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

knew her reservoir of communication
was not quite ready to bnrsti that it was
waiting for little more force, which
she determined to avert if possible.
Sally snapped off her thread, looked out
of the window with a threatening ex-
preston, then said mildly, 81 think the
SNOW is slackin' up"
Lyddy sighed, but made no reply.
Sally stole a glance at her sister, and the
1--we in her heart somewhat softened the
face. But finally she threw down the
vest she was stitching, for she and Lyddy
earned many dollars in that way, jumped
Up spitefully, routed the cat from its
comfortable bed on the rug, darted for
the brush and gave the stove vigorous
busting.
Lyddy was skilled in prognosticating
the storms in Sally's mental atmosphere
and quietly waited to learn whether it
was a re yular NOR easter" or only lit
Ne furry soOn over. She was we'll aware
that Sally had something on her mind
besides the weather; so she calmly
stitched on, slyly watching her energetic
sister as she hung up the brush and sat
down to her work, fidgsting not little.
"Lyddy," at length came more sharp.
ly than before.
81 was thinking of Stephen Bowen?"
A little cloud darkened Liddy's face,
but she only replied, at is a long time
since you have talked about that, Sally.
wouldn't now"
nd like ter know how can help talk
in about it an him comm home ter
day?"
GLOW you do forget your grammar,
sister! Miss Bly, said he was coming
Monday"
"Wail, Jane Meigs said his sister said
he was comm tonight. l guess she
haows-Jane Meigs, mean. And 1 do
1erget the rules when get in esrnest.
BESIDES never went to the academy as
you did,"
Lyddy saw the storm must come be-
fore the sky would be clear, so she brave
y prepared to listen, as the old wound in
her heart was torn open afresh. She had
planned through the day to keep Stephen
Bowen out of her mind, and was just
Songratulating herself on Sally's wonder
fal behavior in never mentioning him,
when the storm cloud burst.
But Warn't thinkin' OF his comm
home" Sally continued. 81 was think
m what he ever went away for"
Lyddy said nothing.
81 was wOnderin' for tho ne-thou-
sandth time what Providence let him go
fer"
probably it was for our best good"
Lyddy replied with sigh; while her
face still wore the expression of one
purified by fire.
Wall, p'raps twas" and Sally tied a
rHther hard knot in the end of her thread
then cut it off again. But never had
Mind enough to see how twas for our
best good to have poverty GENE upon us.
n you'd ben married TO Stephen Bowen
when father died, he wouldn't have let
the lawsuit eat up everything. He'd
have seen tot that there was some
tAing left for u.s."
Lyddy knew that it was rather hard for
Sally to say that she was in fault abut it
but she knew that her sister meant well.
Undoubtedly we needed to be chas-
tened" Lyddy VeRtured trying to smile.
"Chastened! Wall, it didn't chasten
me. Father had ter die Is'pose; though
1 don't believe the Lord had decreed he
shouldn't live no lOnger-if he'd taken
care of himself. And you'll never preach
itinter me that the cussedness of them
skin-tints in cheatin us just because
tAey could, was direct command from
Providence to clarity u.s."
SALLY"
u. L
two sech little unknown creeters as we
bias we aire-git so much attention"
You are getting wicked, now, Sally.
and you know it hurts me even now to
hear yOu say anything against Stephen"
"Wall, 1 don't want to hurt you Liddy.
Stephen Bowen has been gone so long,
the fires of wrath had died out some;
Int his comm home agin is like
kAllns. theY hlaZe nm TnaaferlV -
Throw on some cold water of resigna-
tAon," Lyddy saidswith tremor in her
voice. That's all the way l have lived
through these years, Sally"
wall, did try ter, till it made sech
steam it nearly exploded me, un l give
i'll | can see you, Lyddy, just as you
looked that night; you wore your new
sown, and had some pink ribbons at
your throat, for all the world jest like
those bloomin' in your cheeks; an you
all laughin' an waitin' fer him ter come,
an
"Oh, Sally" and tear stole down
BVddy's cheek.
Eyes, know; but l must tell how
pretty you looked. You combed your
hair jest as he liked it, un you set waitin'
for him, with the dimples in your cheeks
they wus always there when you were
IAPPy.", s.,,.,,,
mo, won't but can see that hateful
letter with its red SEAL and the words
have been burnin' my temper all day.
HOW he told you he'd gone to Californy
TO make his forth; and how he hoped
you'd be happy. That was what come
Instead of him."
please
eyes, Lyddy, l won't. But l git so
hled when think ont; and here we be
a stitchin' vests, an turnin' and twistin'
SveTy way ter git along; un ter think
how you emptied all the love in your
heart onto him, SOS you never had any
for anybody else. An he not worta az
SISTER"
'Wall, l will, Lyddy-I won't, mean.
Rll be moderate, Lyddy. But it's most
Christmas, you know; and it was Christ
mas eve Stephen went away, you know.
I'm there'd ben snow storm Jest like
this. This will stay on till next week,
guess. IT'S Saturday to day. Stephens
comm home brings ii all so plain before
me-"
Lyddy wiped her eyes, and kept on
stitching. For few minutes Sally
thought; then she burst out again,
meanwhile waxing her thread until she
nearly wore it ont.
Sally" and Lyddy smiled through
the tears that were again gathering, 81
was keeping it for surprise; but you
seem in need Of consolation. Brother
RlV sent ne n harral of AOur vaetar6ou