Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-08-26

for the well at the foot OF the old oak tree
back of the house, out of which she had
drunk for over half a century. Nobody
was allowed to draw water while she was
within hearing: it was her especial delight
to turn the creaking vindla>s, raise the ice
cold bucket from its cavemous depths. and
replenish the family pitcher with the crys-
tai fluid. Her husband used to say laugh
ingiy. that "Betsv's hopes was all bound
NJ in the bottom of that air we'll" Now
as she leaned over the curb and peered in
to the messy pit. She heard a voice whisper
close to her ear. Marian. Il declare
for'tr she exclaimed. raising her head
with start that set her cap awry. ''if /
ain most as bad $ father; he sees sperrits
an ! hear en- Mercy on Us" she scream
ed. dropping the rope and for the first
time in her life sending the butter to a
watery grave. ''Mariar Marian
What is 1t. grandma. cried Maria,
running out of the kitchen.
We're all bewitched, child. ! see John
as plain S day, stan in 10y the old well. y
Maria's face grew pale and she seized
Mrs Sirong's arm to keep from falling.
what did he say? What did he say,
grandma
"He said, Maria"
"Oh. no grandma, he never said that,
sobbed the girl, hiding her face on her
grandmother shoulder
''Wal, he did say that, every word, III
a flesh an blood way too, an ! begin To
believe tbs summun tryin' to play Joke on
US. retorted the old lady, bracing up for
the occasion Il III nigh beat out any way
with all this tomfoolery.' she continued,
returning to the well in search of her bur
led treasure. ats gone, true enough, this
time, my best blue cherry dish an all.
Come, Maria, let 90 in an eat afore any
thing else happens faint likely we can
stan much more on a empty stomach.
But Maria had disappeared a. well, and
Mrs. Strong sat down TO her dinner more
than half convinced that there were spirits
wrestling with the flesh around the old
farmhouse.
Ii did look rather strange to see heI
granddaughter creeping stealthily along
the edge of the hill in the broiling sun
stranger vet to see her return. after an in
terval, in company with a stalwart young
fellow. They marched straight up to Mrs
Strong, who calculated with suspended
knife and fork. John
NC. grandma. said the spirit, in firm.
clear voice, mot John, but Johns son
who has come TO stay on the farm anC
take care of YOU il was father dying r.
quest that through the second John the
past might be redeemed Maria has beer
in the secret for months. and told me tn,
time had come for me to reveal myself.
And so YOU mean TO marry Maria in
quired Nj. Strong after the news haC
been gradually broken to the old man. ant
everything talked over.
II she will have me and let me pay he
for the mortgage she paid of this spring,
laughed the spirit. putting his arm arounC
the shrinking girl.
oval Betsy, after all it was a visitation
of him that's dead an gone" said Mr.
Strong, looking affectionately at his grand
son. IAN jist to think ont. Maria beI
in I all along I didn't pose the little "a
was cute enough to pull the wool over on
ewes that way, though it only shows wha
strange things is a-goin' on right under on
noses all the time, an what Gurus critter
wimmen folks be: they beat all the liv
/ stock a runnin' - he continued. with mer
/ ~ twinkle in his eye. a he canght sight o
/ his WIFE receding cap strings.
/ But she turned III the doorway 10 hur
+ this Parthiau shot: The time a comm
+ take my word Tor L. father. when mel
/ tolks'l find out the with OF their WINNER
| without havin 10 wait for sperrits 10 pin
/ it out to EN-. j. ". Kellogg.