Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-09-09


with curiosity that Sabbath morning
to see the bride that Bob Trench had
brought home. He had wooed and
won her in New York, and none OF
the family had seen her until her ar
rival among them the night before.
ssThe whole thing" said DR.. Tanner,
''done, no doubt, at white heat, af-
ter the fashion of the Trench family
The Trenches were large-bodied,
hot-blooded race, always making a
talk in the county by sudden out
breaks into vice or into big, heroic
deeds of virtue.
The quiet, slow-going, Scotch Irish
Presbyterians who made up the COM
munity of the village of Oxford, found
the virtuous Trenches quite as dis
composing and uncomfortable to live
with as the wicked ones.
"Radical religion" said Deacon
Vale, sis like a balkin' horse. He
may intend to drag you up the hill,
but he lands you in the ditch at last.
Give me an old steady PAGER on the
road or in the church."
The Trenches had front pew (for
which they sometimes forgot to pay,
and it was here that Bob led his wife
this morning. She was a small wo-
man with light eyes and hair, and
looked oddly white and cool and in
significant among the big-boned,
black-browed Trenches. She knew
that the whole congregation were sit
ting in judgment on her eyes and
nose and gown, but went through
with her devotions in absolute calm.
Luncheon was the first meal at
which the family had met since her
arrival. Now Grandma Trench, who
was seventy and a victim of ticdoul-
oureaux, had long ago yielded the
care of the house to Kate, the eldest
daughter. There had been fierce sus-
picions in Kate's mind that the new
conner would try to wrest the reign of
sovereignty from her.
''She'll take the head of the table;
you'll see,' she told her sister Josey,
vehemently. "She must understand
from the beginning that you and l
contribute to the expenses, and that
manage. 1 will never take a Sec
ond place-never What can that
child, brought up in a city boarding
school, know of housekeeping
But the child in her babyish white
gown seemed to understand the sit
uation by second-sight. She came
into the room where luncheon was
served, her arm about grandma's
waist, softly smiling as the old lady
chartered. Kate, tall and grim,
stood behind the chair of honor. In
an instant Anna had seated the old
lady in it.
''My DEAR" she cried amazed.
"This is not my place. Kate, or-or
you"
''No, no, dear! Sit still. OF
course the place of precedence is
yours, said Anna, gently. "That is
right. 1 will sit by you and do the
work." sliding quietly into chair.
Kate, in dumb rage, found her.
self deposed. But what could she
do? Anna was right. She was right,
too, when Bob sent for third cup of
green tea, in leaving it untitled.
''You think you want more," she
said, her light, smiling eyes holding
his firmly. 'But you are mistaken,
Robert; you do not. You only think
so.''
1t is a fact memorable among the
Trenches that Bob never asked for a
third cup again.
These Trenches were undisciplined
in their eating, as in everything else.
When grandma asked for deviled
lobster, Anna, with an innocent face,
gave her cold chicken.
s'The child did not hear me-" the
old lady thought. But Kate was
not deceived.
EtYou made mistake she said
to Anna, after they had left the ia
BILE, trying to smile courteously. owe
never interfere with mothers diet,
however unwholesome it may be-
"Ah? But that is not right p re-
piled the little bride with her sweet
laugh. 81 shall love her too dearly
to allow her to commit suicide by
inches"
SIT is right" That and her sweet
laugh were her only weapons. The
Trenches might fume, or rage or
laugh with savage insolence at her
proposed reforms; but there she
stood, calm, immovable, an infexible
purpose animating every atom of her
soft little body, and giving meaning
to her pale blue eyes and gentle
laugh.
In year she had proved her pow
er. Deviled lobster, with all other
highly seasoned and expensive dishes,
had been replaced by cool and cheap
messes compounded by Annals own
deft fingers.
cit was not right that so much of
their moderate income should 90 to
pamper their stomachs." cit was not
right that when Bob was the chief
bread-winner of the household Bob's
wife should buy the bread She
never put this last maxim into words,
but into gentle, memorable, incessant
practice.
Grandma in ooarof orio6 hiffar