Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-12-20

to marry man I'd see that he didn't
have cow"
"You can safely marry Sam. then.
Hen never have one-he'll never have
anything"
Hen have a wife if he mnrries,
reel:on
Don't you sass me, Nell. won't
have it,"
81 wouldn't sass you, nanny You
know wouldn't; but he would have a
wife if he married, wouldn't he? If he
J didn't there wouldn't be any use in
marryin', would there?"
FLUSH sich foolishness. II would de-
pend altogether on the woman he got"
suppose he got me?"
Look here. Nell. You amt thinkin'
about marryin' him, air you?"
" Lowed | might, as he amt got a
COW, and that's about all I'd ask of
him. But. nanny, suppose ] was 70
tell you that love him."
II would think you bad lost your
senses"
"Well, then. reckon have, for !
do love him. Yes. love him so much
that ] despise him and could knock
him down
"Gracious alive" the woman cried
you've upset the churn aud all the
milk's gone. Come back here to me
You'll break your neck a runnin' off
down thar. You are the fetchtalSedest
creeter ! ever seed.
The girl came back, laughing an
| apology for the mischief which She had
wrought, and the woman was scolding
her, though with lessening harshness.
when the mirthful apology and the
reprimand were put TO an end by the
sudden appearance of a man, who,
lazily turning a bend in the path that
slouching toward the woman. lie held
up piece of paper, fluttered it, and
drawlingly said
"Got this here fer Miss NellN
For me?" the girl cried. running to-
ward him. She snatched the piece Of
paper, ran away short distance.
halted. and read the following:
Now thar have found out you hate me and
don't want 10 he kissed all the time l an goin'
away TO be roet. and when am one ] know
you will love me some and will let ne kiss you
! a part Of the time at least II I don't become
a poe; never viii come back again, for bein'
poet Is the only way can win your love. for
that is the only way can learn TO tell you how
much love you and when have done that
you cant help lovin me. for then sou will see
my soul all blazin for you don't reckon
can get TO be poet before Christmas, but
am sure 1 viii by then, 80 you may look for me
Christmas. and IL by any strange possibility
A..
Christmas, YOU just keep on a despsin me as
much as you please, but y3u must keep on
waitin. and don't let anybody else grab you up
like the bass done the pearch, for A. / tell you
III be back.
Yours. sam"
A change came with the reading Of
the note. The noon in her eyes So
bered into a twilight. For the first
time in her life she was serious She
turned 10 her mother and said:
Il am awful sorry turned over that
churn.
The woman was surprised. whats
the matter, dear? Never mind about
the churn What's in the note, Nellie?'
"Nothin'; only Sam has gone away
and won't come back tell he's poet
and I'm afraid he won't be one before
Christmas and want him now"
But maybe he can git the job before
then. It's good while till Christmas.
and good many things mout turn up
'twixt now and then. Don't fret none.
But She did fret. She fretted for
weeks at a time: at morning when she
saw the dew on the trumpet vine. at
noon when she stood, gazing into the
blue pool, at evening when the whip
poorwill sang his sad song. The season
ripened the grain was reaped, the
leaves had fallen Christmas was APP
preaching coming slowly down, it
seemed, from the browning hills.
Christmas Eve, Christmas night. The
girl stood in the door, listening. No
sounds except the faint hack, hack.
hack of an evenings woodchopper far
away. and the lowing of a cold and des-
olate cow in the ravine. He did not
come.
The grass was green again, the
leaves came out, the blackberry briars
were in bloom. the water pouring over
the shelf of slate struck a sweeter, sad
der note. The season drew long
breath and another change came.
1t was Christmas night, and the Cir
stood in the door The belated wooe
choppers hack. hack, hack was heard,
and the same cold cow was lowing in
he ravine.
Good evening"
"Gracious alive. is thisyou. SAM
''Yes," he said, still standing back |
from her The freight falling upon
him showed that he was well dressed. |
Wont you come in, SAM"
mo. for you'll still have to despise
me
'Why?1
Because I'm not a poet"
'What are you, Sam?r
Il am an agent for patent churn
dasher.
She sprang forward and threw her
arms about him. "Oh, am so glad.
She cried. And you may kiss me all
he time
a CoSsIDERArE LorHARTo.