The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-10-18

Il
was in u the store, an | went across
where they keep 'em. The girl come
right towards mel know who she
was-she was one of 81 Andrews girls,
over T. the Corners. Says l, Il want
to see the right thing for lady with
white hair oh, for your wife2' says
she-she' quick-spoken girl-an' she
showed me this one. Il know this will
be right she saws, for I've seen her
wear the same color on her bonnets, and
it was very becoming 1 says to her,
Young woman says 1, if you're as
good looking when you get to that age
you'll do WE'LL"
Dan'll Why, the awful wha'
do you suppose she though ?"
81 don't care what she thought.
Wait minute amt told you the
whole. You'll do WELL saws l. She
blushed up real sort o. pretty; an |
hope | SHALL she says-just like that"
You're great one, Dan'l" His
wife laughed, though still with round,
shocked eyes. She laid the tie over her
knee, and then held it up to the light.
It'll be beautiful on my black silk
the waists palmer N they make 'em
now" No other thanks were said, and
Daniel was not conscious of needing
any. Without, it was showing in heavy
flakes, which beat now and then upon
the window-panes, but the two within
were warm.
What you say to driving over t. the
church sociable o-night?" was Daniels
inquiry few nights later, just as Nancy
had finished her work and drawn out
her rocking-chair. 4" do know as we
get out often enough. It's good
sleighin', an we can't count on that
very long"
1t took them twenty minutes or more
to decide whether they would go.
Nancy more than once saying that Dan
iel ought to have talked of it in the
morning, and given her time to think
about it without getting col frustrated.
{" But you was always just like that,
Dan'l," she declared. "Come right in
where l was 10 work with my sleeves
rolled dp-'Well, ready for sleighride
to-nighlT you'd say-then, when twas
all fixed, you'd hang around as if you
never was going to CO."
Guess that was because | liked to
see you that way" said Daniel. "You
never looked so we'll as when you had
your sleeves rOlleQ up.
Nancy finally decided to go, and put
her head out of the bedroom door a mo
ment later. 6 Don't look like snow,
does il?" she asked. Daniel shook his
head. 81 guess I'll wear my new bon
net" she said
When she appeared in her new bon
net and black silk with the lavender
tie, Daniel privately thought her very
handsome old lady. "Got enough on?'
Why, yes, guess so."
"No, you haven't" Daniel brought
shawl he had warmed at the stove
and wrapped it around her. ~ amt
going to take any girl riding an have
her ketch cold" He stopped down to
button her long cloak over it. II dom,
have rheum'tz," he explained, while
Nancy in her turn pulled the bow of his
cravat out carefully.
The air was crisp and cold, and the
starry sky so clear that the old couple
felt youthful Jingle of eXhilaration at
the thought of the two.mile drive.
Daniel carefully helped his wife in and
tucked the robes about her. Feels
comt'table," she mumbled through her
veil and the muff she was holding
against her face; and Daniel took hold
of her hand moment, pretending to
arrange the robe. They were heartily
welcomed at the sociable, and there
were several who took occasion to whis-
per to one another that they guessed
Nancy Bell WANT falling so much as
they supposed, if she could 90 out SO
of a winters night.
at sort o. chirks person up to be
ell Al.
way home. 81 was always fond of
goin'. AM we seem to enjoy it more
than some. d. you notice how John
Sheldon an his wife STAYED tight TO-
gether the whole evening? Well, now
what good ID they get out of goin'?
You want to mix up with other folks
more, an then you have something
differ'nt to tell when you get home"
THAT'S the way you used to do when
you was gir?"
Why, yes, that's the way"
We'll, now, | can tell you that you
used to make me jealous" said Daniel.
P-s-h-h!" said his wife, giving his
knee playful pinch-and this time
Daniel made no pretence of arranging
the robe.
Whether these husbandly attentions
acted as tonic it is impossible to say
but as the winter advanced, and the
snow still lay rugged and broken, but
without melting, on either side of the
roads some of Naucy's energy seemed
to come back. She had always been
"spry on her feet" but this "spry
ness" which had caused her to attempt
many unnecessary things, had lately
diminished. Now, again, her old WAYS
claimed her. Daniel, coming in from
the barn one bleak afternoon, was made
pleasantly conscious of the odor OF
waflles before he opened the kitchen
door. $50 this is what you've been up
to, is it?" he inquired, with sniff OF
anticipation.
cit seemed, as YOU might say, good
day for wafli les" answered Nancy.
"Why didn't YOU tell me you was
going to have ZEN? l could have helped
you" (The waffle iron was broken,
and required an ambitious mind, not
al. 4 Il. i -.