Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-08-24
MISCELLANY.
TOLD IN CONFIDENCE, q

being made at more energetic action.
'Put on the big b'iler, Dry, an fill it up
TO the brim Mis- Homan's wash this
weeks a marster one an we've got to
work spry to git it out early. Did Jake
draw plenty OF water''
"plenty.'
The voice of the invisible cory was in
harmony with the clang Of the stove uten-
sis. In the interval of silence that follow
ed, the brisk, ierky tones from the room
adjoining announced, "There. I'm a
comm at last It's took me longer than
usual this mornin' to git my hair bobbed.
That plaguy neuralgy takes me so in the
shoulder every once in a while, seems as
though / must holler right OUT and
middle-aged woman, whose figure was com
posed of billowy layers of flesh, tied in at
the waist line by broad Bingham apron
strings. appeared and with an inclusive
glance inspected the preparations made.
"'Twon't take water long to bile on top
of such a fire as that she said, approx
ing,y. THAT b'iler II hold more without
stopping over. Where's the dipper?'
Ora thrust it within her mothers reach,
and putting the cover of the boiler on
noisily. walked to the kitchen door and
looked vaguely around There was a look
of discomfort on her small brown face
The little house stooi alone on the crest
of pvgmy hill, which on the right slOped
gradually to a winding river, from which it
was separated by thick growth Of trees
and shrubbery. In front the hillside was
smooth and green. On the two remaining
sides, fruit trees, currant bushes, flower
beds, and vegetable patches spread them
selves about with gratifying lax OF dis
position to crowd each other. There was
a walk from the seldom-used front door to
the gate at the foot of the hill, bordered on
both sides by whitewashed stones, heaps
of which, piled in pyramidal form, decorat-
ed the smooth plots on either side OF this
walk. The freshness and cleanness of
early morning was everywhere present.
There was exhilaration and inspiration in
the view presented of valley, river, and
mountain.
"Nice day, amt itN' remarked Mrs.
Pease, cheered by the glimpse of summer
beauty that greeted her as she passed the
open window.
'Nothin' wonderful about it as l see
answered Ora, almost savagely. Its fit
as any day to work in. l don't see as it
makes any difference what kind of a day
it is when we've got to slave over wash
tubs and suds. I'm sick of it all ~
Mrs. Pe4se made no answer, but glanced
furtively at her daughters clouded face
whenever the exigencies of work brought
her near the kitchen door. Its all her
seem Charlotte Frost racin' by arter Steve
Judkins last night she said to herself.
''Twont do no good to speak of it, though,
for she d deny it up an down. That got
to be strai ghtened out, or Ory'll be down
sick with worryin' ~
Don't stand there any longer, Dry
she called, peremptoriy, moment later,
with a change of sentiment born of the
demand for action. We've lost a good
quarter of an hour already waitin' for that
pesky fire.
The girl came back into the room drag
ging after her by one end a heavy wash
bench, on top of which the two women
placed a tub of wet linen. Another was
already resting on a broad-topped stool,
and Ora and her mother plunged their barred
arms into the soapy masses without further
delay. Ora's mood was inimical to con-
versation, and no sound was heard for
some time except the swish, swish of the
linen, as piece after piece was dragged
through the suds to take its place on the
zinc-nbbed washboards.
"SoOn's we git 'em rubbed out once
We'll have breakfast" said Mrs. Pease at
tions. "S'pose you run out, Dry, an see
if there any fresh eggs in the nest. III
finish rubin out.
I'm most DONE answered Ora, snap
ping a handkerchief through the air as she
spoke "An't this pretty one, marc
She held the embroidered web up to view
Il don't see why l can't have such things
as well as Mis- Holman"
''What earthly good would they do you?'
asked her mother, scornfully. Them
things is just for show. I'd rather put my
money somewheres else
Ora shrugged her shoulders pettishly.
She was in a mood where sympathy would
have been as irritating to her as opposition.
Her lips opened as though she were about
to continue the argument, but closed again
as the front gate squeaked on its hinges
and hasty footsteps were heard coming up
the walk.
"Who in natur' can be comm at this
time in the mornin'?'' inquired Mrs. Pease,
eXcitedly You don't look tit TO 90 to the
door" she added, rapidly surveying her
daughters splashed apron and steamy face.
''Ill have TO go myself, though | don t
look any too trig.'
Ora looked calmly Indifferent, but no
sooner had her mother left the room than
Sut ran Dtuluu Juc uOOI ludJ opened luLO
the little front entry, and listened eagerly.
"Why, good mornin', Steve" she heard
her mother say in a loud crescendo. Come
right in. Yes, Ory's up. We're early
risers here" and her cheeks blazed with
sudden color as she few into the bedroom,
tidied her hair wiped her hot face, and
quickly substituted neat white apron for
the Bingham one she had on.
Ora had face that was very attractive
in spite of freckles and reddish hair. Her
eyes were brown and bright, her teeth I'M
usually fine. As she came timidly into
the parlor, in answer to her mothers sum
mons, Steve Judkins made up his mind
that he had hitherto failed to recognize
what pretty girl she was
I'm going to drive my new horse down
to the beach this afternoon he explained
promptly, ian l came round to see if you
wouldn't like to 60 too. You can, can't
you?"
'Well, l don't know about it,, answered
Ora, hesitatingy There's all them
clothes TO do to-day, anyway. Monday S
the hardest day in the week always"
''Of course you can go, Dry" hastily in
terjected Mrs Pease. I'VE can leave some
of the things over till tomorrow as well as
not, an the ride will do you lots of good. -
"You give me turn ! shan't git over in