Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-09-06

fired easy TO make money Jim growled,
as he went out Of the door. You'd bet
ter try il once and see what its like, he
called back over his shoulder.
"If | only could Prue rlminatei, as
she moved briskly about the kitchen.
"Seems s If I'd oughter be able TO think
up somethin'. I've got all day 70 do it in.
Jim's gone TO South Daueyille and won't
be back TIL late this afternoon, 50 l shan't
have any dinner % GET
She was busy with her household duties
for the next two hours. and when she at
last put on her pink sun-bonnet and started
down the road in the direction Of Mrs.
Rice's house no plan had yet occurred TO
her. She walked thoughtfully, with aer
mind still intent on the disputed question.
81 won't give it up, she said, half aloud.
81 will think Of somethin', If She
stopped suddenly, and her whole face
Frightened; then she gave delighted
laugh and few across the road.
In the shade Of a tall elm sat man, fan
ming himself with a battered straw hat.
Beside him stood bucket Of paint with
brush sticking out Of it.
Mrs. Rice. her brown eyes dancing with
triumph, entered into an animated CONVEX
sation with the stranger, and presently the
When James Rice drove into Daneville
at sunset that day, he was hailed from a
doorway BIZ Deacon Gibbs. The deacon's
round little face was shining with merri-
ment.
Say, jim" he began, stroking his
beard TO hide the convulsive twitchings Of
his lips, ''you on yer way home? Wall,
you've no idee how poplar the turnpike
roads been today. Kind of promenade
for the hull town
That's so: it's been a real red-letter
day up ter your domicile,' drawled Mr..
Barnes, coming out Of the store to join in
the conversation.
The by-standers, who had gathered
about Jim's buggy, broke into loud laugh
ter.
ats a real comfort TO see a man willin'
TO air his convictions like Jim does, OBJ
served one man, admiringly.
Jim gathered up his reins with an angry
frown.
You're a passel of fools, and don't
know what you're driyin at, he retorted
touching the mare with his whip.
You mean you don't knoY what your
| driyin to-" shouted Mr.. Barnes after the
retreating buggy.
Jim drove hurredly until the village was
left behind and the jeers Of his tOrmentors
| died away in the distance; then he allowed
! the brown mare 10 drop into an easy trOt.
"Tll be jiggered if | know what those
| fools meant he ruminated. Its some
| joke on me, that's sartain, but why the
whole town should be in it / can't for the
| life Of me see. If it's any-Go-ri!'
The mare had stopped at ;he hitching-
| post in front Of his house, but her master
sat motionless in the buggy. Once he
| closed his eyes, as if TO dispel the illusion,
only to open them and find that the hideous
vision had not disappeared.
In gigantic red capitals, sprawling all
| over the front Of the house, were painted
the words
"LASHMAN'S YEAST Is THE BEST
They were crazy looking letters, sloping
In every direction. and they gave the re-
spectacle old house a tipsy appearance.
There was scarcely spot on It's dingy clap
boards where their grotesque length did
not extend. a deep color slowly appeared
in Jim's face, and he sprang to the ground
| Suddenly chord was struck on the piano
Within. and from the parlor floated out
! Prue's silyery voice.
The preiii-st girl in the STAT OF Maine
Was Squire Jones dart-r 80
Jim thrust both hands into his pocket:
and drew a long breath.
Beaten" he acknowledged aloud.
LippiHcOtfs MdgdziHe.