The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-04-08

JO.
''Pn stay here any quantity of min
leaving Brown in as delicious a daze as
she was herself.
go, Jo," said the widow to her
brother-in-law, raising his detected head
and shaking him energetically by the
shoulder; "Kate, my sister, my dear
ones, prepare yourselves. Don't let it
come upon you too suddenly"
"Good heavens!" cried poor Pillikin,
leaping to his feet; what has happened?
What is it nOw?"
"Its-it's not the Mr.. Brown with the
bill, Jo."
"Who is itP what is itP Misfortunes
never come alone. I'm prepared for
anything!'
aIts-it's-oh, 10, it's Brown of Ne
vadal"
"Good heavens" said 10, springing to
the door.
"And he didn't buy his goods of
Scrimmage; he went there to meet a
friend, and he will buy his goods of you,
as he always does" said the young
widow, in a crescendo that at least
reached a shrill treble; but 10 was
already wringlng the hand of Brown.
Apart from the fact that you have
not gone back on me, Brown" said poor
Pillikin, 81 don't mind telling you that
your presence is a reprleve from all
sorts of miseries; but how the deuce did
you find me out?"
"Why, one of your general statesmen
over there-I forgot his name-told me
you and Hardscrabble had some words
about my going into Scrimmage's. He
said you were so cut up about it, and
didn't appear to be well when you left
the store, so thought I'd take cab
and come over. 1t was a pleasant night
that is, not very pleasant night; but
hadn't anything to do-that is, l had
lots of things to do, but, hang it want
ed come, and l am glad did"
$50 am /, BrOwn-God bless you, so
am l." Then poor 10. relieved Of the
burden of doubt and wretchedness that
had oppressed him, and having there be-
fore him as his voluntary guest the re-
preventative of wOrshipful amount of
trade-pOor Pillikin gathered together
his scattered dignity and self-esteem,
and began to discuss matters of business
with a serene and serious enthusiasm
that bespoke the happiness of the &C.
casion.
As for Brown of Nevada, he couldn't
keep his mind upon what Pillikin was
saying, he was so taken up with the
rustic of drapery outside.
The two women were flying around
downstairs in the kitchen, and upstairs
in the dining room. The children had
their bread and milk, and were washed
and put to bed; the widow flew down to
the kitchen and made some little dishes,
all in the twinkling of an eye, their Gull
nary perfection consisting i'll the rapidlty
with which they were got together, and
upon the dumb waiter, and hoisted to
her sister in the dining room above, who
whisked them upon the table, and what
with the haste and happiness and unex-
pectedness of it all, when they rang the
bell and invited the gentlemen out to
supper, there couldn't possibly be two
prettier or more engaging women in the
universe; and more appetizing meal
Brown of Nevada never saw nor tasted.
From plying 10 Pillikin, he began to
envy him. Hew hollow and cold and
altogether unsatisfactory was the life of
bachelor-particularly out in Nevada.
The March wind still roared and howl
ed, and the March sleet yet beat upon
the Pillikin windOw-panes, and nothing
would do but Brown of Nevada must
stay all night.
He knew it must be the widows room
that he slept in las indeed it was, that
little woman and her orphan boy crowd
ing in with the little Pillikins), and
Brown of Nevada went all around, adj
miring the pretty knicknacks, and
wOrsted work and embroidery, that was
of course the work of the fair widows
hands. He went to sleep and dreamed
Hl,oE 10 efoa,ol ~ iop AiGn
culties that the widow found that the
piano and stool and music, and even the
embroidered cover, were only drop in
the bucket; so in her warm generosity
she threw herself in, and stood upon the
piano to be raffled off by the creditors
and friends of 10. Brown threw double
skies every time, and had just made ar
rangements to have the widow and piano
and stool and music and cover shipped
out to Nevada with the rest of his goods
when the breakfast bell rang. He awoke
and blushed to find what absurdities a
man will dream, and blushed still more
when the soft innocent eyes of the
widow met his own over the potatoes,
and the mullins, and scrambled eggs, and
the multitude of good things which he
found out afterward she had made with
hCl Onh
Her orphan boy was a nice little fell
low, and would make a splendid man
some day if he could be taken where
there was room to grow.
But who can picture the pride of Pill
when he walked into the store the next
morning arm in arm with Brown of Ne
vada? Mr.. Hardscrabble was just bully
ing one of the heads of stock, and catch
ing glimpse of this touching spectacle
of amity between Pillikin and Brown of
Nevada, he rushed forward, with tender
hospitality placed an affectionate hand
upon the shoulder of each, and thus low
ingly linked together, the three walked
down the store.
And the saying is that whatever you
dream in a strange bed is sure to come
true; and l shouldn't wonder if, when
Brown went back to Nevada, he'd take
all those things he won at that imaginary
raffle-all except the piano and stool and
music and embroidered cover. These
the dear little widow declares she will
leave to the young Pillikins.
Richard Harding Davis's second
o,k;alo 80, g.Thn Wogf f.nno TaY Win