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

both Sister Peak to North Kilby and
Mis- Deacon Ash to the Pond, they
vie with one another to do well by
me, fear I'll like the other stopping
place best"
Il shouldn't covet Twin long O.
neither one O them women re-
sponded the passenger with some
spirit. Il see some o Miss Peak s
cookin' to a farmers supper once,
when | was visitin' Susan Ellen s
folks, an 1 says, Deliver me from
such pale completed baked beans as
theml' and she give a kind of quack
She was settin jest at my left hand,
and couldn't help hearin' me. l
wouldn't have spoken if had known,
but she needn't let on they was hers.
i guess them beans taste just as well
as other folks" says she, and she
wouldn't never speak to me after
ward"
DO knows l blame her." ventur-
ed Mr.. Briley. Women folks is
dreadful pudjicky about their cook
in. I've always heard you was one
O. the hest o cooks, Mis- Tobin.
know them doughnuts an things
you've give me in times past, when |
was drivin' by. Wish | had some on
'em now. | never let on, but Mis-
Ash's cookin' s the best by long
chalk. Miss Peaks handy about
some things, and looks after mendin'
me up"
at docs seem as if a man O your
years and your quiet make ought to
hev home you could call your own, !"
suggested the passenger. Il kind O
hate to think O your bangein' here
and boardin' there, and one old wOm-
an mendin, and the other settin' you
down to meals that like S not dom
agree with We"
"Lor', now, Mis- Tobin, lie s not
fuss round no longer" said Mr.. Bri-
ley impatiently. You know you
covet me same's do you"
II don't nuther. Don't you go an
say fo'lish things you can't stand to-
I've been tryin, to git a chance to
put in a word with you ever sence-
Well, expected you'd want to get
your feelin's kind O. calloused after
lOsin' TObin''
"There's nobody can fill his place, ="
SAID the widow.
81 do know but l can fight for We
town-meetin' days on pinch" urg-
ed Jefferson boldly.
Il never see the beat O. you men fur
conceit," and Mrs. Tobin laughed.
II amt goin' to bother with We, gone
half the time as you be, an carryin'
on with your Mis- Peaks and Mis-
Ashes. | dare say you've promised
yourself to both on 'em twenty
times"
Il hope to gracious if ever brea tn
ed q word to none on EN-" protest
ed the lover. "'Tain't for lack o
opportunities set afore me, nuther;;'
and then Mr. Briley craftily kept ST
lence, as if he had made a fair propo-
sal, and expected a definite reply.
The lady of his choice was, as she
might have expressed it, much beat
about AS she truly thought, she
was getting along i'll years, and must
put up with Jefferson all the rest of
the time 1t was not likely that she
would ever have the chance of choOs-
ing again, but she was one who liked
variety. Jefferson wasn't much to
look at, but he was pleasant and
kind of boyish and young feeling. Il
do knows | should do BETTER she
said unconsciOusly and half aloud.
well, yes, Jefferson, seem it's you.
But we're both on us kind of old to
change our situation," and Fanny
TObin gave a gentle sigh.
"Hoorayl' said Jefferson. Il was
scairt you meant to keep me sufferin'
here half an hour. | declare, I'm
more pleased than l calc'lated on.
You tell Susan Ellen the news won t
ye? Shell be surprised to hear you
have Jest come on visit. How you
must ha' tugged to get them bundles
ready, an all for nothin'; but now
I'll lend a hand bout everythin'. An
| expected till lately to die single
mani
"'T would reilly have been a shame;
t ain t natur', said Mrs. Tobin, with
confidence. Il don't see how you
held out so long with bein' solitary
"I'll hire a hand to drive for me,
and We'll have a good comfortable
winter, me an you an the old sor-
rel. I've been prOmiSin' of her a rest
this good while"
Better keep her a steppin',' urged
thrifty Mrs. Fanny. "She'll stiffen
up master, an disapp'int you come
spring"
You'll have me, now, won't We,
sartin ?" pleaded Jefferson, to make
sure You amt one O them that
plays with a mans feelin's. Say
right out You'll have me-"
II s'pose | shall have to-" said
Mrs. Tobin somewhat mournfully.
Il feel for Mis- Peak an Mis- Ash,
pore creatur's. l expect they'll be
hardshiped. They've always been
hard-worked, an may kind o'looked
forward to a little ease. But one on
'em would beleft lamenting, anyhow,
and she gave girlish laugh. An air
of victory animated the frame of Mrs.
Tobin. She felt but twenty-five years
of age. In that moment she made
plans for cutting her Briley's hair,
and making him look smartened-up
and ambitious. Then she wished she
knew for certain how much money
he had in the bank mot that it would
make any difference now. He need
not buster none before me, she
thought gayly. He's harmless as
fly.
"There's the big ellum past, an
we're only third of mile from the
depot" said Mr.. Briley. Feel
warmer, do YEP"
Who'd have thought we'd done
such piece of engineerin', when we
started out? inquired the dear one of
Mr. Briley's heart, as he tenderly
helped her to alight at Susan Ellen's
door.
Both on us, jest the least grain"
answered the lover. Gimme a good
now, you clever creatur'; and
L n L l. 1 L