The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-05-05
AN OLD ROMANCE.


over the hedge. won't you come in
side, DanielP' :,
"Unusuai fine weather for May"
Daniel remarked, closing the gate be-
hind him, while Pedy inteTogatiyely
surveyed his Sunday clothes. "Uncom-
mon warm, warm" he stammered,
not knowing Just what to do with his
hands, there being no farm implements
handy.
"Kinder summary, as 'twere," and
Pedy coolly let her eyes wander over the
hazy mountains, beautiful with their
shifting wells of mist Behind was the
orchard regal in its wealth of beauty, the
birds warbling their joyous morning
carols among the pink and white lowell
ness. A little away the fresh green
wood diffused the sweet odor of pine
and spring. The two quaint figures,
somewhat rough and gnarled and
weather beaten, standing in the sun
shine, gave life to the otherwise quiet
picture.
Il thought I'd gin We call this morn
in" Daniel ventured, after protracted
silence.
'Pm in fort, declare" Pedy shud-
dered, nervously twirling sprig of
chamOmile with unsteady fingers. I've
ben out looking at the flower beds,
she said aloud. "Ill rise to the occa-
sion, as twere," she thought Them
bachelor buttons is comm up fine"
bachelors has hard times with but
tons, Pedy," melting look accompany
ing the words. "An'-an' widowers,
ditto, Pedy."
"Miss Weeks is glad ter git sewin' and
mendin'." Pedy laughed, picking the
oil, iln tA YNiAnnC and thr0W it
away.
Daniel tried to force smile, but
frowned instead. II guess Pedy ain t
goin' ter Jump inter my arms quite SO
spry as | calculated on, was his mental
comment. SIT amt Miss Weeks l
want" he blurted out, looking straight
at the woman before him. Its you,
Pedy."
81 amt no time to take in work, was
the Innocent answer.
Cant you see, Pedy, that want you
ter marry me? That's what brought me
over this fine mornin', when should be
dom spring work.
Pedy sent few shots from her bright,
gray eyes before she replied. "Pll keep
the fire back, if l can" she resolved.
Then she said Il little sharply, Il have
my little land and comfortable house;
and now Niece Ruth is with mo for COM
pany. Idon't see as I've any call TO
jine with you in matrimopy, as 'twere."
81 want you, Pedy. / need you"
my nano is Experience Porter. l
will profit thereby. l don't seem to
have any leanin' your way"
"Your heart burned with love for me
once" Daniel urged, taking step near
er Pedy, leaning against the fence and
trying to lo0k;pleadingly.
Again the gray eyes flashed fire; then
Pedy Strengthened up, threw back her
head, giving Daniel look of whitening
scorn.
'Yes," she said in firm voice, "Twas
all blistered up for we once. l put on
some salve of pride and spelit. 1t all
healed up. Thereain't no scar left"
couldn't make One?'
'No The music of our lives together
would be like the soundin brass and
cracked cymbals; all noise and no sweet
ness"
81 made great mistake, Pedy, whom
1 cut you, and took arter Phebe Gray.
l confess it."
Eyes, Daniel, you did; for you didn't
git neither on us. And you've made
another this mornin.' You see it kinder
hardened me as 'twere. tried for some
time to pull up the thistles and briers it
sowed in my natur', but it KEEP me so
middlin' busy l couldn't do much else;
so l gin it up. l let 'em grow and go to
seed and sprout UP agin, till I'm one vast
porkerpine, as 'twere."
Love might smooth off the rough
pints, Pedy," Daniel persisted, stepping
still nearer her.
"Daniel, when anything is dead, you
can't resurrect it, You amt the Lord,
you know. No, my poor old eyes would
git blind peekin' and squintin' ter pick
the thorns out o'ye. And the rest o. the
time l should be plasterin' myself to-
gether with the cement of patience
mixed with long sufferin'; for you
make me explode so much and so often.
You haven't so much O. them air arti-
cles, nuther."
And you won't have me?''
Daniels temper was getting aroused.
and snapped out quito sharply in the
tones of his voice.
mo, won't. Time was, Daniel p"
and the voice grew little husky, slime
was, when those words played sweet
music in my heart And your eyes KEEP
DRAWN the strings tighter and tighter:
but they broke at last. They would
never como together again. Too short
to tie. You see, it was what / thought
you were," Pedy went on, regaining con-
troll of her voice, mot your real self.
Use lived nigh onter so year without We,
and can go right on so more. 1 don't
believe the meanness in ye is all dried
up yit."
"Wall Miss Porter, p'raps you're
right" and Daniel moved toward the
gate. II kinder guess you are, come ter
think ont, arter all. l shouldn't want
my butter with too sharp flavor of
Satan in it; it might disagree with GUS
TONERS; an ruther guess you'd put in a
pinch pretty often. Much obleeged ter
you for your honesty. Good mornin',
Miss Porter
Good mornin', Mr.. Gorham."
Dear sus," Daniel soliloquized, as he
went briskly along, II used ter think
Pedy Porter the gentlest, sweetest maid
that ever was; good deal sweeter than
Phebe; but Phebe had the biggest farm,
you see. Wall it beats all how twisted
she's got in her disposition Sot, too.
Wall, of we'd ben married she d have ben
different. I'd have trained her BETTER
II declare fort, Daniel" Pedy NUT
tered watching the upgainly form
shutting down the road, ''there amt a
speck o. sentiment for We left, But how
did love we once. You were found
wantin.' 1t tore my heart out by the
roots ter give ye up. An there amt q
bit left for we now, that's sartin. But il
we had ben married then, you'd be diff