Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-21

that back. had no feeling then that |
might have done the deed myself, aud
could not bear to convict myself, if 1 was
innocent
Two of the neighbors, Mrs. Holmes and
Mrs. Adams, remained With me all that
day. Toward evening, when there we're
very few in the house they went into the
parlor TO put 1t In order for the funeral.
and l sat down alone in the kitchen. As
sat there by the window | thought OF
my green silk dress, and wondered IL the
stains were ont. / went to the closet and
brought the dress out to the light. The
spots and streaks had almost disappeared.
l took the dress out in the shed and
scrapcd off the flour paste, which was
quite dry; swept up the paste, burned
il in the stove. took the dress upstairs
to my own closet, and hung it in its old
place. Ncighbors remained with me all
night.
At 3 o'clock In the afternoon of the next
day, which was Thursday, went over to
Phoebe Dole's to see about black dress
to wenr to the funeral. The neighbors
had urged me to have my black silk dress
altered little and trimmed with Grape.
I found only Maria Woods at home.
When she sa me she gave little scream
and began to cry. She looked us if she
had already been weeping for hours. Her
blue eyes were bloodshot
T'hocbcs gone over to--Mrs. Whit
ney's to--try on her dress, she sobbcd.
II want to get my black silk dress
fixed little" said |.
shell he home-pretty soon." said
Maria.
laid my dress on the sofa and sat
down. Nobody ever consults Maria about
dress She sews WE'LL but Phoebe does
all the planning.
Maria Woods continued to sob like
child, holding her little soaked handkcr-
chief over her face. Her shoulders hrnv-
cd. - for me felt like a stone; could
not weep.
"Oh." she easpcd ont finally, II knew
! know! | told Phoebe kncw just how
it would be; knew"
reused myself at that. "W'hat do
you mcanT said |.
"Whcn Phoebe came homo Tuesday
night aud said she heard your father and
Rufus Bennett having words. | knew
how it would be-" she chokcd out. Il
knew he had dreadful temper"
did Phoebe Dole know Tuesday night
that father and Rufus Bennett lad
wordsi" said 1.
Yes" said Maria Woods.
"liow did she know
! "Shc was going through your yard, the
short cut to Mira. Orinsby's. TO carry her
brown alpaca dress home. She cGnc
right home and told me; and she over.
heard them"
Have you spoken Of it to anybody but
me-" said |.
Maria said she didn't know; she might
have done so. Then she remembered
hearing Phoebe herself speak of it to liar'
riet Sargent when she came in to try
On her dress. 1t was easy to see how
people knew about il.
did not say ary more, but thought
it was strange that Phoebe Dole had
asked me if father had had words with
anybody when she knew it all the time.
Phoebe came in before long. / tried on
my dress. and she made her plan about
the alterations and the trimming.
made no suggestions. l did not care
how /; was done, but If had cared il
would have made no difference. Phoebe
always does things her own way. Al
the women in this village are in Il man
nor under Phoebe Dolc's thumb. Thcil
garments are visible proofs of her force
of will.
while she wasstaking up my black sill
on the shoulder seams, Phoebe Dole said
Let me sec-you had a. green silk dress
made, at Digby three summers ago, didn't
you?'
YES" said.
well" said she. "why don't you have
it dyed black? Those thin silks dye rea
nice. 1t would make you good dress.
scarcely replied, and then she Offered
To DIE it for me herself. She had II recip,
which she had used with great success
| thought it very kind Of her, but did no
say whether | would accept her offer Of
not. | could not fix my mind upon any
thing but the awful trouble | was in.
"I'll come over and get it tomorrow
morning" said Phoebe.
thanked her. | thought of the stains
and then my mind seemed to wGnde
away again to the one object.
All the time Maria Woods sat weeping
Finally Phoebe turned To her with impu
tience. "If you can't keep caimer, you,
better go upstairs. Maria" said she
You'll make Sarah sick. Look at her
she doesn't give way--and think of tn
reason she's got"
1--WE got reason, too" Maria broke ont
then, with piteous shrek, "Oh, I've 60
--reason."
"Alaria Woods, go out of the rooml
said Phoebe. Her sharpness made III,
jump, hail dazed as | was.
Maria got up without n CORD and wen
out of the room. bending almost double
with convulsivc soh".
shes been dreadful worked up Oyer
] r., A L..