Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-12-18
PHOENIX, BRATTLEBORO FRIDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1891
~ dnn'nn'- an [ don't care -

VI GUY vi course she uhun I ought 70
| be.
Susan laid her little cold skinny hand on
her knife again: she looked at the chicken
on her plate "Mebbe.n she began. but
there was another rap. louder aud more
peremptory.
Il s'pose she will he madder'n hops if
you don't go. 4" said Sylvia II know Imo-
gen has been maxim something for you for
Christmas, but it'll Jest serve her right.
Then YOU think l ought TO 90
NO, don't You can do Jest as you've
a mind 70. / know she'll be put out with
YOU, an she'll be put out with me. but !
don't care if she is amt -goin' If you
feel as il you didn't want to make her mad
you ca 60 that's all there is about it"
"Sha'n't you be mad Sylvy Z"
No, | sha'nt. | amt one Of the kind
that gets mad can stan everything, an
not say word. '
susan rose up slowly. She cast one last
wistful glance at her plate. "Mebbe I'd
better 60" said she
well. said Sylvia in a sweetly baleful
voice. you'll have a better dinner. You'll
have roast turkey know them was tur-
key feet-but yon wont have no onions |
can tell you that"
Il don't feel a. if had ought To put her
out, said Susan. pitifully
She did not get her little shawl as she
went through the sitting room, she was so
perturbed. She usually wore # on her Jour
neys from one side to the other She shiv-
cred violently As the cold earthly breath of
the cellar came in her face when she stood
at the head Of the stairs She grasped the
stair rail convulsively. aud went down a
step at a time Her knees bent under her
Nothing could exceed her canton, she was
in such terror Of falling But the stairs
were dark Somehow she missed the las,
step. and sank in little heap at the foot
There was sharp twinge through her an
kle She gasped for breath two or three
times then she did not know any more
aboutit
Upstairs Sylvia Evans. in her side. ate
her dinner, and her brother his wife. and
daughter. in their side ate their dinner.
The raps on the wall had been continued for
some time They came at last in an impa-
tent volley. Sylvia had listened quite un-
moved and grim She thought that her
Aunt Susan had reached the other side. and
that now they were knocking solely for her
benefit.
Let EN- knock. " she said. aloud and
she helped herself to more chicken
At last the people in the other side gave
up knocking
If Aunt Susan an Sylyy don't want IN
come 10 here. they needn't said Jane
Eyarts. You'd better cut up the turkey.
Sylvester ! guess l shouldn't have got
great turkey if Ia known but l might
have / thought | smelt onions cookin'.
Sylvy jest made up her mind she wouldn't
come, an that's all there is about it, Have
some squash, lmogen -
No, guess won't"
Wont have any squash p
NO. | don't want any"
"Why, you've always been crazy for
squash. What's got into you Oh. | for
got. forgot he was over here last Christ
mas. Well if you wanted to get mad. an
quarrel with him, an spoil your prospects. |
should think that was enough. without max
ing everybody else miserable Coin with
out squash when anybody's taken pains to
cook it think there's little something
due TO your own folks"
DO give me a spoonful if you feel that
way about it. retorted Imogen, miserably.
She held out her plate.
you might see him an make it up. if
you had any sense, said her mother, as she
took up a spoonful of squash
We've talked about that all want to"
said Imogen, coldly.
Yes; I'll warrant you'd die FIRST" re-
turned her mother. Il don't see where YOU
got your temper, for my part 'Twa'n't
from my side of the family, | know that"
Meanwhile that little unconscious heap
lay at the foot of the cellar stairs. 1t was
some time before Susan came to herself
then she tried TO get up, but could not
She called, but her voice was weak the
people were at dinner in rooms under which
the cellar did not extend, and nobody heard
her.
IL was a good hour before Sylvia. going
TO the head of the cellar stairs, heard a
faint moan from the foot.
Who's down there" she called out, in a
scared voice.
"Me"
Aunt Susan What is itl What on
earth's the matter How came you there p
Sylvia went down as she talked.
II fell, said Susan.
Fell For the lands sake Your bones
amt broke, be they =
II dunno. guess I've hurt my ankle a
little. can't stand up. l hadn't ought to
have come alone"
II don't see what you was thinkin' of, to
fall, " cried Sylvia. She grasped Susan's
arm, but the old woman demonstrated with
unwonted force
81 amt goin' TO be teched, " said she. 81
amt goin to be dragged up on that ankle.
It's Jest like knives
Sylvia rushed TO the foot of the other
stairs, aud screamed, Jane Jane! come
here, quick -
The door at the head of the stairs opened.
What you hollerin' for p inquired cold
voice
Aunt Susan is dreadfully hurt. Idun'no'
but she's killed. Come down here, quick
Call Sylvester"
"Oh dear Sylvester went down to the
village right after dinner, walled Jane,
rushing heavily down the stairs ''What is
it, Sylvy How did she do it 2"
She fell, an she's been lyin there all the
time You was eatin' dinner. l call it a
Judgment on you for rappin' in, an that's
all I've got to say about it.
Jane Evarts, strOng-minded woman as
she appeared ordinarily, always fled before
an emergency, with her wits at loose ends
''lmogen Imogen !" she screamed, "come
down here, quick, quick Bring the cam
phor an the balm-Gilead bottle. Your aunt
Susan's killed Oh dear, | wish Sylvester
was to home Oh dear Z" She and Sylvia
bent over Susan, and in a minute Imogen
was there.
Susan struck out at them wildly with her
feeble hands II amt goin' to be teched,"
she protested in her trembling voice. that
had tone of strange fire in it.
Let mother and l carry you up stairs"
pleaded Inogen, and she spoke more softly
than Susan had ever heard her. Let us
carry you up, Aunt Susan, aud then we can
hnd out where you are hurt"