The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-08-06

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Matilda slowly shook her head and
declared that there were "queer doin's in
this world" As there was nothing further
to be known, the spouse of Elias Perkins
suddenly and promptly declared she must
be "a-goin, as 1t might rain cry moment"
She left the house and went down the
road, her head dropping as if under the
weight of state secret. She did not let
it droop very long after meeting, one day,
her bosom.friend, Julia Billings, who lived
on the "back road"
In the meantime, Uncle lothian carried
out his intention to enter upon the sum.
mer boarding business. He painted his
house white, and newly painted white
house and red settee on the piazza that
prefaced it were always q sign of dis
position to know more intimately any
summer tourists. The sign of the red
settee, Uncle lothian promptly put out.
Then he advertised, Enthusiastically, of
course. Instead of some mysterious bu.
collie signature like Rose Glen," or
"Sylvan Lodge, Post Office so-and-so," he
attached his own name in good square
English, lothian Needs" However, all
the lines thrown out by this skillful
angler did not bring any fish, or in
another word, boarder, to that little piazza
with its red settee. Day after day, the
"valley stage" ratified along the road
but did not stop for a month after the
painting of the house. One day, though,
it did stop, and Miss Primrose stepped
out. So she announced her name, and if
she didn't step like fairy and look like
fairy Uncle lothian saw this at a glance,
and 80 did his wife, and so did the Rev.
James Stronghold, who allowed himself to
take peep between the Stats of the closed
blinds of his room. How can / describe
her THE eyes that had somehow caught
the blue tint of an ocesn.ripple in which
the sun had dropped golden flash, the
fair complexion, too, that which had
coaxed from a lily the secret of its purity,
and the-well, let the Rev. James Strong
field tell what he thought. Minister though
he was, he stole enough glances through
his human eyes at this summer boarder to
be able to paint her portrait.
eve all do like Miss Primrose So"
said Uncle Jotham's wife to the post
mistress. "She's real nice. Uncle lothian
is jest taken up with her. She seems jest
like one of u.s."
"What does the minister say?
al never heard him say anything agin
her,"
What? Is that all you can say, kind
hearted landlady? Didn't you and Aunt
Nabby, after morning.hour's chat be-
tween the minister and the summer
boarder, find him in his room pretending
to examine sermon on "Nebuchadnez-
Ear " to be read before a ministerial asso-
citation, but there to be read, let us hope,
right side up2 The Rev. James Strong
field was quiet man, not moved by any
impulsive moods, and somehow this
bunch of vivacity charmed him because
the opposite of James Stronghold. Aud
she-did she lean restfully against his
strong, self-collected nature Miss Prim.
rose did otsay. She acted toward him
as toward everybody else, kindly,
and with her bird-like voice helped
him in his services. With her acts went
spirit of Cancellation and the temple of
modesty. She assisted in the choir 80
discreetly that she did not even offend the
"head voice on the air." Miranda Watt,
notes had stormed the pulpit from her
red.curtained intrenchments in the choir,
but without success.
To himself Uncle lothian made a con.
fession one day: "That gal from the city
has just got the upper hands of me. She
makes me think"
He did not finish his thought. There
had been aroused in his heart want that
he had been trying to starve to death for
years, the old longing for his own, the
flesh and blood 80 identified with his very
being.
Uncle lothian was taken sick one day.
The haying season had been very wa rm
one and the heat overcame the old farmer.
His iron will was forced to yield, and for
few days he kept his bed. He rallied
soon, though, and was seen one day sitting
on the red settee out on the piazza. The
air came fragrant from the shaven hay
fields dotted with stacks.
81 shall be out there tomorrow" he
said to Miss Primrose, who sat beside him.
Time goes sort of heavy. We men
folks don't know nothin' about sickness,
take care Of"
ooh, no." gently demonstrated Miss
Primrose, who had been constant in her
attentions during his sickness.
"You seem like darter or granular
ter" said the old man, swallowing aundry
ugly feelings that would persist in coming
out OF his heart, then making their way
to his throat.
"Do | That's compliment. Thank
YOU" In few minutes she said, "May
l read you something ?"
ooh, sartin, do"
The rest of the story Tidy Perkins
may tell. She had come at the time to
see Uncle Jotham's wife, and the two
were Smelling peas as they sat in the entry
that opened out upon the piazza. These
are Tildy's" very words, given under a
charge of inviolable secrecy, and poured
into the big ears of her friend, Prissy,"
the post-mistress All the while, she held
a letter in her hand.
"You see, Prissy, I was a-settin' in the
entry and could see Uncle lothian and
Miss Primrose side by side. Wall, she
began to read and her voice was suthin'
like robins at matin' time, sweet as
that. She began to read sort of story
she had written, and do you b'lieve it,
Prissy," said Tidy, lowering her voice
and opening her eyes, if it wasn't the
story of Uncle Jothsm's AIMS trouble
with her father, but sakes, not givin'
those names, of course, and told 30 kind
of delekit it wouldn't have hurt lambs