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

had their comfortable breakfast to-
gether, and Daniel had said again,
wouldn't do too much to-day, Nancy"
she remarked in casual tone, " 1t wont
take me long to get my work done. |
shan't have to stir round great deal,
| guess, everything fixed so handy" IL
was her way of saving "thank you"
The sight Of Nancy going about her
household work in her usual way had
something reassuring in it for Daniel.
The calming routine of everyday life
seemed to lift the disturbing atmosphere
which had settled oppressively upon
him, and he felt sense OF physical re-
lief. As they sat before the stove in
the evening his face relaxed, a smile
moved around the corners of his mouth,
and he now and then dropped the back
Of his baud upon his knee with gentle
slap.
What you so pleased about Dan'l?"
Nancy finally inquired, one evening.
Daniel turned toward her, and laid
his spo ctaces on the table.
was thinking about old times.
You remember the time come up to
you after singing school, and asked if
should see you home, an you says,
No, sir, | can see myself homep an
walked off, an you hadn't gone three
steps before you fell right down on the
ice ker-whack?"
Nancys face was suddenly flushed
=" Remember? / shan't forget it longs
| live. | was mortified to pieces
did seem to hate TO have you come
along an pick me up-but | never'd a
| spoken to you again if you hadn't"
| NUh..1l IL f,,r thopO11 noHo1
Daniel.
- guess it was because l kinder
wanted you for comp'ny, an didn't
want anybody to know it,"
Beats all - said Daniel, in some adj
miration. "Girls are queer creatures,
take 'em whichever way-so are women
most women" he added, with touch
of caution.
They'd have to be queer TO be
queerer'n men folks" said Nancy.
" You was a good deal taken up with
Angeline Foskett, too, bout that time.
don't deny she was pretty looking
with those curls of hers"
"Curls are we'll enough" said her
husband, but they aren't very sub
stantiol to get married on. She didn't
peter out we'll" He took off the stove
lid to look at the fire, and put another
stick of wood on, somewhat to Nancy's
surprise, for the temperature of the
room had been one of their points OF
disagree ement, her own enfeebled frame
demanding more heat than suited her
more robust hus band.
Better have your shawl on, hadn't
you?' be now remarked. "I'll get ii
for you if you'll tell me where IT'S"
"I's in my bedroom. l can get it,"
"No, you sit still" He came back
again with it. 1t was pretty, old
lady-like shawl of knit grey, with
lavender border. Daniel did not put it
around her-he would not have known
how. He stood holding it awkwardly
in his hands. "Here it's"
"Much obliged, Dan'l," said Nancy.
81 dun know what's got into Dan'l, to
act So" she thought.
The sunlight was beginning to slant
one winter afternoon when Nancy had
a visitor. "Why. come right in, MIS-
Eldridgel" she exclaimed to the stout,
| good-natured woman who had inquired
about her at the prayer-met ting; "sit
right down. "You've brought your
w0rk-that's good.'
" Mist E'dridge's gone over to the
corners. so thought I'd stop in till he
COM back" She looked Nancy over
with keen. but not unsympatheIic in
terest, and decided that she was better
than she had expected to find her.
I'm glad to have some body come in
an bril- G the news" said Nancy, as
| her caller folded her sewing after an
hours talk. 81 ask Mist Bell, but he
don't always remember"
When warm weather comes you'll
he able to get out more" said Mrs.
Edridge. It's proper cold!"
"Well, | don't have to be out in it as
some do" answered Nancy. Mist
Bells so savin' of my steps. He wont
50 much as let me draw bucket of
water from the WELL Don't make any
differ'nce what | want-kindin's or
oven wood, or something from the
press. room, there Ills. | don't ever
have to speak of thing twice"
No girl could have alluded to her
lovers roses or bonbons with more con
ceaed pride than Nancy quoted her
husbands attentions. "You're for
tunate," said Mrs. Edridge, little
sttflv.
Il don't know as / ought to spoken
de L ulb. AbpuShb ANuhS), u "uih'
MIST Edridge amt very easy man
to get along with. l hope she didn't
feel bad"
"Where's the old backgammon board,
Nancy?" was Daniels question, soon
after this visit.
"Up in Johns room, Dan'l."
"You havn't forgotten how to play,
have vou?"
"Why, no, | guess not. I guess l
could beat you" This she procee ded
to do, greatly to Daniels delight, only
surpassed when he himself won an oc-
casional victory. The old couple sat
with the board on their knees, ponder
ing the moves, or flourishing thtir dice
boxes in each others faces in excite
ment when unexpected double skies
made the " throwing of" from the
"table " a close contest. Isn't there
some other game you can play better'n
this?" asked Daniel, when she had de-
4 -. Al.