The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-03-31

and she had been so afraid she might be
mistaken after all. She looked up to
find middle-aged man with kindly
face somewhat bronzed, curiously watch
ing her, and holding ont his hand.
"Who be you?" said Sally, tightly
clasping her broom handle.
"Have you forgotten me?''
~ can't tell till know who you be,
was the evasive answer.
DO you remember Stephen Bowen?"
"Wall, guess amt likely to forgit
him." Sally replied struggling between
an inclination to avenge Lyddy with her
broom, and dread lest she should be
too hasty in developing her plan. And
you be-are-Stephe Bowen, she added
putting out her hand. You've been
gone quite SPELL"
Yes" was the reply, "but not so long
as to forget the way you used to sing that
old tune. 1t sounded natural"
"Did it?''
Eyes. 1t was the last tune 1 sang in
Eastman Hollow. Strange it should be
almost the first sound hear on my re-
turn"
81 b'lieve you was-were-comin' Sun
day night to practice it again" Sally
volunteered; "but you concluded to do
that in Californy."
Stephen looked at her wonderingly,
but did not reply. Then he looked down
and shuffled one foot in the snow. He
forgot some of the neighbors might be
watching him. He was thinking how
Lyddy looked that night when he kissed
her as he was going home-so innocent
and affectionate. Wow could she do soP
He had been thinking of her all day.
NtGnin M atau lOnnO Gal1u finnIlv,
asked.
1t would not do to let Stephen go on
yet. She would not mention Lyddy first
if she could help it. 'Lyddy's ben on
the anxious seat 10 year." she thought;
''let him sit there few minutes.
know he's achin' to know" Then she
knew. Stephen was saying Perhaps.
Don't know. Maybe"
you've made your forth, s'pose or
you wouldn't have come back. That's
what you went for"
mo, not exactly"
Stephens voice was little indigna mt.
He thought Sally at least need not throw
it at him. He expected some people
would.
What are you doin' here?" he added.
Live here"
"Live herer' he exclaimed. He had
not heard of their misfortunes.
Yes" and Sally could not refrain
from a little snap to her words. "Father
died, and the law eat up everything. l
live here" she explained.
"Lyddy is we'll, hope"
Sally could see he was anxious.
"Amazin' well, considerin'," was her
answer.
81 suppose she was married long ago, -
with little nervous laugh. He deter
mined to learn something about her.
wall, " and Sally was moderate for
once, 81 guess-aot. haint--I haven't
seen any man about. To my knowledge
she never promised to marry but one
and you know who that was"
What! didn't she marry Otis Nor
gan?'
"Wall,-I guess not" A faint ray OF
light began to dawn ON Sally's mind.
HE KEEP poppin' and poppia from his
youth up; but Lyddy alwus said No
He married Clarissa Brown after a
while. He's dead now"
If Sally had not been so engaged with
her own thoughts. she would have no,
ticed Stephens surprise.
Probably there are not many left that
| knew" Stephen at length remarked,
looking about him.
"Oh, yes; good many OF 'em; bat
mebbe you'll be lonesome after livin' in
Californy. If you do come in some
eYenin''
"Does Lyddy live here, toop"
Eyes she lives here. We Sow"
"She might not care to see me-" Steph-
en- objected.
"oh, Lyddy's of wonderful forgivin'
sperit.'
Stephen bitterly wondered what Lyddy
had to forgive.
"Yes," Sally continued, "she is that.
But if she warn't she like to have you
come jest the same. She's master
hand at Christening, Lyddy is. If she
died every minute you was-were there,
she'd enjoy it. But she won't. She'd
like to have you come"
''If you really think so, I'll call to-
morrow evening"
81 know So"
"My sister will be waiting for me.
Good afternoon" And Mr.. Bowen
moved on with lighter he TT.
II took the bull by the horns this
time" Sally soliloquized. 81 warn't
goin' to let chance slip by to bring
matters round. Lucy Streeter
would have set her cap by Monday; but
mine got fitted first. We've pinched
enough; and pride won't feed us, nor
keep us warm nuther. l expect ter have
time with Lyddy. She must not know
it. But declai fort, l believe there
was some kind of knot that none of us
knew about. Wall, I'll be the pin to
help pick it out. | really b'lieve there
was; for now think, Stephen did look
kinder surprised like when said Lyddy
lived here"
BY this time the path was clear. She
trembled as she entered the kitchen, lest
Lyddy had gone where she could see
her; but Lyddy had not moved.
run inter the other room, quick.
Lyddy," Sally exclaimed stephen
Bowen has come, sure. Be spry," and
Sally fairly pushed her sister through
the door.
Prospects is risin'," thought Sally,
and as an outlet 10 her bubbling spirits,
she rolled out, ga charge to keep
have" to the tune of waltz, while she
put away the work and set the table for
supper and still Lyddy did not come
back. Sally cut the bread to the tune of
Coronation" placed the teapot on the
little round tea-table, spotless as to its
linen and dishes, and then tip-toed to
the parlOr door and looked in. She saw
Lyddy leaning her arm on the window
sill, her cheek in her hand, looking down
the street. She knew by the expression
of her eyes that she was back in the old
life, living over the happy days.