The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-05-05

0uSkS. llcN n66u lttulu DIS well 90
your body. When our hearts is broke
they tell us we must rejoice at the chas-
tisement. And when they git mended
/ don't see as we are called on TO mourn.
You've got the dress done. How pretty
it looks. What if Silas Merriam should
walk right in that dooT?"
Ruth turned pale then attempted to
ward off the blow with laugh. Daniel
has turned your head,' she said, cheer
lily. "Silas may be dead" followed in
softened voice.
HE amt"
"How do you knowP" came in startled
tones.
Its borne in upon me-"
"He went to Australia"
Eyes, he did. never shall forget that
mornin'. l heard the gate click, and be-
fore l could stir he stood in the door. l
can see Just how you looked. You were
laughin'. You hadn't BEN married long
then. And when you turned and see
who it was the laugh died on your lips.
ooh RUTH he said, with his heart in the
words, it was all false. l was true to
you. / had to come to tell you. could
not have you believe me so untrue.
They have been so cruel to us, Ruth.
May you be happy and God bless you.
| did not know you were married until
moment ago. Your lips grew white
and for few minutes you did not know
anything. i can see it all jest as plain
and hear it jest as clear. And then when
the color began ter creep back inter
your face and your eyelids to culver,
Silas rushed out O. the house, and you've
never seen him sence; and I've never
heard his name spoken by you. But |
never want to see him look agin as he
did then. Forgive me, dearie, but l
wanted ter talk little about it this
morhin'.
Making wedding cake brings it to
mind, perhaps" Ruth suggested through
her tears.
at does.'
Shall you have many to the we'd
ding?" Ruth ventured, glad to turn the
conversation into new channel.
1.-TWO O. fruit, three O. white, and four
o. streaked," Pedy chanted, land folks
ter eat 'em. Now you've got the dress
done, want you to open the parlor
windows and let in the warm air and
sunshine. Have the apple blossoms on
the center table and dust the family
Bible. You may lay the kindlin's in the
fireplace ready to light. 1t may be cool
this evenin', for all it's so uncommon
warm to-day. And l guess you better
put some candles in the brass candle
sticks, if you please. It's gOin' to take
me pretty much all day ter tend these
raisins and currants. That citron looks
marster fresh and nice.
"Poor innocent lamb" she muttered
in an undertone, as Ruth fastened to
comply with the requests. 1 ain't
given ter deceivin' / don't do enough
ont for my own good. But it comes
kinder easy this time. can do it with
great JUNCTION of sperit. | think it's
best"
In due time the old-fashioned parlor
was made cheerful and inviting by Ruth's
deft fingers. The citron was evenly
sliced, the currants all looked over, and
the pile of seeded raisins completed.
The midday meal was prepared in ST.
lence by Pedy, greatly to Ruths aston
ishment, and eaten almost as quietly.
When order was again restored through
out the house, Ruth remarked that she
thought of running over to Grandma
Treadwells, and perhaps she should take
tea with her.
"oh, mol" Pedy exclaimed, with a
scared look. Not this afternoon,
dearie. 1 want you to put on the white
dress. Well set in the parlor."
1.-The wedding isn't tonight, is itP''
Ruth laughed.
mo. It's to be when the first roses
bloom in June"
''I am so glad you are so pleased
auntie," Ruth smiled, noticing Pedy's
beaming face.
81 be-"
"And it's all right Pedy commnned
with herself. "If they've be- what they
orter, when they're singin' the Paradise
hosannas so cheerful, they won't want
to think folks is unhappy. And if they
are-somewhere else-wall, guess il
won't make much diff'runce. l mustn't
say any more about it; but l hope the
recordin' angel has allus put down my
testimony of David Armstrong, dashes
exclamation points and all. May be
handy ter refer to. Wall, dunno
You mustn't say anything to folks when
| they're alive, and you mustn't say any
thing about 'em when they amt.
hope the Lord will be so perlite to some
of us at the final reckonin'."
The minutes crawled slowly along, sc
it seemed to Pedy. No one came in ex
cept Mehitable Virgins. When Pedy
saw her coming up the walk, her self
possession nearly deserted her.
Ruth, Mehitable Virgins is comm, y
she exclaimed. IF she asks pumpin
questions you just answer up smart
about something else. And you jest run
out and get the dishes on the table ready
for tea. She won't stay, guess.
shan't ask her." Then she confronted
Mehitable at the door.
You mustn't say one word o. what
you're full Of" she burst out so Zero
ciously that meek little Mshitabel was
quite surprised. 81 know all about boil
! ON 'em, and Ruth don't and mustn't"
"Wall. "Mehitabel whispered, 'we be, I
expectin' it about you sometime. W.
could see where Daniels mind was,
she laughed. "rm glad he come along
this morning"
81 be, Mehitabel," Pedy cheerily re
piled, both ears alert lest Ruth SHOULD
| happen around Unexpectedly.
"And the other" Mehitabel began.
"Sh-h," Pedy broke in with warn
ing finger. ''You jest keep things t.
yourself for once, Kitty Virgins"
The command was given SO vehement
| ly that when Ruth reappeared Mehitabe
chatted little about the neighbors, ex
amined Pedy's latest intricate patch
work, and soon babe her friends good
afternoon.
After tea tea things were cleared away
Pedy grew very uneasy. She gave tn
cat three suppers, much to Tabby's de
light, and Ruth just saved her from put
| tin0 soma wood in the cunhoard insteaI