The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-09-20

stage, enveloped in a cloud Of dust,
rolled away toward the brightness of
the western sky. The green.veiled pas
senger caught up hor parcels. skipped
over the stone stile with amazing
alacrity for so apparently feeble per-
sonagc. and flew like deer across the
wooded solitudes until she came to q
low, red farmhouse, aud entered cosy
kitchen, where a middle aged woman
was making black berry pies.
'.Heres your trumpet all mended,
Aunt Roxana," said she. "And here's
the alpaca dress aud the three yards of
flannel and the basket with the tea and
sugar and spices. What are you going
to have for supperG"
"Spring chicken" said Aunt Rox.
anna in the soft, subdued voice peculiar
to deaf people. They're on the but
try shelf, all dressed and ready. And
baked potatoes; and calculate to have
them pies ready to go into the oven
right off,"
"Splendidp said Lurana Hopkins.
II want one of them. And l must
have the chickens and that loaf of gin
gerbrcad."
LA, mew said Aunt Roxanna. SIS
the girl crazy3'
''It's for the schoolma' am, Aunt Rox-
anna" explained Lurana, with her rosy
mouth close to the ear trumpet. "Her
beau's father came up from the train
with me in ZAdoc Hawley's stage, and
he took me for deaf woman, because
of the trumpet, I suppose, and talked
before me to his friend real free. And
he's come out here to surprise the
schoolma'am, and find out whether she
is good housekeeper or not. And if
she isn't, he's goiag to set himself dead
against the matchl'
II never heard nothing like it in my
lifc," said Aunt Roxanna.
"And she isn't-you know she isn't2'
said Lurana. ''She just lives in half Of
the Widow Skerritts house, and boards
herself on bread and milk. But she is
as sweet as peach, and people can't
have all tho accomplishments at once---"
''No, to bs sure not" said Aunt
Roxanna, her slow wits following
Luranas rapid speech with considerable
difficulty.
"And she shan't be cheated out of
her lover, not if I can help it," said
Lurana, hurriedly packing the broilers,
neatly wrapped in napkin, into her
basket, and supplemonting them with a
loaf of spicy smelling gingerbread, two
unbaked black berry pics, a pan of bis
cult and glass jar of honey. 'Now, a
little canister of Coffee" she said "and
some of those pickles, and believe
that's all. You must hunt up some-
thing else for supper"
And once more Lurane sped across
the fields, crossing noisy brook on the
perilous span of fallen tree, picking
her way deity through the hummocks
of swamp, aud reaching the Widow
Skerritt's cottage, while tho Blue
Station stage, travelling the regular
road, was still good mile and quar-
ter away.
Alice Alden, the district school
teacher. was just putting tho last
stitches in blue checked gingham
gown that she was making when Lurana
rushed in like hazel eyed whirlwind.
"Quick!" sic cried. '.Kindle up
the fire! Set tho table! Your father
iu-law is comiugl'
my father-in-law!' cried Miss Alden,
aghast.
I'm the stage!' explained Lurana,
breathlessly. "To tako you by sur
prise, and there's no telling how soon
he will be here"
And then as we'll as she could, she
explained this unexpected combinatio
of circumstances.
But" reasoned Alice, 81 do moi
wish to deceive anybody, I can't cook,
1 never learned how"
'Fiddlesticksr' cried Lurana. 'I
men will make such geese of themselves
we may just as well meet them on thell
own ground. 1t would b, just a.
reasonable for you to refuse Victor be.
cause he hasn't learned the blacksm it'll.
trade or can't preach sermon.
Wouldn't it now2"
''There' something in that" .hesitated
Alice.
| "Of course there is" said Lurana.
1t was 8 o'clock at night when Col
Jones re joined his friend Richmond a
the Hemlock Hill hotel. Outside tn,
whip poor-wills sung, the pine woods
exhaled perfume. Within the Colone
rejoiced with an exceeding great joy
SITS all right" said he. "All a
right as possible. walked directly ii
upon her and there she was preparing
such broi.ed chickens / never tasted
and the coffee was superb. There wa,
blackberry pie that melted in my moutl
and hom ,made biscuits fit for kim q. ,
'Isn't that rather an elaborate spread
for one personf' inquired Mr. Rich
mond little incredulously.
'Oh, believe there was some othe
young woman to be with her, but sh
turned shy and wouldn't come in at tn
last. But she's the prettiest girl 20,
ever saw, Richmond"
"The other young woman3'
'Pooh, nonsensel You know what
mean-Miss Alden, herself. Aud
think my son Victor is the luckiest fel
low out. I've invited her to come t