The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-01-04
Selected Storm.
A Prompt Solution.

letter-paper, and back-combs ana paper
collars and suspenders in glass cases
in the front, and crockery and calico,
and tinware and overalls and cowhide
boots disposed on the shelves, and
butter and dried beef and buckwheat
and kerosene and molasses and cod
fish in friendly confusion in the rear.
Its molly variety was, indeed, neces-
sity. Lamphier's was the one store of
Unionville.
If Lamphier's was the typical coun-
try store Lottie Lamphier was not the
typical country store-keeper's daugh-
ter. So John Stockham, Mr.. Lamphier's
clerk from the next town, had thought
when he saw her tripping into the store
one morning after spool of thread
and pound of coffee. She was her
fathers housekeeper.
She had seemed to John, in her crisp
pink calico and her natty straw hat, the
most jauntily stylish girl he had ever
seen, as well as the prettiest.
That was four months ago. Lottie
came down to the store frequently. OF
course it was necessity that she should
something was always needed at the
house. Certainly John was far too
luOucsJ W uIcdul tlit his pIcStllCc COulu
have the remotest influence on her COM
ings and goings.
But he had not neglected his oppor-
tunities. He had talked to her as he
tied up her sugar or rolled up her lining
cambria, and smiled at her from over
the kerosene can and molasses barrel,
and Lottie had not been prudishly
backward in responding. The first
snow found them very good friends
indeed.
The one blot on this extremely pleas
ant companionship was Mr.. Lamphier
Whether Mr.. Lamphier was guilty of
the notion that his clerk was an unde-
sirable party, and therefore dangerous
companion for his daughter, or whether
he was possessed of an ignoble fear of
the loss of a good housekeeper, or
whether he had developed a streak
of the unreason and contrariness not
entirely unknown to old gentlemen who
are undergoing their first touches of
rheumatism and feeling the need of an
older pair of glasses-what Mr.. Lam
pliers motive was was doubtful.
But he was plainly opposed to John
Stockham's growing admiration for his
pretty daughter.
The scene which took place one
snowy December morning had come to
be a common one.
Lottie came down to the store at a
quarter to nine. 1t was earlier than
she generally came, and the fact ac-
counted for the blackness of Mr.. Lam
pliers frown.
Her new brown dress was eXtraor-
dinarily stylish and becoming, and John
Stockham fairly blushed with delighted
admiration at the sight of her.
Lottie had nothing to get but pound
of rice, and it was impossible to be very
long about getting that. But Lottie
was young person of ways and means.
Good-morning, Mr.. Stockham," she
called out, cheerfully.
John was replenishing the fire at the
back of the store.
Goodmorning, Miss Lampher,"
he rejoined, with subdued enthusiast m .
Mr.. Lamphier's sharp eyes were upon
him, and he did not venture to join her.
What are these, pap" cried Lottie
Immediately. Do come and show me
how they work, Mr.. Stockham."
They were patent mouse-traps. Il
was improbable that Lottie was igno-
rant of their function or that John
Stockham believed that she was, but
he got himself to the front of the store
with alacrity.
cts lovely weather, Mr.. Stockham,' -
Lottie observed, forgetting the mouse
trap. Elegant"
rs it?" said John, not brilliantly
but devotedly, looking his admiration
of Lottie's bright eyes and red cheeks.
ooh, yes; the SHOWS a foot deep,
and | had to wade, but like it."
"Do you like walking alone-by
yourself?" John ventured.
"Oh, well, 1 suppose it would be
pleasanter with somebody along" Lot
tie responded, with her eyes on a row
of stove-polish boxes.
" should say so, decidedly" said
John, growing bolder.
" Stockham!' Mr.. Lamphier called
snappishly, "please attend to Gus,
TONER'S
The customers" consisted of old
Billy Murdoch, who came regularly to
sit over the stove, but never bought
anything; but John was obedient.
There was period of silence, and
then clatter from the front.
"Oh, goodness" cried Lottie, in a
tone of horror, "I've knocked down a
box of curtain-fxtures. Mercy! do
help me to pick them up"
John rushed to her side. He did not
know whether she had knocked them
Off purposely, but he hoped she had /.
Lottie knew, but she looked quite in
nocently regretful.
They CROPPED about together for the
missing curtain fixtures among the
empty boxes under the counter. Occa-
sionally their hands touched each other
" Wen never find them all" said
Lottie.
{" l hope we won't. I'm willing tc
keep on hunting" John rejoined, with
sly, shy glance at the pretty face
near him.
GIVE got lot of things to do al
home" said Lottie, smiling back al
him. /" I'm trimming new hat"
You couldn't improve on that one, y
John put in, with another admiring
glance.
"And if I'm going to have rice pud
ding for dinner it ought to be goine
- oniI I