The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-12-26
SELECTED STORY.
The Taking In Of Old Miss Lane.


up" said Mrs. Bridges.
She took a large milkpan full of
beans from the table, and sat down bv
the window
"Isapb ene," she said, presently,
"what do you say to an organ an a
horse an buggy-a horse with some
style about him, that you could ride or
drive, an that 'u'd always be up when
you vanted to go to town."
What do | say?" Isaphene was
making a cake, and beating the mix
ture with a long. handled tin SPOON
She had reddish brown hair, that swept
away from her brow and temples in
waves so deep ytu could have lost your
finger in any one Of them; and good,
honest, gray eyes, and mouth that
was worth kissing She Tole blue
cotton gown that looked as If it hi d
ipst left the ironing table. Her sleeves
were rolled to h"r elbows. She !urned
and looked at her mother as If she
feared one of them had lost her senses;
then she returned 10 the cake beating
with an air of good natured disdain.
ooh, you can smile au' turn your
hea6 on one side, but youth whistle
another tune before long, or III miss
my guess. isaphene, I've been savin'
up chicken and butter money ever
since we come to Puget Sound; then
I've always got the money for the
strawberry crop, an for the geese an
turkeys, an the calves, all 50 or"
Mrs.. Bridges stopped, and lowering her
voice TO my erious whisper, "Some-
bodys comm, )" she exclaimed.
"Who is i?" Isaphene stood up
straight, with that little quick beating,
of mingled pleasure and dismay, that
the ely of " Company brings to coun.
try hearts.
81 can't see. l don't want to be
caught pc epin'. l can see it's woman,
though. Can't you stoop down an
peep? She won't see you way over
there by the table"
Isaphene stopped, and peered eau
tiously through the wild cucumber
vines that climbed over the kitchen
window
ooh, il's Mis- Hannal"
"My goodnessl An the way this
house looks! You'll have to bring her
out here In tie kitchen, too. s'pose
shes come TO 81, en- the day-she's got
her bi g, amt she2
aYes, Whavli we have for dinner?
I amt goin' to cut this Ca e ior her'
want this for Sunday" ,ou
"Why, we've got corn beet W pol
an head . ca bbage, an these neie
beans, an there's totatoea; an wat er-
melon perservts. AM you can ttlsss !.
eustard pie. l guess that's a good
enough dinner for her. There! She's
knockin'l Open the door, CAN'T YOU!
Isaphene went to the front door, re-
turning presently, followed by tall,
thin lady.
Here's Mis- HAMA, maw," she said,
with the air of having made pleasant
discovery MIS- Bridges got up, very
much surprised to find who her visitor
was and shook har DIS with exaggerated
delight
swell, I'll declare! us really you,
is ii? AT last? Well, set right down
an take off your things. Isaphene,
it warm, walkin'?"
cool in your Kitchen" Her eyes wan
dtred about with look of unabashed
curiosity that took in everything. 81
DTOuSnl my CIOCDtl Will uDf.
elm glad you did. You'll have
to excuse the looks o. things. Any
news?"
"None particular" Mrs. Hanna be-
gan TO crochet, holding the work close
to her face. "Ain't it too bad about
poor old Mis- Lane?"
"What about her?' Mrs. Bridges
snapped bean into three pieces, and
looked at her visitor with kind of
pleased expe Clancy, as if almost any
news, however dreadful, would be well
come as relief TO the monotony of ex-
istence. Is she dead?"
"No, she amt dead; but the poor
old Great ure'd better be. She's got TO
60 to the poor-farn, after ALL"
There was silence in the kitchen,
save for the click Of the crochet-needle
and the swapping of the beans. A soft
wind ca me in the window and drummed
with the lightest of touches on Mis-.
Bridges temple. 1t brought all ,ne
sweets of the old-fae.a ,ored flower.
gardeh with 1.-THE mingled breaths of
rnignohetie, stock, sweet lavender,
sweet peas, and Glove pinks. The
whole kitchen was filled with the
fragrance. And what big, cheerful
kitchen it wasl Mrs. Bridges con-
trasted it unconsciously with the poor
farm kitchen, and almost shivered,
warm though the day was.
What's her children about?" she
asked, sharply.
"Oh, her children! " said Mrs. Hanna,
with contemptuous air. What does
her children amount to, I'd like 10
knowl"
"Her sons got good comt'terble
house an farm"
swell, what if he hasp He got it
with his wife, didn't he? An MISSY
wont let his poor old mother set foot
inside the house. l don't say as she is
a pleasant body to have about-she's
cross an sick most all the time, an
childish But that amt say in her chill
dren oughtn't 10 put up with her dis
agre eableness."
"She's got married daughter, amt
she?"
"Yes, she's got married daughter"
Mrs. Hanna closed her lips ehtly TO-