Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-09-05
NO. 36.

body knows what's going to be to hinder my
keeping my promise to father. Willy amt
got anything laid up, and he amt very strong.
Besides, he's got his mother aud sister to do
for Hattie's just beginning to help herself
little but she can't do much for her mother
yet. Mrs. Linfeld amt able to work, and
WHY'S got to look out for her. Then I've
got you. Aud there might be more still to do
for in the course Of two or three years no
body knows If / marry Willy now, / shall
never pay off that mortgage that | promised
poor father ! would, aud | amt going to do
1t. TN take just three years to pay it every
cent and then I'll marry him, If he's willing
to wait. II the mortgage was just for me l
wouldn't care, though don't think it would
be very WISE anyway. But it's for father"
Mrs. Morse was crying. 81 know you're
jest right about the mortgage, Inez," she sob
bed but you'll lose your beau as sure as
preachiu'."
Nevertheless, it seemed for long time rs if
she would not Willy kept faithful. He was
a good sort of young fellow, and very fond of
Inez, though he hardly entered iuto her feel
ings about the mortgage. There was at times
a perfect agony of pity in her heart over her
father 1t made no difference to her that all
his earthly troubles were over for him now.
When she thought over how he had toiled
aud worried and denied himself for the sake
VI OWhlAk NutI lltlt ldIu ClbhE, anu Iubu
had to die without seeing it accomplished, it
seemed as if she could not bear it. The pitt
full spectacle Of her poor dull father working
all his life for such small al n in such small
ways in vain haunted her
During the next three years sue strained
every nerve. She denied herself even more
than she had formerly. Sometimes she used
to think her clothes were hardly fit for her to
appear in beside Willy, he always looked so
nice. But she thought he knew why she
dressed so poorly aud would not mind at
brings the time when we can eat our honey
nearer" she said
Willy was faithful for a long time but the
last six months of the third year he began to
drop of little. Once in while he would
miss Sunday night Inez fretted over it
little but she did not really think of doubt
ing him, he had been constant to her so long.
Besides, there was only one more payment
to be made on the mortgage, and she was so
jubilant over that that she was hopeful about
everything else.
Still, it was not with au altogether light
heart that she went to the lawyers office one
afternoon and made the last payment She
was not as happy as she had anticipated.
Willy had not been near her for three weeks
now. She had not seen him even in church.
Still, she went straight to his house from
the lawyers Office that had been the old
laughing bargain between them. She was to
go and tell him the good news then he was
to 90 home with her, and help eat the festive
supper of warm biscuit and honey.
She walked right in at the side door, and
entered the sitting room. She was familiar
with the place. In the sitting-room sat WHY'S
mother and sister. They both started when
they saw her.
"Oh, mother, here she is! !" cried Hattie,
without speaking to Inez.
Inezs heart sank, but she tried to speak
naturally.
where's Willy ?" asked she. 'Hes home
from the shop amt he ?" I've made the last
payment on the mortgage and I've come to
tell him."
The mother and daughter made no reply,
but gazed at each other in silent distress.
"Oh, Inez!" cried Hattie at length, as if
she had nothing else to say. "Come into the
parlor minute with me, Inez," she added,
after a little.
Inez followed her trembling.
Hattie shut the door, and threw her arms
around Inez "Oh, Inez !" she cried again,
and began weeping; l don't know how to
tell you. Willy has treated you awful mean.
We've all talked to him, but it didn't do any
good. Oh, Inez, 1 can't tell you He's
gone over to West Dorset this afternoon to
get married Oh, Inez!"
''NnOs s he gong 10 marry
Her names Tower-Minnie Tower. Oh,
Inez, we're so awful sorry! He hasn't
known her long. We never dreamed of such
a thing"
Never mind said Inez, quietly. Don't
take on So Hattie Perhaps it's all for the
best"
"why, don't you care, Inez?'
There was pitiful calm on Inezs dull face.
There's no use fretting over what can't be
helped" said she. II don't think Willy has
acted bad. 1 made him wait long time"
That was the trouble, Inez."
81 couldn't help it. l should do it over
again"
Inez took it so calmly that the other girl
frightened. She had felt frightened and dis
tressed over this, but she had not very deep
nature.
'Inez," said she, hesitatingly, when she
made motion to go, they've got room
fixed up stairs, you know; would you like to
see it ? 1t looks real pretty"
Inez shuddered This fine stab served to
pierce the deepest, though she knew the girl
meant all right.
mo, thank you, Hattie, won't STOP"
Inez was thankful when she got out in the
air She felt a little faint. She had to walk
mile before she reached home. Once she
stopped and rested sitting on stone beside
the road. She looked wearily around at the
familiar landscape.
1.-THE mortgage is paid" said she, 'but
I'll never eat my honey"
Her mother was watching at the kitchen
window for her when she entered the yard.
as it paid, Inez 2" asked she, eagerly, when
the door opened.
every cent, mother, replied the daughter,
kissing her--something she seldom did she
was not given to caresses.
haa,, fba
ton. 81 thought you was going to bring
him home"
"He amt coming mother. He's gone over
to West Dorset TO get married"
"Inez Morse, you don't mean to say so
! You don't mean you've really lost your beau
Waal, l told you you would"
Mrs. Morse sat down and began to cry.
Inez had taken her things off, and now she
was getting out the moulding board and some
| flour.
"What air you doin', Inez ?"
I'm making the warm biscuit for supper,
mother, to eat with the honey"
"You amt goin' to make warm biscuit
when you've lost your beau ?"
81 don't see why that need to cheat us out
of our supper we've talked about all these
years.
81 do declar', don't believe you mind it a
bit, said the poor simple mother, her sorrow
for her daughter lighting up little.
81 don't care so much but what I've got
enough comfort left to live on, mother"
"Wa'al, I'm glad you kin look at it so, Inez
but you air queer girl
The biscuit were as light as puffs. Inez's
face was as cheerful as usual when she and
her mother sat down at the little table, with
the biscuit and golden honey-oomb in clear
glass dish between them. The mother looked
plaoidly happy. She was delighted that Inez
could "take it So"
But when she saw her help herself to the
biscuit aud honey, she said again 'You air
a queer girl Inez l know the mortgage is
paid, an l only wish your poor father knew,
an here we sit eatin' the warm biscuit and
honey. But should think losin' your beau
would take all the sweetness out of the honey.
The pleasant patience in Inezs face was
more pathetic than tears. 81 guess there's a
good many folks find it the same way with
their honey in this world, said she. 'To
morrow, if it's pleasant, wen drive TO Bolton,
and get you a new dress, mother. "-Mary ID.
Wilkins, IN Harper's Bdzdr.
'
81 think l will go to Ohio to live," said a
maiden of uncertain age. "What for ?" ask
ed her grandfather "Because there is one
factory there that makes 60, 900 matches eve.
Iavf oba rav,1iad .ufkl oh M1-H