The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-12-26

But I've got some money laid by. I'd
like to see his eyes when he comes
home ar finds a bran new buggy with
a top an all, an horse thet he CAM
hetch to d plough, no matter how bad
be wants toll amt sure but I'll get a
phaeton."
"They amt as strong, but they're
handy to get in an out of-'specially
for old, trembly knees"
81 amt so old that I'm trembly."
sob, my-no," said Mrs. Hanna,
with little start. 81 was just thnkin
mebbe sometimes you'd go out to the
poor-farm an take poor old Mis- Lane
for little ride. 1t amt more'n five
miles, is it? She ust TO have horse an
buggy o. her own. Somehow, l can It
get her off o. my mind at all to dav. /
just heard about hers l was startin' for
your house."
1t was five o'clock when Mrs. Hanna,
with sigh, began rolling the lace she
had crocheted around the spool, pre-
paratory to taking her departure.
WE'LL" she said, 81 must 90. l
had no Idly it was so late. How the
time does go, talkin'. Just see how
well I've done-crocheted full yard
slice dinner-timel My how pretty that
hop-vine locke. II makes awful nice
shade, ;co, | guess when Mis- Lane
, r r'.,. ed It she thought she'd be settn'
under it herself to-day-she took such
pleasure in it,"
Mrs. Bridges arose and followed her
guest in the spare bedroom.
When they goin' to take her to the
poor-farmp" she asked, abruptly.
"Day after Tomorrow Amt it
awful? 1t just makes me sick to think
about it. / couldn't "a eat bite o
dinner # I'd stayed at home, just for
thinkin' about it, They say the poor
old creature amt done nothin' but cry
an moan sence she knoW'd she'd got to
60"
"Here's your bag" said Mrs. Bridges.
do you want l should tie your veil?"
mo, thanks; guess l won't put it
on. If l didn't have such a big family,
an my own mother 10 keep, I'd take
her myself b'fore I'd see her 90 10 the
pcor-house. If had a sma family an
plenty O. room, l declare my conscience
wouldn't let me rest, no way"
A dull red glow spread slowly over
Mrs. Bridges face.
"Well, l guess you needn't keep
hintin' for me to take her." she said,
sharply.
d" You'll" Mrs. Hanna uttered the
word in tone that was an unint en-
tional insult; in fact, Mrs. Bridges
affirmed afterward that her look of as
constituent, and, for that matter, her
whole air of dazed incredulity, were in
sulting. " l never once thought O.
you," she said, with an earnestness that
could not be doubted.
why not o. me?h demanded Mrs.
! Bridges, showing something of her re-
sentiment. "What you beeh talkin'
about her all day for, Y you wasn't
hintin' for me take her in?"
never thought o. such a thing"
repeated her visitor, still looking rather
helplessly dszed. 81 talked about it
because it was on my mind, heavy, too;
an, l guess, because l wanted TO talk
my conscience down."
Mrs. Bridges cooled off little, and
began to drum on the bedpost with her
rough fingers.
We'll, if you wasn't hintin'," she
said, in a concilatory tone, "it's all
right. You KEEP barpin' on the same
string till | thought you was; an it
rifles me awful to be limited at, I'll
take anything right out TO my face, so
$ | can answer it, but | won't ne limited
at. But why "-having rid hers elf of
the grievance she at once swung around
to the insult" why didn you think o.
me?"
Mrs. Hanna cleared her throat and
began to unroll her mits.
Well, don't know just why," she
said, helplessly. She drew the mits OF,
smoothing them well up over her thin
wrists. 81 don't know why. I'd
thought O. most every body'n town-but
you never como into my head onct.
/ was IS innocent o. hintln' g baby
unborn"
Mrs. Bridges drew a long breath
noiselessly.
"Well," she said absent. mine dly,
come again, Mis- Hanna. An be
sure you always fetch your work an
stay the afternoon"
Well, will. But it's your turn to
come now. Where's Is'phene?"
guess she's maxim fire n the
cook-.t,'' 4" Ell supper"
,, wei, tell her 10 come over an stav
all night with Julia some night"
Mre Bridges went into lie kitchen
and sat down, rather hegvily, in chair,
Her face wore nGzzled expire ssion.
"Isaphene. did you hear what we
was a-sayin' in the bedroom?"
"Yes-most of it, guess"
"Well, what do you s'pose was the
reason she never thought o. me takin'
Mis- Lane IMP"
"Why, you never thought O. takin'
her in yourself, did your" said Isa-
phene, turning down the damper of the
stove with a clatter. :" don't see how
anybody else 'u'd think of it when you
didn't yourself"
"Well, don't you think it was awful
impudent in her to say that, anyhow"
mo, l don't. She told the truth"
Why ought they to think o every
body takln' her exceptin' me, I'd like to
know?"
Because everybody else, s'pose,
have thought of it themselves. The
neighbors have all been chippin' in to
holm hpr for upara Won n. uar Hnpa