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

The train stopped at Blue Station on
time this Wednesday afternoon. 1t was
not particularly punctual train,
neither did it especially matter whether
it was or not, as Blue Station was one
Of those "lodges in the vast wilderness"
where time was not reckoned according
to the Wall street standard and where
people took things easy.
The stage for Hemlock Hill was
waiting there-a clumsy conglomcration
of musty leather, faded paint, and an
cient wood, drawn by two sleepy
horses, and driven by Jehu SO old
that one instinctively wondered how he
ever got up and down from his aerial
perch on tho box seat. MI. Richmond
and his friend Col. Jones took their
seats, packed their valises snugly under
their feet, and fastened their natty silk
umbrellas in the rack overhead. There
was only one other passenger-a woman
in brown waterproof cloak and a
green veil, with lidded market basket
in her lap and tremendous ear trum-
pet in her hand.
"Only deaf woman" said Colonel
Jones, glancing toward her.
II see," observed Mr. Richmond
"We need put o particular restraint on
our conversation"
care we all ready, driver3' shouted
Colonel Jones, who was unused to the
Ieisurely methods of life in place like
Blue Station. The driver appeared tc
rouse himself from sort of doze.
II be if you be!' said he. "Git up,
Kate! Look out, thar, you Sorrel!"
Aud away they rolled.
"Yes,' said Colonel Jones, rubbing
his neatly gloved hands, cit will be Q
genuine surprise. And I meant it to
be. l want to sec for myself how things
are."
Certainly" said Mr.. Richmond,
lurching from one end of tho seat to the
other, as the wheels took big stone OF
their way.
'The lad is over head and ears in
love-" said Colonel Jones.
'Young men will be FOOLS" observed
Mr. Richmond, cynically.
''But a school teacher; distric
school teacherl" sighed the colonel, who
was tall and portly and clean-shaven
with very black eyebrows and hair jus
dashed with silver
"a good many nice girls take to tina
business" remarked Mr.. Richmond
Mr.. Richmond was gaunt gentleman
with hollow eyes, parchment-coloret
skin, and general dyspeptic air.
'1t isn't that / desplse tho trade,
said Col Jone. "You know that a
we'll as I do, Richmond. If the girl i
good and pretty, I'd as soon she should
be school teacher as anything else
But want my boy to have real home
like home. My wife gave me one, and
solemnly believe it was the making o
me. And Victor's wife must be no mer
book machine or wearer of fine clothes
If she can't sew, and sweep and COO
hes no fit mate for my son. Well, 20
see, l have been studying the matte
over"
Il see, said Mr.. Richmond, holdin
desperately on to the leather strap abov
his head, as the driver guided tn
wheels over succession of stumps o
the side of the road.
81 give them no time for prepars
tion," said the Colonel, chuckling. =
drop down upon Miss Allen like a wo
on the fold. see just exactly what sh
is. / judge for myself. I wouldn't Civ
fig for all the Latin and guitar mus
and china painting in the world if
woman can't make a loaf of ligh
sweet bread and cook steak. Eh2
am sure 1 beg a thousand pardon
ma'am, "as a sudden swing of the coae
precipitated his head against the bask,
and sent the car trumpet rolling to IL
floor.
"Allow mel Did you want to e
outa"
For the woman with the green We
was making vehement gestures with h
hand to the driver. She Put up Il
trumpet with an in quiring expression
face.
"Did-you-want -to-get- out
roared Col. Jones into its convolut,
depths, the veins starting out on b
forehead as he did so.
"Yes, sir, please" said the woma
and the courteous Colonel himself g
out TO expedite the removal of the bs
ket, the trumpet and sundry broy
paper parcels which constituted the l
longiDgs of their fellow passenger
1 p-N