Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-12-19
Old Dolly.

e'It's bitter cold night, MOTHER
said Farmer Bradshaw to his wife as
he turned away from the kitchen door,
where he had been peering out into
the darkness to ascertain the nature
of the weather 81 shouldn't wonder
if we had snow before morning; it's
held off long spell this year,
teI wonder where Lucilla is to-
night" murmured Mrs. Bradshaw.
"Always thinkin' of her, amt you,
mother? Well, Pm in the same boat
specially to-day; keep expecting to
see her every minute"
"Perhaps she has thoughts of visit
ing us,'' said his wife, hopefully, "and
that's why she doesn't write. We
have not heard from her for long
time"
ayes, yes-and it's queer she never
comes home. It's three years since
she was married.; it amt like her to
stay away from us so long. Things
have not all gone right with her, Pm
afraid. She was always proud and
and high strung, you know and would
rather suffer alone than have any one
know of her misfortunes.
An hour crept slowly by, broken
only by the click of mother Brad
shaw's knitting needles. The old
man gazed into the fire with an absent
look, as if trying to follow the wan
derings of his only child.
GCDau off to iC Tuoi1Jo1c
birthday father" broke in Mrs. Brad
shaw at last
II know, mother. l never liked the
looks o. that husband O. hers" he
went on. H'He had such slippery
tongue. And he always dressed so
nice, and seemed to have nothin' to
do. I'm sorry she married in such
hurry, hadn't time to think, hardly,
before she was gone"
%<Weu, father, it's no use maxim
ourselves miserable worryin' over
what's done and settled" said Mother
Bradshaw, as she arose to make prep
arations for the night. "Lucilla would
have him spite of all I could say, and
p'haps she's happier than we think"
Mr. Bradshaw said nothing, but
went to the door to take final look
at the weather.
Chow the wind bowls and moans!'
he exclaimed. cpl bank up the fire
to- night; It will be dreadful cold by
mOrniR'. I shouldn't wonder if the
Snow covered all the tops O. the fen
ces."
In a half hours time all was
quiet around the Bradshaw farmhouse
except the wind, which kept busily at
work piling up great banks of snow,
bIockading the roads, covering up the
fences, and completely putting a stop
to all travel for several days.
''Winter is come in real earnest"
said Mrs. Bradshaw the next morn
ing, as she drew aside the window
curtains.
There, nowi" exclaimed the farm
er with start. elbow could be SO
forgetful?"
<'What is it, father?''
<tOld Dolly, Lucilla's pet mare. I
meant to put her under shelter last
night, and forgot it. 1 suppose she's
nearly froze by this time, or may be
showed up. She's in the south past
ure- I must go and get her right
away"
ooh, well, she is a sensible creature,
aud no doubt took shelter in the old
stable down there" said Mrs. Brad
shaw.
ssThat reminds me mother; Pm
sure saw light in the stable window
last night, some tramp must have got
inn
"Oh, nonsensei Who would be out
in such weather?''
''Well, don't know, 1 saw it quite
plain, but perhaps twas trick o. my
eyes, they're gettin' so poor"
s'Of course it was," said Mrs. Brad
shaw.
Breakfast over, the old farmer
briskiy shoveled pathway between
the house and barn, fed the stock, and
then prepared for journey to the
south pasture by donning heavy
overcoat, fur cap, home-knit mittens,
q nd large, thick scarf.
HI'll look in and see what has ten