Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-08-08
"THAT TIfIRTY FOOT"

ITS truly tarrible, onchristan like, for
man an woman gittin on in years, to nurse
an keep grudge agin each other, an livin'
neighboTs, too. Once let a woman git sot in
her way o thinkin', she IS past movin in any
direction OF all stubborn created creeturs
the female sect is the beatenest,' - said 'Siah
Leeds, the imam Of all work, who kept in
beautiful order the grounds and house be
longing 10 the masculine element in the
long and bitterly waged war between DR.
Digby Hale, 43, and Penelope Beck, Of un-
certain age and temper, 50 the neighbors
said.
'Siah sat in the sunshiny, white. curtained
kitchen, watching with admiration Miss
Penelope's maid of all work beating up a
cake.
Sabriny Smith, also spinster with will
of her own, quickly resenting the uncom-
plimentary allusion TO her sex, shortly re
torted, as she whisked savagely the whites
of eight eggs in big blue bowl -
Siah Leeds, hadn't you better read up
little, an try to git into that thick skull o
yourn "a sense o. the true state of affairs {,
Wimmin hain't now livin' with their necks
under mems boot heels. They've perfeck
right to he stubborn, if they see just cause
for it, The female sect in this house are en-
tirely capable of Twin in comfort 'thout the
aid of that big generalissimo of a doctor, or
yourself | spose he thinks he's doing
grand bit of business for himself, contendin'
for the 30 foot of ground between his house
an hern. It's already cost Miss Penelope
more money than the ground is worth, an
bad as she wants it for fruit raisin' if her
poor old pa hadn't left it to her, she'd not
law about it.
Doc Hale is an oppressor Of wimmin-
that's what he is. never see him riding
down street in his new fine buggy that 1
don't compare the two together Him a
great, strong and handsome well do man.
tryin' TO cheat poor little lady gttin' on in
years, an tarrible delicate, an gettin poorer
every day. 81 Leeds, our Twins gittn'
skurse, an for months Miss Beck's been at
me 10 leave her an find place where I'll
git wages, but she cant make a lvin for
herself, an | shall not desert her, Folks
call her cross. She amt, but this lawin'
an not bein' able to find the right papers, is
maxim her fretty like. Her pa wasn't very
business like, or he'd kept things in better
shape
"You kin keep on t'other side o that 80
foot after this, if you haven't anything bet
ter to do than belittle the female sect
The crimson burned brightly upon each
apple cheek Miss Sabriny held her head
| high and beat fast the foaming eggs.
''Sabriny-Miss Smith-you know that
respeck, yes, admire your sect-l-I only
meant"
I've heerd Mstur Leeds, your re,'y flat
term compliment TO wimmin in general.
hain't putty, to be nodded as you want u
mold me. | mean Thereafter, you may
as well keep on t'other side of that 30 foot,
that rightfully belongs to Miss Pnelopy,
interrupted Miss Smith holding her head
still higher, and taking a backward step,
setting her generously proportioned feet
upon the plump house cat lying near the
stove, she tripped awkwardly, and fell prone
upon the floor, spilling upon herself the
contents of the big bowl.
Git out, you pesky creetur You've done
mischief enough for one morning scream
ed Sabriny her black eyes flashing angrily,
as she struggled into an upright position,
scornfully refusing the assistance proffered
by Siah.
81 think I'd best, Sabriny, as it looks as
if you meant me as well as old Toby. I've
not intended to insult you, an my errand
over this moruin' was TO see if we couldn't
jine forces. There's little chores over here
that needs a man to look after EN-, au'
know Doc an me git mouty tired of our
own housekeepin'. Thar's room for bott
you an me over there, an you could still
look after Miss Pnelopy, hvin' 50 handy
Git out, an quick | mean you, 81
Leeds an not old Toby l s'pose you're
offering me the chance to become Mis- Leeds
and /" desert my poor Miss P'nelopy. I'm
a woman, an one of the stubborn sort as
don't desert old friends, an, at the drop of
a hat, 90 over to the enemy. consider
your proposal insultin', an, for the last
time, tell you to stay on t'other side of that
30 foot ~ snapped Miss Sabriny, elevating
her chin, scornfully shifting the air, aud, a.
Isl inwArdly acknowledged, "lookn' right
down han n'some in her tantrum"
Crestfallen, the rejected lover turned t.
go, saying bumbly, as he held out his hand
'Sabriny, | shall not lay this up agin YOU
an II be ready to do you good turn at any
time, but, my girl, you'll ask me to do it be
fore | set foot over that 30 foot of ground
that rightfully belongs TO Doc Hale. He
hain't the man to claim property that isn't
his own, or fight innocent women Mis-
P'nelopy has fretted him into doin' aggra
vatin' things. He'd be glad to settle peace
ably. Mind, Sabriny, you'll ask me Il
come"
"It'I be long dry spell before that hap
pens, she retorted, turning her back upor
the man who had in her lonely life been 'l
sight of comp'ny, an real handy to call upor
when a mans help was needed
Two 'eavesdroppers, Miss Penelope anC
Dr. Hale, in their own rooms, had overheard
themselves and their quarrel talk ed over by
their faithful friends, and some way that 81
feet in dispute never seemed so valuelesi
before.
Dgby Hale laid down the medical journal
unable to become interested in even the
elixir of life experiments described in it,
columns. Aloud, he said,-
"Humph That vixen of "a cook serves
me up in sauce piquante. | think 'Si' has
made a lucky escape in getting no insteaC
of "a yes from that peppery damsel. never
suspected him of cherishing tender feeling
for Miss Penelope's comely cook
Unable to resume reading he went 10 {
large mirror and surveyed himself, seeing
stalwart, bronzed man in his prime. Truly
it wasn't an even battle, the money, inhu
ence, and popular opinion all belonging t,
him, and pitted against pale, spirituell'
little woman having the odds against her
He hadn't really cared for that 30 feet il
dispute, only it was his right to have it, anC
without it his lawn was narrow and con
tracted Being a stranger in the village
he had never known the Becks, and the las
scion of the family, Miss Penelope, had no
proved pleasant neighbor.
Digby Hale's battle in life had been long
one before success came, absorbing the days
and nights, too, leaving none for social duties
Motherless and sisterless from boyhoOd, h,
knew little of sweet home ties or the intlu
ence of tender womanly woman for tn,
betterment of mankind.
Come to dinner, Doc, A." called 'Siah, fron
the kitchen, and obeying the summons, he
noticed as he had never done before, tn,
"need of womanly hands" in his bachelor
abode. In silence Siah served the very
palatable dinner, repentlng in metaphorica
sack cloth and ashes, his rash vow, t,
never step over that 30 feet of grounC
until asked TO do it.
Temper made me say that he inward!
communed. "Now I've fixed things in fin,
style, leavin' myself no chance TO win hel
at all by sayin' that I'll never he aske,
TO come over if the house catches fire Sa
brings grit To the backbone. I'll neve
have any other woman for my wife, an
Im gittin' tired of livin' alone"
The day set for the trial" was approach
ing Dr. Hale said it must be settled thi
court term, as lit had dragged along to-
long now" Miss Penelope sat in her close,
bedroom, gloomy and silent the create
portion Of the time, and Sabrina's loud
Here stands a couple iined heart an hand
lie wants wife and she wants man,
An they will git married II they can agree.
Then they II march down the centre as happy a
can be-"
as she deftly turned OFF the work, no longe
a A Il 4 a H.Ha-