St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-03-14
terest and endowment.

seats, and come front here long o
me? Wecould put one buff 10 top o
the other-they'r both wearin thin,
and set close, and | do know but
we sh'd be oreprotected ag inst the
weather"
well, | couldn't be no colder if |
was friz to DEATH" answered the
widow, with an amiable shipper.
Don't We let me delay you, nor put
We out, Mr.. Briley | don't know S
I'd set forth today if I'd know t was
so cold; but l had all my bundles
done up, and | amt one that puts
my hand to the plow an looks back,
| 'cordin' to Scriptur'
You wouldn't wanted me to ride
all them seven miles alone ?" asked
the gallant Briley sentimentally, as
he lifted her down, and helped her up
again to the front seat. She was a
few years older than he, but they
| had been schoOlmates, and Mrs. To-
| bin s youthful freshness was suddenly
revived to his minds eye. She had a
| little farm there was nobody left at
| home now but herself, and SO she had
broken up housekeeping for the Win
| ter Ief1erSOn himself had savings of
no mean amount.
They tucked themselves in, and felt
better for the change, but there was
a sudden awkwardness between
them; they had not had time to pre-
pare for an unexpected crisis.
They say Elder Bickers, over to
| East Sanscrit's, been and got mar
ried again to gal that's four year
younger than his daughter" pro-
claimed Mrs. Tobin presently. Seems
to me t was fools business.
Il view it So" said the stage-driv-
er. "There's goin' to be a mild open
winter for that family
What joker you be for a man
that's had SO much responsibility!
smiled Mrs Tobin, after they had
done laughing. Amt you never
'fraid, carryin mail matter and such
valuable stuff, that you'll be set on
an robbed, specially by night ~
Jefferson braced his feet against the
dasher under the worn buffalo. at
folks, but I'd like to see anybody get
the better o me. | go armed, and l
don't care who knows it. Some o.
them drover men that comes from
Canady looks as if they didn't care
what they did, but l look them right
IN the eye every time
Men folks is brave by natur' :"
said the widow admiringly. You
know how Tobin would let his fist
right out at ANYBODY that undertook
to sass him. Town-meetin' days, if
he got disappointed about the way
| things went, he lay EN- out in win
rows; and eff he hadn't been a church
member he'd been a real tightin'
character. | was always fra1d to
have him reused, for all he was so
willin and meechin' to home, and set
round clever as anybody. My Susan
Ellen used to boss him same's the kit
ten, when she was four year old"
I've got kind of sideways cant
to my nose, that Tobin gave me
when he was to school. | don t
knows you ever noticed it. said Mr..
Briley. I'VE was scuff1in', as lads
will | never bore him no kind of a
grudge. | pitied We, when he was
taken away. | reilly did, now, Fan
ny. l liked Tobin first-rate, and |
liked you l used to say you was the
han soonest girl to school"
''Lemme see your nose. T is all
straight, for what l know" said the
widow gently, and with a trace of
coyness she gave q hasty glance. Il
don't know but what t is warped
little, but nothin' to speak Of
You've got real nice features, like
your marin $ folks.
Il n
casion, and Jefferson Briley felt that
he was in for something more than
he had bargained He hurried the
faltering sOrrel horse, and began to
talk of the weather. 1t certainly did
look like snow, and he was tired
humping over the frozen road.
Il ShOuldnt wonder if | hired a
hand here another year, and went off
out West myself to see the country"
"Why, how you talk" answered
the widow
"Yes'm," pursued Jefferson. at
is tanner here than like, and | was
tellin 'em yesterday I've got to know
this road most too well. I'd like to
go out an ride in the mountains with
some O. them great clipper coaches,
minute but he'll be shot dead the
next. They carry an awful sight O.
gold down from the mines, | expect
Il should be scairt to DEATH" said
Mrs Tobin What creatur's men
folks be to like such things Well,
do declare"
Yes" explained the mild little
man. "There's sights of desp 'radoes
makes a han some livin' out O fol-
lowin' them coaches, an stoppin'
an Robin 'em clean to the bone.
Your money or your life!' and he
fOurished his stub of a whip over
the sOrrel mare.
''Landv mel you make me run all
of cold creep. Do tell somethin'
heartenin', this cold day. | shall
dream bad dreams all night
They put on black Grape over their
faces" said the driver mysteriously.
Nobody knows who most on 'em be,
and like as not some O them tellers
come o. good families. They've got
so they stop the cars, and go right
through 'em bold as brass. | could
make your hair stand on end, Mis-
Tobin-I could sol"
81 hope none on EN- III git round
our way, I'm sure said Fanny To-
bin. Il don't want to see none on
'em in their Grape bunnits comm af-
ter me-
Il amt goin' to let nobody touch
a hair O your head" and Mr.. Briley
moved little nearer, and tucked in
the buffaloes again.
Il feel considerable warm to what
of reward.
There, L used to have my fears"