The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-13

surance policy. They talked a long
while together behind the barn"
ooh, l know that Higbee," Miss
Thankful observed with sniff. zone
of them slick, smooth.talkin' fellowsl
He amt in no insurance business as /
ever heard of. Folks said he was agent
for some sportin' goods, fish rods, air
guns an sech; but l guess he amt
much of anythin' to do but gettin' into
mischief and helpin' to git others into
it, too He has got some sisters an
wimmen cousins, if l remember right.
Maybe he's plannin' for some one of
them named Daisy l wouldn't feel
so bad, Alviryl l guess it's put-up
job. No doubt Dick Higbee's more to
blame than your husband. Maybe he
has some idee of blackmailin' the dea-
conl gittin' him Eighty an bewitched,
as men is prone to be-silly, sinful crit
| ters-an' then scarin' him to fork over
lots of money!
sob, maybe it is that, Thankful"
poor Mrs. Thornapple exclaimed, con-
vulsively clutching her cousins hand.
at can't be that the deacon's RELY
depraved at heart! He's always ben
sech kind mana good pervider, an
| piWoJo pO iOuNJ w buJ AhO any hlhu VA
medicine that l seen advertised an
thought might do me good An he's
never found fault with me, only some
times cause l didn't dress up more an
go out visitin'. An he didn't like the
curtains down an the house kept dark
we've quarreled about that some,"
regretfully, adding with fresh sob:
But, Thankful, l never did think
that he'd be untrue to me-that he'd go
off ridin' with frivolous thing named
Daisyl | know she's young-young an
pretty!"
"She must be nice thing to lead his
gray hairs down to disgrace and the
gravel" said Miss Thankful wrathfully.
Whoever she is, an whatever she is,
she deserves to have her iniquity
brought to light"
$50 she doesl' exclaimed Mrs.
Thornapple, as she rose and walked
the floor with an energy that even the
Dandelion Delight Deliverer" had
failed to give her. $50 she doesl But
how can we do it, Cousin Thankful?"
"Well," replied Miss Thankful,
thoughtfuly, first of all, we've got to
find out who she is, an prove that she's
trying to beguile the deacon. Lee me
see. He wrote that be was to start for
Briarville this evenin' about 7:30,
didn't he? Well, what's to hinder you
an me hitchin' up old Whitenose am
the buggy, an takin' leetle drive
along the turnpike road to Briarville?
We kin drive into the grove by the side
of the road an hitch the horse there;
then We can git out an set under tree
an wait till the deacon comes by.
There amt nobody's eyesight better'n
mine, l guess, an if this designin'
Daisy comes along with him, I'll find
out-yes, an be willin' to swear to SEEM
who an what she is, an what sort of
game she is up to-"
"You're real, true friend, Cousin
Observation-Disclosures what you bel" Mrs.
Thornapple exclaimed, gratefully. 81
spose she thinks that my health Is poor
everybody in the hull country knows
what I've gone through, what with this
ailment and that An she's plannin'
an contrivin' to set herself up to be the
deacon's second wifel But won't give
her a chance. You can jest bet GIN
gersnap l won't. l declare, l feel as
strong as can be now, though this
mornin' had such a goneness in my
stomach l couldn't eat mite O. break
fast, only doughnuts an coffee. An
now l remember" with tremble in
her voice, "the deacon, he WANT 80
sympathizin' as usual, an didn't try to
coax me to eat more vittles, as he most
ginerally does. He seemed kinder
absent-minded, an about all he said
was to ask where the liniment bottle
wus. l seen him afterward rubbin'
himself in the bedroom with some of
the liniment-it's the kind his old Aunt
Sally Myers used to make - an
thought he'd got touch of lumbago,
plantin' corn in the medder he and the
hired man plowed up last week; but
now know it was rheumatic he got,
out ridin' in the damp air with that
Daisy l wonder, Cousin Thankful,
that the deacon can bide the name, be-
cause he is always growlin' about the
pesky daisies in the medder-"
(Which may be weeds, but amt sim
full critters" her cousin interrupted, in
an impressive tone.
"That's go, Thankful. Oil" SOL
EMMY, " if we can only rescue Jede-
diah from the snare he's fallen into!"
eve will, Alviry! We will" firmly.
y
The soft spring twilight was just
settling down upon hill and valley
when the gaunt form of old Whitenose,
drawing an antiquated buggy, might
have been seen going slowly along the
road leading to the village of Briarville.
The lingering rays of the sunset tinged
the landscape with pale gold and anne
thyst. The sweet, moist smell of up
turned earth and fresh heritage filled
the air. Everything was full of peace,
and even old Whtenose's face was un-
usually serene as he logged along at a
funeral pace, stopping now and then to
crop the clover tufts growing by the
roadside.
Presently they reached the grove,
and with much clucking and twitching
of the reins, Miss Thankful induced her
ancient steed to leave the highway and
follow the grass-grown ruts winding