Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-03-14
A Sadducee.


red cottage to the right hand of the
Shakers tollgate had moved out,
leaving things, as usual, much the
worse for their brief occupancy.
"I shall take it on myself to cut
the grass and mend the front shut
ter" said Brother Boone Hinson, as
he drove past and saw the golden-rod
shamelessly fannting itself among
the ee-high weeds in the scrap of
ayard.
1t was Shaker land clear to the
Kentucky river, two miles away, and
an inch of unkempt sward was a
grievous offence not to be tolerated.
cit is always this way with tenants"
sighed Brother Boone. 81 wish we
didn't have to rent our unused
houses to worlds people" He sigh
ed again, casting an anstere eye on
the toll gate house, a low browed
dwelling which sat scowling by the
green way-side.
The girl who had come a few
months ago to live with her aunt,
Mrs. Meeks, the toll-gate keeper,
looked alphabetically at Brother Boone
as he swung the pole over the mules
head.
GA wordling," considered the young
man, returning her glance with dis
approval, and getting new idea of
wickedness from the curling fluff of
red hair over her big eyes. The mule
went a little sideways as his driver
turned emphatically from the Jeze-
bel in the doorway, her black gown
edged at the neck with wisp of
Grape.
lowing him with weary eyes. 'Twish
some one else would pass by just now
and Them
She kept on looking at Brother
Boone. He was a part of it all,
portion of the deadly tranquility
which pervaded the whole secluded
settlement, even to this outskirt nook
where Mrs. Meeks lived.
The stone walls of the severe Shak-
er houses just to the southwark seem
ed to Mrs. Meeks' niece like tombs
Centre House, gray and ponderous,
weighed her heart down every time
her glance struck through the inter-
vening stretch of meadow. There
was nothing to hear, nothing to see,
except now and then of fine even
ings, when some of Harrodsburg
young people dashed by in light bug
gies-mere feeting glimpses of gave
ty, which only stung Nora to re-
membrance of the city. She was
new to country ways, and in the
midst of the wild freshness of the un-
builded earth she pinned for the fret
of the town, the rush of traffic, the
smoke, the clamor of humanity.
cit wasn't clean, of course, in Gin
cinnati, but loved it," said Nora.
"Shows how little sense you got"
commented her aunt feeling I'LL re-
paid for giving her brothers. child
home, "You'd of been in fine fix if
I hadn't taken you in when your paw
died-not cent in the world except
what the furniture out of three rooms
brought. I don't know what you'd
of done, SO don't''
s'I could have stood in a store.n
said Nora.
eyes, you could;". satirically agreed
Mrs. Meeks. 81 know how you'd of
stood in a store. You wouldn't have
lasted a month. You amt none too
robust, noway. 1 hope you're CRATE
full to me for bringing you to a good
home, where you don't have to do a
living thing except tend the toll gate,
and look after the children a little,
and do the washing, and such.'
Eyes, Aunt Molly.'
isThey amt many widow woman
would "a done it," complacently add
ed Mrs. Meeks. "And me with four
of my own to raise.' She sighed
heavily. She was large, limp wom-
an, lavishly endowed save in the sin
gle item of teeth. Her thin blonde
hair was always slipping down.
''It would be pretty if you pinned
it Closer" advised Nora.
''Don't matter none, y reasoned Mrs.
Meeks. "Sharp plows is mighty little
use when you got no land to turn I
don't look to marry again, noway. A
man'd think twice with all these
young ones. And there's nothing