Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-12-18

Il want a-comin' a step after Id worked
an got my own dinner ready, an had jest
set down to it, You might have told me
beforehand "
II s'posed. Of course. YOU expected TO
come in my side to dinner. returned Jane
Oh, dear | dunno what's goin u be done
| expect Aunt Susan has come here to be
killed Oh, dear
Something has got to be done. said I'm
ogen, firmly, "or she will die down here
She'll catch her death of cold If she don't do
anything else. Now come Aunt Susan; you
sha MT be hurt a might. I'm real strong
go way said Susan with feeble snap
pishness, like a sick dog. Il tell you
wont have nobody but H man tech me to
carry me up stairs Women folks amt
strong enough. amt goiu' to be dropped
from top to bottom an killed. I've got
enough to suffer as It's
We'll I've got to get somebody, then, "
said Imogeu
There amt man nearer than him for
a mile an it's this driving storm, " said her
mother BE you goin' for him T.
Imogeu set her mouth hard I've got
to get somebody she repeated. Aunt
Sylvy, you'd better get something TO cover
her up with till get back "
I'm get quilt, replied Sylvia, eagerly.
Don't you be any longer than you can
help, for mercy sake, Imogen.'
Sylvia hurried up one fight Of stairs for
the quilt lmogen ran up the other. She
threw a shawl over her head and opened
the outer door. Tn snow came IN her face
she looked across the yard to white peak
Of roof aud a house whose outlines shove
dim and gray through the storm. Isaac
Bryce and his mother lived there, aud it
wa, the only house within a mile.
Imogen hesitated Then she nodded im-
periously. as If her own double stood he
fore her. I've got TO- any how. said she
She gathered up her skirts aud " ent plung-
ing across the yard The snow was quite
deep She knocked at the side door of the
Bryce house aud Mrs Bryce opened it. Sue
started when she saw lmogen.
Good afternoon. Won't you come in -
she said, ia a stiff, shy way.
Where's Isaac T. asked Imogen, boldly.
Then she blushed redly all over her face
and neck
I,aacs mother blushed to, As if by re-
Election. and dropped her meek-iidded eyes
He's IN the slttlu room, said she.
DO you suppose he'd be willing to come
over 70 our house a minute ' said Imogen
Aunt Susan has fallen down the cellar
stairs an We can't get her up. Fathers
gone down to the village
l. she hurt much q
Il don't know guess her ankles
sprained. We can tell TIL we get her up
Il guess Isaac would be willing to come. "
said Mrs Bryce, ia a calm voice that was al
most monotonous but she trembled and
looked up at lmogen IN scared way she
was much smaller than the girl.
will YOU ask him {" said Imogen.
Yes I'll ask him. You step IN
Imogen stepped into the kitchen and
stood, whitley pow dered with snow, by the
door
Mrs. Bryce went into the next room In
a minute she returned. She was quite
pale He says he wont 20 unless you ask
him, " she reported, in a whisper Don't
you mind. He's terrible set She'd ought
to be got up. You'd better Jest step in
there an ask him. He's been feelin dread
full bad all day. He didn't eat scarcely any
dinner. You'd better"
Imogen looked at the sitting-room door
rehecuvely. We'll, said she, If he
wants to stand out when poor old woman
is dying he can. I'll go"
She threw her shawl back, and went into
the sjtting-room. Isaac sat in q rocking
chair reading the newspaper He arose
Aunt Susan has fallen down the cellar
stairs. Can you come over an get her up ("
asked Imogen, shortly.
Eyes, I'll come, answered Isaac, and his
tone was as short as hers
He got his hat without another word and
they started across the yard. Imogen fol-
lowed in lsaac's tracks, and Mrs Bryce
watched them from her kitchen window.
Neither Isaac nor Imogen spoke a word.
She conducted him into the house and down
the cellar stairs.
"Oh, Isaac, I'm so thankful you We comet"
sobbed Mrs. Evarts. Now do take her up
careful. l dunno but she's killed"
Isaac Bryce was a strong man, aud now
Susan made no resistance. He carried her
up stairs easily, and laid her on the bed in
the bedroom out of the sitting room in Syl-
Was side.
Now you'd better see how much she's
hurt, an if you want me to go for the doc
tor, >" said he. Then he went out in the sit
ting-room and waited. Presently Imogen
came to him.
Il guess there amt any need of doc
tor, said she, IN stately tone. Then she
looked up at him, and in spite of herself
all her old love for him showed in her face.
and his answered back. The two hand
some faces flashed light and love at each
other like two stars.
Imogen's mother came out of the bed
room. Il guess she amt hurt very bad"
said she. Her ankles sweled some and
guess she wont be able to step on it for a
few days, out that's all Now I'm goin' 70
get her some dinner. Sylvy's goin' to warm
up some onions, an l wish you'd 90 in the
other side, lmogen, an get a nice slice of
turkey. Shes going TO have some stewed
chicken, but | think mebbe she'll relish
some of the turkey. An her voice sank
TO a whisper-'why don't you bring her
that cape, an let her have it over her
shoulders. | guess twould please her
"Hou know | made that for Mrs Bryce
said Imogen. Then she colored and looked
away
Her mother cast a sharp glance at her and
Isaac. We'll, you can make one for Mis-
Bryce for New Years" said she. Cant
she, Isaac Aunt Susan he'd ought to have
this one, poor thing l know it'll please
her.
Imogen went down and up the cellar
stairs to the other side, and Isaac followed
lie stood looking out of the sitting-room
window, while she got the turkey and cape.
III be back in a minute" she said. when
she started to go in the other side again
She would not ask him to stay in any more
direct way than that.
Her mother made her carry the cane in
to Susan, and she put it over her shoulders
for her.
It's Just as pretty as it can be, an real
becomin' said Mrs. Evarts. "Now guess
she'll get well. She's goin' to Law here lest