Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-11-14

there or not, they'd talk, you better b'leve.
I'm the wdder, an I'm goin' to have the wid.
der's place, an II folks want to talk let 'em. "
COURSE ye be, Sereph. Ye're right, an
jest go ahead +" said the Squire, assuringly.
II hadn't thought you'd make 80 much of a
show Of it, that's ALL"
The Squire was right in declaring that the
affair would make talk" No sooner was the
story known than people dropped all other
subjects to do justice to this one. An occa.
siona skeptic insinuated that the ceremony
might have been performed after Sans death
and nobody be the wiser, but this view was
too extreme to be generally entertained.
Most people we're content to condemn Seraph
for marrying a man with one foot in the
grave" One indignant woman was bold
enough to give Ssraph "a piece of her mind a."
but the widow defended herself so valiantly
that no one who heard of the encounter cared
to repeat the experiment. There was much
TO be said, too, from Seraph's stand point.
She did not fail to make it plain that she was
giving the Canarys the greater share Of the
windfall, and that without her help the PEN
sion could not have been obtained at all. Iu-
deed, 80 little did her conduct in this case
agree with her usually close management Of
money matters that she found defenders on
the score Of generosity. The only part of the
affair which troubled her reflections was
Squire Sprague's large margin Of profit She
always Jumped" in her reckoning the sum
which he was to receive for his services and
the large profit which he would make on the
sale Of the Canary farm, to the exorbitant
price Of which she was a. sensitive as the
shrewdest farmer.
Seven hundred dollars seemed to her an
enormous SUN for a rich man to make from a
poor one, aud wany were the plans she tried
to form to prevent such an injustice. In this
effort she was not a little aided in a sly way
by leading men OF the town TO whom the
Squires unfai log "luck" in turning" bad
debts was not as milk aud honey. After many
consultations, including one with a Water
town lawyer, she hit upon a plan by which
she hoped to disturb the com mplscency with
which the Squire referred to his management
of the case, and TO save considerable por-
tion OF the pension money, which she decid.
ed to give TO the Canarys, reserving some
thing as a com mission for her shrewdness
The formalities we're completed at last, and
Seraph received her money. Clark Township
was long way from the rest of the world,
even the meagre items which reached the pub.
lie through the Watertown newspaper being
furnished by Squire Sprague's son, aud no
ripple of the event which had created so much
commotion there ever disturbed the routine
of the pension officials at Washington. A day
was set for the settlement of affairs at the
farm. Serapn appeared early, and warned
Juliana not to be troubled at anything which
might occur at the meeting.
II expect to surprise the Square some,"
she added, IAN probly the fur II fly; but
guess 'twon't hurt us none"
The Squire appeared radiant, as was his
wont when he had conducted au enterprise to
a successful ending. He felicitated Ssraph
on the permanent addition to her income aud
Experience upon having no more interest to
pay. He suggested to Julaua that she could
now use her egg and butter money to buy
"housen stuff " and so have a place looking
like Mrs Gay lords in few years. Into the
midst Of his urbane congratulations he threw
occasional remarks showing that without him
this general prosperity could never have come
to pass, aud leading his listeners to appreciate
the great credit due him for his ben fcent
interest in their CTairs.
S-raph bore it calmly, but showed desire
to proceed at once to the bu,iuess in hand.
II b'lieve, Square, she said, II was 10 pay
you two hundred dollars of this money"
"Yes, sssented the Square, that WAS part
OF the contract. The money I've paid out,
an the time an trouble I've put into it would
come to more'n that if | should make out
regular count but well call it that"
I've got the money for you If you'll just
write receipt
That's right, S-raph. allus like to see
know half enough bout business as gen'ra
thing. But l brought up the notes an mort.
gage an everything. 1t II save trouble to
Jest have gen'ral settlement"
You know ain't in your trade with 'Sper'-
ence, Square, an If you'll just settle with me,
you an he can fgger iut'rest as long as you
like, aud she opened her little hand bag for
the money. The receipt was written and the
money counted out, the S4uires fingers lin.
gering little over the crisp bills.
Now must be gittin' back to the village,
an, 'Sper'ence il you'il just get up my hoss
I'll leave you men folks to settle your own af.
fairs"
Experience looked astonisbed and the Squire
uneasy. 80 you au' 'SPer'ence settled fore
| come, did ye Z" he asked. Course ye give
him all the rest of the back pay, jest as we
agreed"
"waal, no, we hain't," replisd Ssraph.
Fact is, Square, I've concluded to keep the
back pay myself. I'm Sans wilder, ye
know, an l need it more'n 'Sper' 'ence does, "
Keep :" exclaimed the Squire. "W'y,
ye can't do it. 'Twon't stan law. Seraph
Gates, ye agreed fair an square, fore ever
we let yer marry Sam that ye would ut claim
none O. the back pay, an Miss Sprague heard
ys. was to hev two hundred dollars an
,Sper'ence the rest. You was to get the eight
dollars a month an it's big pay for your
trouble. l never heard o. sech thing It's
scand'lous, goin' back on your 'greement that
way"
The want nothin' to bind the bargain,
an Watertown lawyers tell me l needn't stan
to it unless | want to" returned Sersph.
You was to have two hundred dollars for
your work, an you've got it, though it's MORN
the jobs wuth, an ye sha'nt git no more O.
this money with my consent-so there"
The establishment in Experiences face now
worked itself into a protest characteristicslly
mild
never would a thought this on ye, Ser
aph never would have b'lieved you'd go
back on your word
"'Sper'ence ye can't see through a stun
wall when the holes rs big as a cart wheel.
An s'pose you'd stan bein' plucked till the
last pnfeather was gone fore you'd make
row. The money want goin' 10 yOu, It's
goin' to the Square here, that's got more'n he
knows what to do with, for farm that amt
wuth half what you're payin' for it, an
won't help along no such inikity. Wouldn't
say nothin' il ye want payin' more'n the
farms wuth. LIS q terrible poor place to
own as gift. ! could buy you better one
to Watertown for the money, an as for help
in to have you swindled, | won't stan it,"
The Squire's face was study meanwhile.
Its pleased urbanity gave way to astonish-
ment, and the astonishment was followed by
white rage, from which every trace of suav-
ity and self control disappeared. He burst
forth "Ye won't stan it, won't ye? I'd like
to see you help yourself. I'll teach ye to talk
about the iniklty of church member that's
praoticed law here forty years the same as If
I'd been admitted an sworn. I'd like to
know what ye think O. your own conduct
Ye married Sam Canary for nothin' in the
world but his pension money an can prove
it. l s'pose you've forgot that l knoW how
near gone Sam was when you come that night.
| could show it up to guy ment as a fraud, an
that 'ud stop your pension quicker'n lightnin.
Ye got hold o. the wrong man when We tried
TO browbeat me, Mis- Gates"
Il never pretended but what l married
Sam for his pension. didn't marry him to
bleege you, Square Sprague, an mebbe you'll
6nd it out. An if anybody calls my mar
riage fraud, I've got your certificate shown
it's legal an right You're my witness, an il
there's any fraud, there's more'n me in it you'll
hnd to your sorrer. No, the certificate amt
there"-as the Squire made desperate lunge
| for her hand bag-"an' there amt no more
money there neither. knew the kind of a
man l was dsslin' with, an they're all safe to
Watertown. You may talk till the COWS come"
AS the Squire broke into an angry torrent
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