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


the walk | couldn hel p thinkin' of poor
old Mis- Lane.'
"What's that got to do with her?'
There was resentment bristling in Mrs
Bridges's tone and glance.
Mrs. Hanna stopped crocheting, but
held her hands stationary in the air
and looked over them in surprise at hei
questioner.
"Why, she ust to live here, you
know"
"She did In this house?"
"Why, yes. Didn't you know thatf
Oh, they ust to be right well off n her
husbands time. l visited here consid
cradle. My the good things she al
ways had to eat 1t makes my mouth
water to lhink of them"
"Hunh! Pm sorry l can't give you
as good as she did," said Mre. Bridges,
stifllv.
"Well, as if you didn't You set a
beautiful table, Mis- Bridges, an
what's more, that's your equation all
over. Everybody says that about you y
Mrs. Bridges smiled deprecalingly,
with faint blush of pleasure.
They do, Mis- Bridges. l Just told
you about Nil Lane because you'd
never think IL now of the poor old ere a.
tire, An such aowers's she ust to
lave en- both sides that walk n" "-~
spurs an sweet-williams an bachelors
buttons an pumgranates an mournin'
widows, an all kinds. Guess you
didn't know she set out that pink cab
bage.rose at the north end o the front
porch, did you7 An that hop vine that
you've got trained over your paror
window-set that out, too. An that
row of young alde-s between here an
the barn-she set them all out with her
own hands; dug the holes herself. LIS
funny she never told you she lived
here"
Eyes, it is said Mrs. Bridges,
slowly and thoughtfully.
Its wonder she never broke down
an cried when she was visitin' here.
She can't mt ntion the place without
clyin'."
A dull came in Mrs. Bridges's
face.
''She never visited here"
"Neyer visited here!n Mrs. Hanna
laid her crochet and her hands in her
lap, and stared. "Why, she visited
everywhere. That's the way she man
aged 10 keep out O the poor-house so
long. Everybody was real consolidate
about invitin' her. But l expect she
didn't like to come here, because she
thought so much of the place.
Isaphene looked over her shoulder at
her mother, but the look was not re-
turned. The beans were sputtering
nervously into the pan.
" Amt you got about enough, maw?"
she said. THAT pan seems to be GEL
TIM hs:efly.'"
Yes, / guess" She got up, BRUSH
ing the tripgs off her apron, and set
the pan on the table. "l'll watch the
cake now, Isaphene, You put the
beans on in the pot to boil, Put a
piece o that salt pork in with em.
Better get 'em Oh right away. It's
pref near eleven. Amt this oven too
hot with the door she,?"
Then Mrs. Bridges began to set the
table, covering it first with a red cloth
having white border and fringe. In
the middle of the table she placed an
uncommonly large, six-bottled caster.
cloth, Mis- Hanna. The men folks get
their shirt sleeves so dirty out'n the
fields that you can't keep white one
clean 10 time"
Il use red ones myself most the
time, replied Mrs. Hanna, crocheting
industriously. at saves washin'. l
guess poor old Mis- Lane'll have to see
the old place after all these years;
they'll take her right past here to the
poor-tarn.''
Mrs. Bridges set on the table a white
plate holding big square of yellow
butter, and stood lookir G through the
optn door, down the path, with its tall
hollyhocks and carlet peoples on either
side. Between the house and the barn
some wild mustard had grown, thick
and tall, and was now drifting, like
golden cloud, against the pale blue sky.
Butt textiles were throbbing through the
air, and grasshoppers were cracking
everywhere. 1t was all very pleasant
and peaceful; while the comfortable
house and barns, the wide fields
stretching away TO the forest, and the
cattle feeding on the hillside gave
look of prosperity, Mrs. Bridges won
sered how SIZE would feel--after having
loved the place--riding by to the poor
farm. Then she pulled herself to-
gether and said, sharply:
"lm afraid you feel draught, Mis-
Hanna, settin' so clost to the door"
"Oh, my, 10; like it, like lots O.
fresh air. If didn't have six children
an my own mother to keep, I'd take
her myself"
take who?n Mra. Bridges voice
rasped as she asked the question. Isa-
phene paused on her way to the pantry,
and looked at Mrs. Hanna with deeply
thoughtful eyes.
Why, Mis- Lane-who else?"-be-
fore I'd let her 60 to the poor-farm."
Well, l think her children ought to
to be made to take care of her!" Mrs.
Bridges went on setting the table with
brisk, angry movements. That's
what ] think about it. The law ought
to take holt OF it,"
"Well, you see the law has took holt
of it," said Mrs. Hanna with a grim
smile. 1t seems shame that there
amt somebody n the neighborhood
that md take her in Che amt much