The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-05-03

NIT, mHlu ulu UO1 hubWcls tOhO VII
derstood the situation; the poor old
woman was put there without her
knowledge. They had brought her to
stay and be out of their way.
ATS shame, burning shame, for
Scratcherds to abuse a good and kind
hearted old woman like Aunt Mary.
Here she imagines she's come visiting
me, and have been having her at our
table and sleeping in the guest cham
Der. How can tell her she must go
amongst those paupers,p said Mrs.
Main to her husband.
"Old Bob's sneak and a villain,
and his wfe's worse" said Main. So
Aunt Mary remained a few days and
went among the poor old women, talk
ing to them kindly.
d" | always had sort of horror Of the
poor house, somehow" she said TO
Mrs. Main. "I've worked hard and
saved good bit of money for when
can't work any MORE" ran on the UNI
suspecting woman. Mrs. Main turned
away; she could not tell her yet.
One night after Mary had been al
Mrs. Mains for several days, and still
no one came for her, she said. " Well,
here's five nights; what long visit
Pm making. l do hope Bob'll come to
morrow, because I'll soon wear my wei
come out; you'll not want me to come
again"
Mrs. Main did not answer. al just
can't tell her she's only pauper. I'll
keep up the delusion as long as ever |
can. If her own kin have turned her
out, I'll befriend her. The ideal those
unfeeling wretches; they have taken
her hard-earned money, and now in
her helpless old age have made her a
county pauper. Why, hanging is far
too good for such folks" said Mrs.
Main to her husband, one night after
Aunt Mary had retired.
But, hard as the good Great
ure tried to keep up the delusion, it
was destined to come out at last. She
overheard part of a conversation be-
tween Main and bis wife, and she
grasped the terrible truth at once.
The shock was awful, and in the first
heat of her anger she thought to go at
once and have her brother-in-law ar
rested, Then, on sober second thought,
she commenced to wonder if she could
establish any claim. No; there it was.
She saw the folly she had committed.
She had turned over every dollar, and
had not the stroke of pen to prove it
by. 1t all rushed in upon her at this
dread moment. What awful slack bust.
ness qualifications she possessed.
After the first anger subsidized, her
kind and forgiving nature asserted it
self. "No, I'll not bring disgrace in
Bob's family; I'd rather suffer wrong
But I'll go home and I'll reason with
them. I'll get up real early, aud start
off before Mrs Mains up. Pm ashamed
10 see her, and she's been so good to
me. | can walk back If take my time
and start early"
Accordingly. just at day break, Aunt
Mary let herself out of the front gate of
the pOor-farm, and started on her way
TO what she had always considered her
home.
AS the sun came up it shed golden
radiance over everything. All nature
teemed with freshness and life. There
was something enhancing in the wild
dash of the noisy stream, and the air
was fragrant with the odor of ferns and
wild flowers. The dew dripped from
the boughs, moistening the beds of
violets and anemones. Far up in the
trees the bluebirds were trlling out
flute-like notes. All this refreshed her,
and she kept on at good pace.
The long shadows of afternoon were
lengthening when Aunt Mary came 10
sight of her sisters home. How ii
cheered up the sinking spirits to be
once more so near, even though her
heart throbbed painfully, and she fell
to wondering how they would receive
her.
What pleasant home it appeared,
with its nice green farm and its beds
OF spicy yellow jonquils and dog tooth
violets, bending their heads gracefully
over their spotted leaves. She climbed
up the stile slowly and got down on the
other side, then she sat down. Some
how the journey had wearied her out,
her breath came in quick little gasps,
and she was unable to go further,
"Well, l swan TO man, if there amt
Mary sittin' on the steps," said Bob
Scratched.
"Of all things, on my wedding night f!
| just thought she'd turn up at some un
heard-of time" said Lii, with anger.
Ma, your work was all for nix :"
chimed in May.
Wonder what makes her stay there
SO long?" said Mrs. Scratched. :" I'd
best go to her."
AS she came up quite near she said
Why, Mary, what made you walk
home? I'd rather you'd not come home
tonight, seeing it's LIPS wedding eve,
and we are to have so many VISITORS -
ratified on the unfeeling woman. "But
now you're here, come in, be" Then
she stopped and started forward in
fright.
Mary was falling down, and there
was something so strange in the white
face, and in the wide, staring eyes, an
expression not of this world.
Aunt Mary had gone home, and
would never trouble them again. As
she lay resting her silver-white head on
the grass, the soft winds of spring
passed over her and tossed the ringlets
about; and the last long rays of sunset
fell across the low, PROSTATE figure, but
Mary needed it not; she was dead
Anna BiShard, IN Farmers Review.