The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-05
Selected Storm.
DOctOred to Death.

John Borie sighed Noneed had one
to ask why. A glance at the untidy
room revealed the cause. He looked
like man of pluck, John did, and he
was. His shop had grown into goodly
dimensions, for he did most of the
plumbing for large and rapidly-grow-
ing village, so that he had taken the
whole of the house in which he COM
menced life as married man for his
business, and moved his family into
little cottage, not quite mile away.
The people of Laketown talked of John
as q rising man, but they shook their
heads at sight or mention OF Alice
Borie, his wife.
GLOW do you feel this morning,
dear?" he asked, as the door opened
from an ad Joining room, and Alice came
in, her hair uncombed, her soiled morn
ing dress dragging behind her, her
cheeks white and flabby.
81 don't know; l wish l did,"
drawled Alice, in a plaintive voice of
one ill-used by circumstances.
"Any pain?"
"Why, no, l haven't pain. l almost
wish had. There's such dreadful
sinking. Aunt Milly used to have such
turns; a sort of goneness and faintness.
You know she died of heart disease"
I" At the age of seventy. Yes, / re-
member replied John, as he shook up
the pillow in large rockingham and
drew a carpet cricket under her feet.
"Shall l send Jenny in with some
breakfast now?"
Alice nodded her head.
"No, I'll take the wine bitters, if
xra,,,n than, onH rlnocp rnt
the iron stuff that DR.. Ford left yester-
day and a spoon, and draw the little
table up. Oh, such a languid feelingW
John did as he was desired.
"There! Now you are comfortable"
he said. "I'll tell Jenny to look in
You may need cup of tea, and you
had better eat something to keep up
your strength. l dressed Benny and
Minny the best l could, and they took
breakfast with me; after which | sent
them off to school. l tried to tidy the
room against you came out, but hadn't
time. Jenny will do that, though she
is washing and very cross. Now for
business. I'll come home to dinner as
soon as 1 can. Do try to get little
color, dear. can't bear to see you so
sick" he added.
"Color? She?" shifted Jenny, who
was very distant cousin, and availed
herself of the privileges of relationship,
though she was " the girl" She had
opened the door as John spoke, and
now retreated with an angry red in her
face. &C. wish he could see her eat
sometimes. If it wasn't for him, poor
soul, 1 wouldn't stay and do the work
do for the wages, not l." Then, as
she heard the door shut, she retraced
her steps and entered the living room.
81 wish you could clear up little"
said Alice, fretfully. I" 1t makes my
heart ache to see so much dirt
"Then I'm afraid it'll have to ache
till the washing is done, Miss Borie, -
retorted Jenny, her manner entirely
wanting in respect. &C l came in to see
if you're going to take any breakfast.
There's some slapjacks and cold sau-
sage; and if you must have it., l s'pose
/ could toast you some bread"
"Don't! don't!" calculated Alice,
family. 81 don't feel as if 1 could
touch a thing, unless it was some cruel
with raisins in it. DR.. Ford said raj
sins would agree with me-"
Gas for gruel-in this hurry-there's
no mentioning it. The fires all took
up, but I'll fix you bit of toast and a
cup of coffee. / guess that won't hurt
you," and, without pausing to hear yea
or nay, she fiounced out of the room.
"Oh, that miserable girl! And my
nerves in such state! " moaned Alice
leaning back upon her pillow and clos
ing her eyes. IF / only could gel
well and see to things!"
Nevertheless, she made comfortable
breakfast on toast and coffee, dozen
little cakes that John had brought home
the night before and bunch of de.
licious white grapes. Then she solaced
herself with some nerve bitters, two
pills, and well-worn novel.
Rattle and dash! the sound of horn
flourish on the wide sweep in front OF
the house. What was it?
Jenny came in, bare arms uplifteC
and apron white with suds.
" The land protect us, Miss Borie
Company's come!" she said, aghast
"There isn't mite of cake in the
house, nor bread nuther. No, nor Sc
much as a taste of yeast, and the but
ter's all out. The children drank the
last speck of milk and scraped thu
-four bag yesterday"
Ring went the bell, sounding through
every corner of the house.
"That's yank! " exclaimed Jenny
trying to tuck up her wisp of black hair
Well, come she must, bad as i
looks. So here goes!" and she plunged
into the entry and made for the door.
AS for Alice, the excitement and tn
shame and the wonder all together ha'
brought sufficient color to her face t.
give the lie to all her pretension. Hair
dress, surroundings, were all snatche'
at, and that was all.
GO Your girl says you're sick. Well
Pm proper sorry. But you amt look
ing so dretful down in the mouth, either
Perhaps you've heern John speak o
me. Pm Emery Jane Borie, his oldes
sister; fact, I'm his only one now. Yo
see I've been travelling long time, TO
once in sixty years, and l hain't Sc
eyes on John for fifteen next Christ
mas; an so / had to come. Well, yo
don't tell me to take off my things, blu
suppose I'm welcome in my ow
brothers. house ?"
Certainly, of course. Jenny, tax
Miss Emily's things"
Emery, child. Emery Jane. Bee
in the family for ginerations an ginel
ations-that is, the name has. Now
don't lot mo mt Won ont hit