The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-05-05

We know what is for your best
good, Flora. quite agree with your
father"
A few moments after Flora and Liz
met again in the kitchen.
"What are you going to do about it?"
Inquired Liz, in most matter-of-fact
manner.
81 am going to pack my trunk to-
night and get ready to leave this house
tomorrow" replied the almost dis
tracted girl.
" And you won't marry Hiram Sco-
ville?"
81 never will marry Hiram am
decided. on that pointl"
"That's the talk" said Liz, with an
ominous shake of the head; " that's the
talk Now, just let your trunk alone
tonight, and watch this pumpkin for
me. I've got to go out for an hour or
two, and l wouldn't have it burn for a
considerable. calculate to spread my
self on them pies"
"Shall have to sit here all the time,
Liz"
"Well, l guess you'd better. The
tarnal stuff sticks sometimes when you
least expect it," And with these words
Liz shut the back door and hurried out
of sight.
cts five good miles there and back, :"
said she to herself. 81 can't walk it
and get back in any kind of season.
Now, if this amt case of special prov
idence, then l don't know. There's
Dick Sanders tin-cart this blessed min
utel He's inside, getting his supper
with old Marin Chace. III borrow that
vehicle; and if Pm half as smart as l
ought to be he'll never know where in
the world it went to, or how it got back,
unless Pm a mind to tell him-which,
just as likely as not, l shall be.'
In a twinkling old Dobbin's wrap
pings were removed, and in twinkling
Liz was in the peddler's seat, and in a
twinkling more out of sight. The tin
pans ratified and clattered, the bells
around the horses neck jingled mer-
rily; but Liz heard nothing, saw moth
ing but the object of her GRAND. Leav-
ing her strange team block or two
from the principal hotel of the town she
had entered, she made her way to that
establishment.
I" A woman to see you on the steps
Mr. Moreland," said servant in wait
ing. Looks like washer-woman
Says she can't come in"
" It's Liz" whispered the gentleman
to himself "Bless the dear creatures
heart, what can she want tonight,
wonder? Oh, Floral Floral" and witt
heavy heart Mr.. Moreland walked
quickly to the door.
Here was face for an artist-a face
upon which true nobility sat enthroned
No need of acquaintance to tell wha
manner of man be was. He had come
to Watertown on business, and had in
formed Liz of his whereabouts. In
deed, these two individuals had been il
correspondence since the trouble be
tween said gentleman and Flora, ant
Liz had always known that Phillip
Moreland was not married, but SHE
wisely kept her own counsel, believing
that this lesson was needed for the en-
tire subjugation of the rebellious little
Flora. Not that there had been any
falsehood told, though, in this con
nection. A Phillip Moreland had mar
ried, but not this one.
GIVE come for you, Mr.. Moreland,
said Liz.
" For me! What for?" inquired tn,
gentleman, in bewilderment.
"Get on your great coat and come
along; Wen talk afterwards" said thu
woman, in tone of authority.
" But Flora?"
"Don't know nothing at all about it
Has put her foot down that she won
marry Hiram -; confessed that sht
r.etn tvf oil hot 70
than anybody else in the created world
and if she can't have you she'll liv'
single till Gabriel blows his horn, anC
then look up Phillip Moreland."
" Liz, you have taken away m.
breath"
Wall, what if 1 have?" replied tn,
strange woman. You refused t,
bulge till l did,"
That tin-cart was little too mucl
for the anxious lovers risibilities, even
He laughed till the tears ran dowl
his cheeks and froze on, and thel
laughed again, until others came t.
melt them.
Over the hard, uneven ground the,
went, bumpitybump, while the bell
sounded out merry peal, which sounc
Liz declared just as welcome to her ear
as any wedding-chime she ever heard.
The tin-cart was left in the lane, oil
Dobbin carefully covered, and Farme
Nevins' boy was sent to tell Dick Sand
ers where his establishment could b.
found.
"Just look a-here now; amt that
pretty sight?" and Liz brought her com
panion to sudden halt by the kitchen
window. There stood Flora, one foo
on the stove-hearth, her elbow on he
knee, her head resting in the palm o
her left hand, while with the right sh
diligently stirred the pumpkin to keel
it from burning.
Set her to work to keep her iron
thinking" said Liz, softly. "Stay her
in the porch while l sort of prepare he
like; 'twont take but a minute" sh
continued, as the impatient man woul
have rushed in.
cob, Liz, you have got back-hoV
glad | ami It's been awful lonesom
here. Where have you been?"
Wall, l had little arrant abou
Mr.. Moreland. l wanted to find on
whether-wall, you see, whether h
was married or not, and find he aint.
Liz! Liz! Liz! who told you? Spea
quick, dear old Liz"
AT this juncture Liz opened tn
porch door, and with a burst of tears
which the dear old soul couldn't con