Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-10-08

II won't" muttered she. 80 !"
The next morning the trees we're all 10 bios
som, and Silas was out In his garden working
He was all over his excitement Of last night
His mind was running in the larger circle into
which Mrs. Roses proposal, like a stone 10 a
pond, had thrown II, just a. calmly AZ it had
in smaller. He felt as II be had always
been going TO be married in a week.
ITS Jest such mornin' az twas last year 4"
said he, "when counted her in after the daft
fodils."
"silasl"
why, Althea, you've come sg'in! !"
She was flushed and trembling, but her eyes
were keen. II want to tell you something,
Silas."
"Why, Althea, what is it2"
you won't tell mother2 Promise you
won't tell promse-promise."
Course | wont, Il you don't want me to,
Althea. What is II"
shed kill me- You won't tell ?"
mo, never, long's ve."
She gave a scared glance around her.
Mothers making me marry you" said
she, bluntly, IAN don't want to-"
ooh, Althea !"
ITS the truth"
''Sas stood staring at her pitifully "You
was so afraid of her you didn't dare say any
thing, weren't you ?" said be.
Yes, was"
'You poor little thing !" Great tears ran
down Silas's cheeks.
Then needn't marry you, need p
Course you needn't"
well, how can we FIX it2 You know we've
| got TO tell mother something"
II guess l don't know Just what you
mean"
''Mother'll make an awful fuss she's set
on my having you she thinks you've got
property-an' II shs knew was the one that
broke it of, she'd kill me. You've got to
make her think you're the one."
but l amt"
THAT don't make any difference you've
got to make her think 10.
but what shall say the reason was 2"
Say you've thought it over, and you don't
know how to support a wife. She'll believe
that. They all know your father was awful
tight"
The bswilderment in Silas's face almost
obsoured its awful sadness.
"You won't let her blame me, anyhow, will
you, SiAs 2"
mo ; she shan't blame you "I'll tell lies
before she shall blame you"
You are awful good, Silas. Say, you
don't mind much. do you 2"
mo. Don't think nothin' about me;
shan't mind I've got my fi)wers. Althes-"
"What?"
81 don't know % you'll went to; Just
happened to think OF 1t, that's ALL You
know folks, when they're goin to get mar
RED the way we was, kiss each other. You
amt ever kissed me, nd never thought much
about wantin' you to till now, when you're
goin'. Would you mind it to kiss me once
l don't s'pose you'll want to"
Yes, will said Althea and she put up
her sweet face and kissed him.
He ohoked back q sob. YOU'D better 90
now, said he, "or your motherl be wonder
ing where you are"
She looked frightened You be sure not
to let her blame me, she said as she turned
TO go.
Eyes, I'll be sure. Don't you worry, AL.
thea"
She disappeared amongst the flmy green
bushes, and he sat down on q stone under the
cherry tree, and held his head in his hands.
When he got up he looked older. Sorrow
at one jerk had taken him farther out of his
long childhood than the years had. He was
step nearer the rest of the world he would
not be SO odd, by that much, again. He
went up through the garden to the house; he
looked about him wonderingly as he went
''Thar's been an awful change" said he to
himself; II guess don't see straight. The
flowers nd things look queer, as il l hadn't
seen EN- before. It's worse than mothers
dyin'-thar amt so much God in this. / don't
know how to go to work to stan it, Poor
little thing she shan't have no more trouble
about it, nohow."
Very close to the Rose house stood anoth-
er, tiny, modest and white-curtained and it
had an eye and an ear ever alert in it. The
woman who lived there was sickly, with too
active mind for her own narrow life, 80 she
fastened it on her neighbors.
This last evening when Silas went TO the
Roses, she knew it, as usual When, by and
by, she heard loud talk, she raised her win
dow softly, and listened. The front door of
the Rose house was evidently open, and the
takers were standing in the hall.
She could only hear one voice to distin.
gulsh the words that was Mrs. Roses, who
always spoke very loud when she was excited.
You're worse than your father was" the
listener heard her say, land he was tighter
than the bark of q tree but he want quite
80 mean but what he could get married. Al
theAs well rid of such poor stick as you.
Don't s'poss she'd he'd 'nough 10 eat IL you'd
married her, nor a dress to her back"
The loud talk kept on, and the woman lis
tened greedily. When it bad ceased, and ST.
las had crept down the path, and the door
had closed With great house shaking slam
behind him, she felt more healthiy alive than
she had for many day.
Soon all the town knew how Silas Vinton
had Tilted Althea Rose because he was too
tight to support her. His courtship had made
a deal of laughing comment now he Was
mercilessly badgered.
He shut himself up with his flowers and
bore it as we'll as he could. Once q neiRhbor
he had given vegetables to many time Of
fered him pay. That almost broke his heart.
Then others no longer asked for them, and
he understood why.
He never met Althea at all. For the next
two years, except for one or two glimpses of
her from his window, he would hardly have
known she lived in the same town.
In the winter of the second year man who |
came to his house on an errand asked him if |
he knew his old girl WAS going TO be married. |
Silas turned white. What do you mean z" |
he asked
''Althea Rose is goin' to get married of the |
Teller don't back out cause he don't want to |
support her. What do You think of that?"
I'm glad, IL she likes him" said Silas.
well, mebbe when he comes to count up |
the cost, he'll think better ont"
Silas made no reply TO the taunt. He stood |
behind his window shelves of plants and |
watched the man go down the sidewalk. 81 |
don't wonder he talks so" said he. "But |
thar want no other way to save her. had |
to have some reason. The worst of ii is, it |
amt true"
Silas's potted plants we're very beautiful |
that year they we're covered with blossoms.
Every one stopped to look at his windows.
Sllas sat Oehind them that day after he |
heard the news, and watched the street He |
was hoping Althea would go by he wanted
to see her.
She did come in sight toward night-a slen-
der, girlsh figure in some prim, eccentric
winter garb, as noticeable as her summer one.
Silas ran TO the door. "Althea /"
"What ?" said she, standing at the gate.
He went down the steps and stood beside
her.
See here, Althea, heard this morning
you was goin' to get married. Is it 30 ?"
Althea looked down. yes"
II jest want TO knoW-it's safe for YOU to
tell me, Althea I'd sooner die than any body
should know jest want to know IL It's all
right this time-if yOu want him, or it's your
mother maxim you, the way it was before
CAUSE, if 1t is, don't you marry him. Don't
you be afraid OF your mother. III stan by
you"
'I-guess it's all right, Silas"
Then your mother amt maxim you ? Don't |
you be afraid to tell "
mo, she aint. She couldn't, really I'd
manage somehow, the way did before, il l
didn't want him."
I'm glad it's all right, Althea."
She giggled softly She was lingering a
gold locket which she wore outside OF her
shawl. "See what a pretty locket he give
me, she said "he's real generous"
'She didn't mean to hurt me when she