The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-04

u SWannyI' Sald tne SeWlng-ma-
chine agent, under his breath.
This is my little girl" volunteered
Mrs. Twitchell, smoothing the sunny
head.
Azariah sat down ia the nearest chair
"You could knock me down with a
feather" said he, presently. That
child is the living image of one / knew
thirty-odd years ago. What's your
name, sissy"
Annie S. Twitchell," solemnly an
swered the little one, with a steady look
out of her deep eyes.
"This little girl l used to know was
named Sophrony-Sophrony Miller.
You hain't no relations named Miller,
have your" he asked Mrs. Twitchell.
Yes, but they're far removed" she
replied, with unconscious bitterness.
Far removed, indeed, was the beautiful
child Sophronia from the middle-aged,
worn Widow Twitchelll
Azariah seemed to have forgotten his
usual energetic haste. With softened
voice and ingenious coaxing, he enticed
the little one to his side, then to his
knee. Mrs. Twitchell took up her sew
ing and listened to the talk going on
between the two.
Where did you know those Millers
you spoke off" she said, after awhile.
"They lived in the same place where
was born, ;" said Azariah. Sophrony
Miller was the prettiest critter you
ever did see. She looked just like
this little one of your'n, and when she
was just about as big as this one she
and l used to go to school together, and
to Sabbath-school, too. She hadn't no
parents, so her aunt brought her up. 1t
don't seem but little while since So
phrony and | went along the road hand
in hand together, picking blackberries,
or wintergreens, or cording
to the season-or sat together in meetin'
with my old grand'ther feeding us pep
'mints to keep us quiet. He was mas
ter hand for pep'mints-loved 'em and
always carried 'em. Fact, he smelt so
strong of 'em all the time they used to
call him old Pep'mint Adams"
Annie had been regarding him with
great gravity and now asked, "Do you
love peppermints? do!'
Azariah burst into taught"
You see if l don't bring you some
next time l come" said he, "But
there's woman mile down the road
here that's expecting a machine, and if
/ don't get it to her this afternoon
she'll give me balyhack, so l must go
now. Give me a kiss, Sophrony-An-
ME, l mean-and goodbye, ma'am."
He came again and brought the hem
mer, and some peppermints for Annie.
Then he called to show new attach
ment to sewing-machines and insisted
on leaving it for trial. Then he
called to take it away, as Mrs. Twitchell
did not purchase it. Then he called to
see little Annie. Then he called boldly
to see Mrs. Twtchell herself. The
nearest neighbor looked out of the
window at the frequent visitor and OBJ
served, 81 b'lieve my soul Widow
Twitchell's got beaul"
The courtship was short. Azariah
made his appearance one evening in
Mrs. Twitchel's front room, and at
once assumed his favorite attitude, one
knee crossed over the other and bal
ancing his chair on two legs.
See here'' he said, abruptly. You
know l told you once about a girl
named Sophrony Miller"
eyes," answered the widow, in the
breathless way which seemed to be
habitual.
"Well, 1 didn't tell you she was my
GIRL" continued Azariah, but she
was. We was engaged. We was going
to be married. Everything was all ar
ranged, and l went to the city to get a
job. was gone longer'n l expected,
and when l come back, 10 and behold,
Sophrony was gone! Yes, gonel l
never knew where, nor why, except
that her aunt had died and she hadn't
no home-but she would have had a
home if she'd waited till got there
well, never mind Sophrony now
only she's the reason why | never
wanted TO get married since till now!
You remind me of her, and took to
you the first time / see you. | can
take care of you and Annie too. Say.
what's the reason you and / can't get
along together?'
Mrs. Twitchell was visibly trembling,
and her voice shook as she replied, " If
you can't have Sophrony you'll take
me?"
"No matter about Sophrony-I want
youI"
Suppose you could have Sophrony
and me tool"
"Well, l amt a Mormon" com.
menced Azariah, but the widow inter
rupted him by leaving the room alb
ruptly. Azariah stared after her for q
moment, letting the two fore-legs of
his chair drop to the floor. She re-
appeared as hastily as she had departed
But was it the Widow Twitchell, with
spectacles and cap discarded, tran.
scient flush lending the bloom of youth
to her pale cheeks, her hair arranged
in the fashion of her girlhood, smiling
yet with tears sparkling in her eyes,
making them bright as of yore? Aza.
riah made two strides across the narrow
room and his long arms closed about
her slender form. No doubts were his
no questions rose in his faithful heart;
all he said was Sophrony, Sophrony
is it your"
I" | had to go away after aunt died.
said Sophronia, later in the evening.
went to see if / could earn little in
the factory. / amt no hand to write
you know | never was, but | did write
after awhile and never got no answer