney, lingering her black frock with an air
of dignity.
Mr.. Chauey was at once stricken with con
triton pray excuse me" he cried. II
hadn't thought of your bein' in mournin'."
"Will you take a cheer, Mr.. CLANCY ?" said
Niney, wiping her eyes
"Wouldn. you call me Jack, as you used
to do - said Mr. Chaney in loving manner.
I'm de days OBJ de past" said viney, Il
was too keerless as to what did"
Jack waived this question, and asked if
Viney meant to wear black all her days.
viney sighed heavily, and declared she
ought to do so, if she didn't wear sackcloth
and ashes, which Elder Buford had suggested
as "more ftten' for such a sinner.
Elder Buford be hanged" cried honest
Jack. "Now see here, Viney. Ebery dog
has his day; don't you think mine has come
I've been pretty good in my opinion, keep
in out OBJ de way, while de church
folks was a.takin hold OBJ you so pow
erful. / amt raisn' no objections ter yer
bein' converted religion is a greet thing for
de ladies. l loves ter hear you singiu' in
church, though it goes agin me that Elder
Buford should raise the chune snake in de
grass dat he is"
t.,'4 olr al,t lol, 4
''Not much OBJ dignities But here's what
wanted ter say. think 1 KEEP myself
little too much in de backgrouu'. 1 s'pose
you done forget me-
you neber aXed me not to-"
'Now, Viney, I'm sure l give you pleaty
OBJ hints-hints as big as elephants-as to
what you was to me. Sho'ly you knowed
honey, how much l wuz a-lovn' you?'
81 wuz a-thinkin' maybe Sally Pettis wuz
the one, said Viney, family, telling, alas an
awful lib for converted sinner.
sally Pettis!" aud deep, dark disgust
shone in Jacks face "Lor Viney, don't you
know dat 1 wouldn't look at her in process
sian! Here's d. pint" continued Mr.. Cha
ney-'s all to be ober between US jes' be-
cause poor Ally got struck by lightnin p
I'm afeard SO, Jack"
Come, now, don't go an harden your
heart aginst me. Nothin' won't bring her
back"
Jack, what made her die - said viney, in
a hollow voice.
DE will OBJ de Lord, an de fac dat she
wuz in de track oh de lightnin'."
AN what made her in de lightnin's
track 2"
"Bekaso she went to de do to git a good
light on her sewin'."
"She wuz sewin' fur nee, cried viney, ION
my pink calico, an, Jack, she wuz struck
d0cH fur me dat l might be brought to see
de errors oh my ways an save my soul"
"Viney," said Jack, soberly-'I kin tell
you di5-de good Lord died fur Us all. Ar
ter dat does you s'pose any human life would
be axed or taken by Him who had give His
only Son =
Vuey stared at Jack How comforting and
beautiful his words sounded But perhaps
the evil one was at his elbow, though Preach
er Simpkins had once said something like
that, only to be oyerawed by Elder Buford.
But she was too dazed to think it all out.
well, Jack, you is one OBJ de onconvert-
ed an has been TUX inter de church an
had all my sins washed away"
Oats all right, chile. I'll try to make
you decent sort o husban'."
'But Jack, you don't see" cried poor
Yiney despairingly you don't see what l
mean dat de Lord has his eye on you now,
an eff we wuz ter marry an He couldn't
bring you roun' no other ways, | should be
struck fur your salvation jest as Ally wuz
fur mine.
The murder was out now with vengeance.
For moment Jack was struck dumb. Then
he gave long whistle. Finally, although
Yiney's soft black eyes were swimming in
tears, in spite of himself he laughed great
laugh. But no smile answered on the face of
his beloved.
''See here, viney" he said at last, don't
you know dat all my family live up in Upper,
an have always been religious regular
shoutin' Methodists Why amt some OBJ dem
been struck?'
Reason enough. You don't kser nothin'
about yo' family in Upper I don't believe
you so much as remembers all deir names A"
"Dat's so, chiefly fur de reason dat l was
mostly raised by Aunt Chaney Harris. So
why warn't Aunt Chaney took She is pow
erful fond OBJ me, an jes' as pious as folks is
ever made. An I've loved her longer dan l
have you"
"An' maybe better, flashed out Viney, with
that quick jealousy Of her sex which is ever
the wonder, the admiration, the yexation of
| man.
mo, 1 couldn't never love nobody half so
we'll. 1 reckon you is what de song calls de
apple OBJ my eye, said Jack, waxing poetical.
The girl burst into tears. "An' dat is the
| very reason why would be de victim. De
lightnins would play round an you would
continner in yo' SINS an it would be good-by
to poor Viney It's too much to ak OBJ me,
| Mr.. CLANCY"
Poor Jack he was a smart fellow, but he
did feel tremendously nOnplussed. What
was he to do with this impracticable sweet
| heart
II don't cxpec'' ter marry nobody" con
| tinued Viney, mournfully. "pll jest live on
here an keep house for brother Phil, an go
ter church, an visit the afflicted, an go to de
house OBJ mournin'."
"An you calls dat pleasant sort OBJ life p
mo- Jack, said Yiney, with great dignity
! --''Onpleasant but godly."
"As fur keepn' house fur your brother
Phil, " said the artful Jack, not without NAL
ice, maybe he'll spare you dat trouble
Dar is a widder-a yaller widder livin' ovel
on de east side o. town, dat dey do say makes
mighty big eyes at him, an wouldn't mind
a.ruln' an a. reignih' over here"
"Jack Ohaney, you say dat ter my face 2
Gospel trufe !" nodded Jack.
"Au' Sis Ally not cold-not cold !"
81 wouldn't take on about it, honey bu
don't you see dis amt no place fur you Nov
I'm putin up pretty little house OBJ my
own, an you should be queen OBJ it, If you'C
only say de word. An as fur de rest, Will,