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

every time, after he's lived with her
more'n forty years?"
Why, no, not as / know Of" She
tapped her foot upon the ground, as
she might have done forty years before.
There was soft flush upon her old
New England cheek. Daniel kissed
the piDkest place, and she reached up
to his other cheek and gave it quick
little peck. "Therel go long with
you! she said. BLESS God for nv
husband " was what it meant
Later on, there came a stretch of
beautiful days, cold indeed. but not
with the deadening cod of December.
"Well, who'd you see up to town?'
was Nancy's question, as Daniel came
in at dusk. She shut her book over her
spectacles in anticipation Of the gossip
which Daniel had grown in the habit OF
bringing home, but as he only an
swered, oh, nobody in particular"
she looked Tor her place again, little
disappointed.
Daniel set his boots upon the foot
stool to dry, and thrust his feet into the
slippers Nancy had warmed for him.
Lets see-when'd we hear from John
last?' he asked, presently, in a re6ec-
tive tone.
Two weeks ago, come Sat'day," was
Nancy's reply.
"Ive been thinking-what's to him
der about that visit they was talking of?
You know they wanted you TO come for
Christmas, but u, want so It you
could"
Nancy put on her spectacles and then
took them off again, holding them in
her hand bewildered. She had lived
with Dan'l over forty years, but she had
never grown used to his sudden WAYS
of announcement For a slow man, it
was little provoking.
" Pm fixed to spare the money now"
he went on: IAN little trip will
likely do you good. That namesa AXE of
Yours III be wasting TO see how her
grandmother looks"
Nancy's heart gave great bound at
the thought of the grandchild she had
never seen, little Nan, whom she
longed to have upon her knee; but she
said hesitatingly-" But, Dan'l-"
You're fixed to 90, amt you?
Never heard of a woman that was ready
to start off anywhere -
Eyes, I'm so l could go-though
there's things ! ought to have if | was
going-but l can't leave you, Daun.
We're getting old folks. You wouldn't
get along"
:" guess | can get MarindY Peters
to come an cook for me-" su- gested
Daniel, with jocose twinkle in his
eye, as though all had not been tod
yet.
Well, I'd be dreadful hard pnt to it
b'fore I'd let you eat Marindy Peters,
cookin', }" said his wife, with decision !;
shif'less, meachin' cretur enough.
Besides, how'd l ever get there?"
Its easy gettin' to Buffalo. Put
you right on board a sleeper"
" Yes, an l shouldn't sleep enough
to pay for my ticket; should be so
afraid they'd put man over my head.
No, Dan'l, is real kind in you to think
OF 1t, but l can't 90 off so tar an leave
you-can't, nOway!" She had risen.
and was agitatedly brushing the top of
the stove with turkey wing, though
there were no ashes on it.
Daniel drew ponderous breath; his
little surprise was even more enjoyable
than he had anticipated. ~ haven't
said L was goin' to De left, yet" he re
marked, slowly.
"Why, Danl, you don't mean-?"
- don't propose to let you get lost
alone in that sleeper-that'd never do
any way in the world. l guess we can
manage to get there together, Ell?
What you s'po'e the boy'll say to
see us come in? Twill be sort o.
bridal trip, won't it?"
The old man Was looking at her with
deep wells of tenderness in his eyes.
Nancy made a step toward him, and
put her hand up to his coat as if to
brush away invisible dust. Suddenly
his arms closed around her, aud held
her. He kissed her bent head and
cleared his throat, patting her worn
back gently. 81 cot good wife when
got ye, Nanny" was what he said at
last.
His wife did not answer. She leaned
against him, and slowly stroked his
shoulder up and down with one tremu-
lous hand. She was crying -Mdrgaret
L. Knapp, in Worthington'S.