The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-12-15
Seletteo Storm.
The Old Sleigh.

npIG, IllOllltl, OlN i'PNNniS h"' ~
turned thanks at last" holding up a
plump white egg that would do credit
to any queen of the poultry yard.
"Weil, | alters said that hen was
thankful for past mercies, though your
father would laugh every time | said so.
Liddy Stephens has jest been here; she
wanted to see you, but you was gone so
long thought you must be down to
Mis- Pennell's."
Yes, met her as she came through
the yard"
turned from California"
at does beat all bout that boy
seems jest like the piece o. poetry you
read sometimes about the Teller that
went off and stayed so many years and
then came back and took his mother
out o. the poor-house-only it's the
father this time. 'The very worst of
the deacon's six it called him, and
that's jest what viii was then. | never
believed he had anything to do with
that scrape down in the village. Liddy
says he is terribly rich and is going to
take care of his father; the deacon
must be glad, for | guess he stayed with
Caleb most as long as he can COM
fortably. They say he is going to
marry Sam Miller's darter Ruth. You
see when Bob Miller went out there
for his health Will found him out and
done little kindnesses for him, and
when he was too sick to write home
Will wrote for him. Part o. the time
Sam was sick hissel, so Ruth answered
the letters, and he fell in love with her
that way. There didn't anybody but
the deacon and the Millers know he
was coming. Sam drove down to the
depot and carried him to Caleb's. Guess
they were some surprised to see him"
There is no knowing how long Mrs
Allen would have gone on, her tongue
keeping time to the busy click-click of
her needles, had not Mr.. Aliens step
sounded on the walk.
Elizabeth never talked much, and she
did not mind her silence tonight. A
slight culver about the sensitive mouth
alone told how keenly the words were
felt, and the sigh of relief which es-
capped as the welcome sound of her
fathers voice was lost in the noise
made as he entered stamping the snow
from his boot.
Why, father, does it snow? bin so
busy talking / hain't thought to look out
of the window for some time"
Yes, it's begun to come down right
smart; shouldn't wonder if it was good
sleighing by tomorrow
" You don't think it's going to be a
long Storm"
Mrs. Aliens face had an anxious eX-
preston as she asked the question, for
a long storm meant days of exile for
her.
emo, sh'll be surprised if it don't
clear up tomorrow noon-so's Liza
beth and | can take ride to the vii
lage; that'll be treat, won'tit, darter?''
and the smile that lighted up his daugh-
ter's face pleased him better than any
answer could have done.
Guess I'll get the old sleigh out.
Ben Smart's been down to the city, and
he says he saw lots jest like it; it's five
years since | sent jim to the village
for the new one, and it's never been out
since. Pm glad it's come into fashion
again, for l never enjoyed myself COM
plete in the new one-always felt lit.
tie above my station" and Farmer
Aliens laugh rang through the old sit.
ting-room at the fitness of his remark.
50 Well, 'Lizbeth, you get supper or
the table, and I'll tell father the new:
down to the wood-lot all the afternoon
and hain't heard nothing of the strange
things that has been happening W
here"
Having arranged things to her salts
faction, the stockings Mrs. Allen hat
dropped on the entrance of her hus
band continued to grow under her def
fingers, while the news lost none of it,
interest with repetition.
That night, after Elizabeth had taker
her candle and said good night, Mr.
Allen sat for some time looking at the
fire; then he suddenly broke out:
Mother, don't you think 'Lizabetl
looks kind o. peaked lately? Then sh'
don't seem to eat so much as usual"
"There, father, you're always fret
ting bout that girl. / don't know wha
you'd done if you'd had six, like you
brother Jonathan"
81 didn't know but the news abou
Will might affect her some. You know
they used to think so much of eacl
other"
Massey, father! that was years ant
years ago, when they was children
'Lizabeth's too sensible a girl to let
Teller like Will Marston disturb her
When he stopped writing to her sh'
gave him up. She's worked hard to
day, and a good nights rest will do he
good"
There seemed nothing more to b.
said, so he took light and proceede,
to make everything safe for the night
but long after his good wife was aslee
he lay awake thinking of the pale fac
his daughter had lifted for the good
night kiss.
Elizabeth was not likely to get tn
strength her mother thought from
nights rest. Until the first rays O
morning lighted up the east she la
thinking of the old days and Twin
them over again. She could nc
remember the time when she and Wi
had not seemed to belong to each Other
When they were children he ha
drawn her to and from school on hi
sled, saved her the largest half of hi
apple or orange and fought all her bal
ties with vigor worthy of an olde
knight. When the years in their fligf
made them no longer children, it wa
always Will who, at the close of meetin
or singing-school, drew her arm throug
his with an air of proprietorship an