The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-11-04
THE OLD SLEIGH.

blLuDCbhs
Coming"
"Thcre, mother, old Speckle has re-
turned thanks at last" holding up
plump, white egg that would do credit
to any queen of the poultry yard.
"Wcll, l alters said that hen was
thankful for past mcrcics, 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, 1 thought you must be down to
Miss Pennclrs."
"Ycs, 1 met her as she came through
the yard"
"Shc didn't tell you the news, did
she?"
"She told me Will Marston had re-
turned from California"
at does beat all bout that boy Seems
jest like the piece O. poetry you read
sometimes about the fclcr that went off
and st,ycd so many years, and then como
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
Will was then. never believed he had
anything to do with that scrapc down to
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 comfortably. They say he's
going to marry Sam Millcrs daughter
Ruth. You sec, when Bob Miller went
out there for his health, Will found him
out and done little kindness9s for him, and
when he was too sick to write home,
Will wrote for him. Part O. the time
Sam was sick hissclf, so Ruth answered
the letters, and he fell in love with her
in that way. There didn't anybody but
the deacon and the Mil!crs know he was
coming. Sam drove down to the
depot and carried him up to Calcb's.
Guess they was 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 clack of
her knecdles, had not Mr. Aliens step
sounded on the walk.
| Izabeth never talked much, and the
mother did not mind her silence to-
night. A slight quivcr about the sensi-
tive mouth alone told how kcenly the
words were felt, and the sigh of relief
which escaped at the welcome sound of
her fathers voice was lost in the noise
made as he entered stamping the snow
from his boots.
"Why, father, does it snow2 1 been
so busy talking l hain't thought to look
out of the window for some time"
eyes, 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 storm2"
Mrs. Aliens face had an anxious ex-
preston as she asked the question, for
long storm meant days of exile for
her.
"No, I sh'll be surprised if it don't
clear up by Tomorrow noon-so's Liza
beth and can take ride to the village
that'll be treat, won't it, darter9" and
the smile that lighted up his daughter
face pleased him better than any answer
could have done.
"Guess Pll 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 down to the vii
lage for the new one, and it's never been
out since. Pm glad it's cone into
fashion again, for | never enjoyed my
self complete In the now one-always
felt little above my station,' and Far.
mer Aliens laugh rang through the OLD
sitting room at the fitness of his re-
mark.
"Wcll, 'Lizabeth, you get supper OIL
the table, and pll tell father the new.
whio he warns his feet. He's ben dowr
to the wood lot all the afternoon, anC
hain't heard nothing of the strang,
things that has ben happening vi
here"
Having arranged things to her salts
faction, the stockings, Mrs. Allen had
dropped on the entrance of her husband
continued to grow under her dclt fingers
while the news lost none of its interes
with repetition.
That night, after Lizabeth had tascl
her candle and said good night, Mr.
Allen sat for some time looking at tn
fire, then suddenly broke out:
'AIother, don't you think 'Lizabctl
looks kind o. peaked ately9 The
she don't seem to cat as much a
usual"
There, father, you're always frettini
4 bout that girl. l don't know wha
you'd done if yon''l had six, like you
brother Jonathan"
81 didn't know but the news ubou
Will might afftct her some. Yo
know they used to think so much of eac
other"
d "Maasy, father! That was years an
; years ago, when they wcrs children
+ 'Lizabeth's too sensible a girl TO let
feller like Will Marston to disturb hcl