St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-01-17

b made = he soliloquized that night n
he balanced the ear fixtures astrid,
the head-bOard of his bed. "Well
: well, Tor an offset to her favOrs | shal
mount the cat for nothing. That's II,
more'n civil.n
Long he lay awake musing, Will,
. the trleksy moon turned his head up,
side down upOn the pillow, converting
his taNny whiskers into n wig, anG
shaping his forehead into a beardles,
chin. Merely a lunar hallnciration, ol
course If Mr.. Blodgett's head was
) turned, and | can't say it was not, il
was IN the figurative sense. He had
conceived sudden and unprecedented
regard for woman. Nothing ardent
nothing to affect the appetite, but a
brisk honest liking akin to that which
he had entertained for his mother.
During that lady's reign he would
never -laye risked her peace of mind
by bringing home wife, no, not even
if he Lld been rid of his sad infirmity
But ii9tr. he had only himself to please
and here was Miss Kittredge smiling
upon him i'll the very face of this in
trinity. He fell asleep saying to him
self, "What's to hinder ~
1t was observed that after this he
made frequent pilgrimages to the
kittredge dOmicile. Now would Miss
Lovantia see if he wore the auricles
Alright? Again, would she tell him
whether or not she could make him
hear more readily than at first +? A
third time he dropped in to assure
himself that he had perfectly under
stood her wishes concerning Moses.
Serenely unconscious of the gentle
mans growing attachment, she re-
ceived him with unrufiled equanimity.
her interest in him remaining centered,
so to speak, in his ears. These were
benefited III Il degree by the auricles ::
nevertheless, he heard none too well,
and Miss LOvantia openly regretted
that he could not experiment with her
fathers audiphone. packed away in
chest at the cid homestead.
81 shall drive over to the Centre to-
morrow, Miss Kittredge," said crafty
MIR. BlOdgett, despairing of securing
private interview by other means,
'and I'd be glad to call at the farm for
that instrument-that is, if you'd take
the trouble to CO.
When did Miss LOvantia ever spare
herself the trouble of doing II kind
ness From Il pure desire to accom-
modate, she acceded to Mr.. Bl0dgett's
proposal, and the following morning
redolent of new Varnish.
''Gou've let the farm this year, your
brother tells me-" Mr.. Blodgett was
saying, as they nearcd the old place.
The wearing of his hat having re-
quired the disuse of the auricles. he
had necessarily assumed the lead of
the conversation, and he had advanced
with caution to the present remark.
"Rather lonesome for you here now,
isn't it, so far from neighbors ?"
eyes, in some seasOns."
'Ahi | should suppose the summer
season wOuld be least lonesome of any.
We have more stir at the village i
wonder how you'd like living there ?"
Miss S.Oydntia betrayed little inter
est in the speculation. She was trying
to remember whether the reel her sis
ter-in-law wanted was slowed away in
the attic or in the shed chamber, and
Mr.. Blodgctt's next words struck her
like il bolt from clear sky.
81 know it's considerable for deaf
man to ask, but you're alone in the
world rs we'll as |, and I've got means
to support you in good shape if you're
agreeable agreeable to the proposi
tiOn, | mcan," he amended, in cOnfu-
sion; then paused anXiously, under
the impression that he had made an
offer of marriage.
He had chosen the singularly mop
perfume moment of their arrival mt the
gate, and to avoid replying Miss Lo-
vantia alightcd in such Jealous haste
that, despite his best efforts to protect
her garments, she wiped inpartially |
each muddy wheel. Ten minutes la
ter, flushed and nervous, she emerged
from the house, carrying a black object
resembling Japanese fan.
"Well, here's the audiphone,r shout |
ed she, seating herself with business !
like air. 'IPve frightened the string
about as father had it. Hold it against
your upper teeth-sO."
"If your answer shouldn't be favor
able, | should hate to have it thrown
at my teeth, responded Mr.. Blodgett,
making a brave struggle for playful |
ness "but I'll try to bear it whatever
it is" This was hardly what he had |
intended to say, and he added gallant
ly, 81 really hope you'll see fit to mar
ry me, Miss Kittredge."
81 don't believe I'd better" said she.
with honest bluntness. "Ive pulled |
alone in the traces so long Pm afraid | |
shouldn't get on well in double |
team
"NOt if we we're harnGssed tandem |
I'd be willing to let you lead off al |
ways let mother" said he, jOcose from
habit, yet so much in earnest rs to he |
quite unconscious that he had heard |
with ease
ooh, nonsense ! I'd never be tied to
anybody in that way cried Miss Lo-
vantia, forcing laugh. "Nor in any |
other" she continued, hastily sat my |
time of life 'twould be ridiculous"
81 don't see why said Mr.. Bl0dgett. !
casting a troubled glance at her across |
the audiphOne, which he held in his |
left hand, while he guided the horse
with the right. ~ wish you'd think |
the matter over
"Oh, nonsense ~ repeated Miss LO- |
vantia. "Why, Mr.. Blodgett, do you
see how well you hear pa paradox
cal query that brought her back to the
secure subject of ears, to which she
chung during the remainder of the
drive.
Some men might have been dis
cOuraged by such treatment. Not so
Mr.. Blodgett. He had said Miss Lo-
yantia might lead off; all the same he
meant to overtake her. He would not
make great rumpus about it; that
was not his way; but he had now set
his heart "A big heart and a warm
one-on marrying her, and failure
would go hard with him. SeduIously
continuing his visits ut the farm house.
he was cordially received by all except
Miss Lovantia, whose welcome was