The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-11-01
THE LOST SPECTACLES.
BY EMMA A. oPPER.

II laid 'em right down here" said
MI. Bennett; "and now they're gone"
Myra looked up from the long sup
portable she was clearing, with sur
prising lack of agitation. She had not
kept house for Mr.. Bennett for the two
years since his wife had died without
learning that he was very probably the
most absent-minded old gentleman in
the world.
'Laid 'em right down here" Mr..
Bennett repeated, fumbling about on
tho kitchen window-sill; "and now
they amt here. Funny"
He spoke querulously; and after a
long, hard day with the thrashers it
was not much to be wondered at.
"Are you sure you left them there2'
said Myra. She had put the same question
on hundred previous occasions; but
she spoke patiently. She had had q
hard day, too, getting dinner and sup
per for eleven men was no light task,
hut Myra's sweetness was never rufled.
You could have guessed that with one
look into her soft, calm, pretty blue
eyes.
Am I sure7" said Mr.. Bennett,
sharply, dropping into chair and wip-
ing his face with red handkerchief.
"Now, what's the use Of saying that,
Myry9 Don't always know where ]
lay my spectaclesa Irecollect putting
'em dowa there, jest after supper; and
then l stepped out to settle up with
Varick, and fused round the barn a
little, and now / come back and they're
gone. Irecollect it, said Mr. Bennett,
as though hisgrecolIection was a thing
not to be disputed. 'And they're my
best gold bowed glasses; l don't wear
'em common. Idon't know what put
them on today for. Jest to got 'enl
stole, Isposc."
''Stolea' said Myra in shocked re-
monstrance.
"Wal, I've got my suspicious" Mr..
Bennett responded, crossing his leg.
with a jerk. 'Ive got 'em. What
do you think. anyhow, o folks that
hire out to Varick to thrash for a dol
lar a day, a-wearing white shirts and
collars, and having hands just as white
as that plate9 Whit do you think of it7'
Mr.. Bennett demanded, conclusively.
Myra's gentle face, bent over the
butter-dish she was scraping, flushed
warmly.
'Do you mean Mr.. Goodwin she
faltered.
How'd you know him9' said Mr..
Bennett, suspiciously.
"Oh, live met himp said Myra,
timidly. "Hes staying with the Blacks,
next door to Aunt Mary's. He's Mr..
Blacks nephew; and he's in Aunt
Mary's sometimes. I've met him there.
"Hml hev-hev you2' said Mr..
Bennett, with contemptuous grunt.
'sWal, you better let him alone; that
my advice. If I amt loosing my guess,
he amt fit for nobody to meet"
Myra, red-cheeked, and brushing the
table-cloth with futtering hands, wa:
silent.
docs it look jest right" said Mr..
Bennett, sternly, "for a young man
aslick and good-looking feller though
he be-to be going around with Varick's
thrashers, with them citifed ways"
Hes doing it on account of his
health" said Myra, bravely interrupt.
ing. "He came away from the city fol
country air and exercise, and he's indie.
pendent enough to take the exercise ir
way that will bring him a little
money. He isn't rich"
'How do you come to know Sc
much7' said Mr.. Bennett, acridly.
''Told you, eh2 Wal, it's my advic,
not to let him tell you any moro. Won,
no good come of il. l tell 70 I've gor
my suspicious. 1t amt jest right,
don't care what you say; something
wrong about it. For a teller like that
to go round thrashing, in then
clothes
II suppose they're all the clothes he
has with him." said Myra, patiently.
'In them clothes, and with that all
o his. You need't tell mel Mr.. Ben.
nett ended, vaguely but immovably.
"Yes, his manner, are better thar
sgd Young's, or Varicks," said Myra,
looking ruefully at the stained cloth
where Varick had eaten. "But is that
anything against him, Mr.. Bennettf'
'Wal, know jest as we'll as want
to where them glasses hev gone to-"
said Mr.. Bennett with stubborn iratc
ness.
''Do you seriously think that Mr..
Goodwin has taken them2 said Myra
her pretty eyes remonstrantly wide.
'tPretty clear case, seems to me- !
said Mr.. Bennett, doggedly. "Thcre
wouldn't another one o them men a
done it; know 'em all. / want over
pleased with him fust minute l see
him."
Myrs put the goblets into the dish
pan silently.
~ can aoner'ly tall whom a man AIM,