The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-12-27

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over her Christmas presents, so she
amt been able TO help me much. Come
in, and I'll see."
Lucy went in and sat down. A
pretty young girl, with her lap full of
br ght silks, looked smilingly at her.
An old man with newspaper, and his
fl ct on the stove hearth, nodded.
The woman clattered dishes in the
pantry. Presently she came out with
one piece of apple pie on plate.
"This is every mite I've got," said
she, and l guess this amt none too
good"
"It's all right. I'm much Obliged"
said Lucy. She slowed the pie care
fully in her bundle, but she did not Of
fer to go for a moment. She looked at
the old man beside the stove. 1t was
seldom, when upon her rounds, that
she volunteered a remark, except about
the weather; she never gossiped. This
village beggar bore herself with a reti-
cent dignity which would have become
professor. But now she spoke
"I've jest heerd," said she, "that
your brother II ram is goin' out West
to live" There was a keen glance in
her eady eyes fastened upon the old
mans face.
The old man gave great start
Who told you he WASP" he grunted
heerd him say So"
The old man, John Lowering, sat
staring straight ahead; he was quite
pale. His wife cried out sharply
"There," said she, now you can see
what you've done, John LCveringl
ko1 l,.,1 TO- ~.
he said he was gon' to the day you had
the fuss. There he is the only brother
you've got, and l shouldn't wonder a
mite if you never see him again, goin'
out there where they have all them
dreadful winds and blizzad:--a man at
his time of life, tool And all because
you won't go over there, and make it
up with him. l don't see how you can
stand it, for my part. l think it's aw-
full, and I'd like to know what poor
Maria will do! Pm goin' to leave my
bakin', and go over there"
John Lowering arose. "Don't you
go over there one step, Nancy" said
he. " tell you, once for all, won't
have it. Hiram told me right my
face that l led, and I'm the oldest
man. When he comes over here, and
seems all right about it, sha'n't open
my head on the subject again. H
needn't make no excuses, but he's got
to come, and that's al I've got to say
about it. If he wants to 90 out Yves,
because he wants to get out Of sight
and sound of me, he can 60"
The old man took his hat, and went
out with numbering dignity
pox, oroeo. hos, Fooo bol "a.
usual impassive expression. Good
bye" she said, as she opened the door;
but Mrs. Lowering did not reply. She
had gone into the pantry, where she
stood with her apron over her face.
The young giil looked frightened
After Lucy left this house, she went
straight back the way she had come.
She had only some dozen regular places
where she foraged twice a week and
picked up enough food for herself and
her old invalid hus band. She was ur-
able to work, as she could not leave
him long enough at time. She owned
the little house where he lived, the
town allowed her some firewCod, and
the dozen families bestowed upon her
variable and fragmentary sustenance.
She had now been all her rounds, and
the rude bag was still limp. The snow
was beginning to fall, and her old
shawls were soon hecked with it. 1t
was fine, sleety snow, and it drove
into her face and eyes. She bent her
head before it, and kept on sturdily.
When she reached the Lowering
house again, she stopped. Through
the driving furry of the snow she could
see Hiram Lowering out in the yard,
preparing to drag wagon into the barn
for shelter
"Mr. Loveringw called Lucy.
The old man did not hear
"Mr. Loveringl" she called again.
Then he turned and locke d at her:
she began walking toward him, and he
advanced hesitatingly to meet her. He
had handsome, nervous old face, full
of anxious wrinkles.
"What is it?' he asked.
"Pve been over to your brother
Johns"
"Well, what if you have?"
told him you was goin' out West,
and he acted dreadful cut up. heerd
him tell his wife if you come over there
and acted the same as ever, he didn't
want no excuses made, ner nothin';
he'd be willin' to let bygones be by
Cones"
The old man looked at her; he was
frowning in surly way, but his mouth
relaxed.
"You heerd him say that?"
eyes, the amount Of that"
The old mans face cleaned white
through the swarming storm. WE'LL"
said he, I" Pm much obliged, Lucy"
He had look of suppressed delight.
Lucy did not smile at all. 81
thought mebbee I'd better tell YOU"
said she; then she trudged out into the
road again. The storm thickened.
She had mile to walk against it. On
the outskirts of the village, in thinly
settled neighborhood, she drew up be-
fore her house. 1t was hardly more
than a cabin-two rooms upon the
ground floor and loft above. She had
banked it all around with dried leaves
and boards to keep the cold out. In
a severe winter the structure was poor
shelter.
Lucy went in, and at once an
irritable voice greeted her. "Tbat