The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-06-12
NUMBER 2I.

} where Mrs. Piper was even then beating
= eggs for the peach shortcake by the
, kitchen table.
: ''Mother," said she, 'I've brought the
schOolmaster back. Don't be vexed: but
he was so tired and hungry. poor fellow
| I'll fix up the kitchen bedroom for him,
and it will take only few minutes to
cook bit Of beefsteak and make cup
! of coffee"
Polly" cried the despairing matron,
II think you must be crazyl'
MADAM" said the bewildered stran-
geT, II do not desire to intrude, if
ITS all right mother" said Polly,
flying briskly around, pouring out a
bowl of rich milk, into which she helped
a liberal portion of the sliced peaches
which had been intended for the short
cake, and urging her company to "eat
that to begin With" while she measured
out some coffee and put juicy slab of
steak on the gridiron over bed of white
hot Goals.
At that moment there came fusilade
of knocks at the hall portals beyond.
''It's your cousin, Polly!" cried Mrs.
Piper, Fastening to open the door.
1t was a stout, thick set man, in blue
spectacles and pepper-and-salt suit.
cousin Albert?" smiled Mrs. Piper,
holding out both hands in ostentatious
welcome.
'Maam?' said the stranger, vacantly.
''He must be little deaf" thought
Mrs. Piper and she raised her voice ac-
cordingly.
THAT amt my name, maam,' said
the stout man with the blue glasses, land
| amt hard o. hearin' neither. I'm Jo-
seph Parks, that's billed to commence
teachin' the deestrict school tomorrow
morning, and the trustees'-
''My goodness mer' exclaimed Mrs.
Piper, ''ifyou're the school teacher, who's
this young man? knew how it would
be, Polly. He's tramp-an impOstor!
Blow the horn for the farm hauds; loose
the dogl"
The young man-who had just dis
posed of the last luscious spoonful of
peaches and cream-here rose to his full
height.
up to this time" said he, 'no one
has asked me for my name or creden-
tials. Everything appears to have been
taken for granted; but if any one is
doubtful of my identity, | shall be
pleased to settle the matter. lam Albert
Haven, from New York, and l presume
h"NC tllC plCdoulC VI y sllCdhlllS W lll
cousins, Miss and Mrs. Paracelsus Pr
per?'
ALBERT Haven't" cried Mrs. Piper
'Why, Albert Haven is so! Miss Viola
Barlett''-
"You are probably thinking of my
uncle, who died last month";" said the
stranger. miss Viola Bartlett, | know,
was an old sweetheart of his, And l, as
his heir and representative, have decided
to carry out the plans he made for visit
ing his relations in this neighborhood."
WELL" cried Polly, with eyes that
shOne like hazel diamonds, as she poured
out two cups of fragrant coffee ''if you
have cheated the schoolmaster out of his
welcome, Cousin Albert, you must be
content to share your dinner with him;
for won't have any one else turned out
of doors to-day, no matter what hap
pens.n
my dear little Cousin Polly!" cried
Mr. Haven, ''you are the very soul of
hospitality Depend upon it, | shall
never forget this bowl of peaches and
cream"
The schOolmaster unpacked his clean
collars and text books in the kitchen
bedroom. Mr.. Albert Haven helped
Polly start box of geranium slips in the
garden. Ont by the chattering little
brooklet old Gloriana muttered to herself
as she hung snowy pocket handkerchiefs
and napkins galore to dry; and Mrs. Pi-
per, as she took the hot peach shortcake
and the pans of tea biscuit out of the
the oven, thought with thrill of tri
umph:
Polly was wiser than l was, after all.
And do believe things are going to hap
pen just as l wanted them to,"-Helen
Forest Grdres, in Philadelphia Saturday
Night.