Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-09-11

In few minutes Mary Ann came out
bringing two chairs with her. She would
not invite him into her house, but she
would sit there with him in spite of all
that Matt Digby might put in circulation
about her. Mats house, on the left, was
dark. Joel was happy over the thought
that she had gone to bed, and that she
could not have heard him open the gate
and ascend the steps. But Mary Ann
knew that if Matt was alive she was sit
ting at the open window, thirty yards from
the porch, straining her eyes and ears tc
see and hear all she could. However,
Mary Ann soon forgot Matt Digby. There
was something tense and manly in Holtz-
claws face that absorbed her. He waited
until she had seated herself before he sal
down, then he placed his chair near to
hers.
"I've come to the conclusion something
got to be done, and that quick, Mary Ann, y
he began, nervously stroking his beard.
"This way of going on don't seem to me
to be right. l amt good enough for such
a pretty girl as you are-that could git the
best husband in the country; but I'd be
better, more steady man if had you.
believe that if Sarah could look down from
where she is, she'd want you to be COM
fort to me and mother to her children.
When she made me make that promise
she was just peevish and jealous be-
cause Matt Digby had said so much to
her about me accounting Of you. I've al
ways thought if she'd just a-been in her
right mind at her death she'd a-realeased
me-"
Mary Ann started. She spread out her
skirt carefully and then smoothed her apron
over it. She glanced at him shyly, and
then looked cautiously through the dark
ness at Matt Digby's window before ven
turing upon a reply.
"Why, JOEL" she said, suddenly, 81
never did hear all about it, because Il
didn't want to seem to be interested; but
somehow got the idea that-that she ask
ed it on her deathbed."
"No such thingw he answered quickly.
at was fully three months fore she died,
when she was starting off for visit to
Aunt Molly Peevy, over in Fannin' county.
On the way home she had stroke of par
alysis, and did not know thing till she
died two days later"
Mary Ann moved uneasily and her chail
creaked She felt that she was leading
him on to talk of such things, and she
wanted to change the subject.
"Little Joe tells me that Mrs. Peevy is
coming to see you Tomorrow"
CHATS what she wrote the other day
She'll get here about II o'clock in the
morning"
"She'll be hungry" replied Mary Ann
'and she won't be in no fix to set right in
and cook dinner for you and the children
If yoonl let me, I'll have you all come
over and eat with us. l reckon no
body won't talk about it with Mrs. Peevy
on hand"
"That IL be just the thingr' he cried
sit III be right sort of welcome. Aunt
Molly always did think lot of you folks. .
The conversation paused. She saw from
his face that he was coming back to thu
subject uppermost in his mind, aud SHE
would have stopped him if she could hav'
resisted the temptation TO hear what hi
had to say. 1t seemed so much like thu
time when he used to come to see her il
the years before. There, in the semi-dark
ness, he did not seem to have changed
greatly. True, his hair was slightly gray
but his eyes and his voice were the same
and he still loved her.
81 III tell you what, Mary Ann" h.
went on, tenderly. "Pve made up m,
mind that l just can't do another yea
without you. l am able to keep straigh
and decent when I've got something to liv
for. You know did all right when Sa
rah was alive, although me and her WASH
at all suited nor never was. Now, if l an
willing to set aside that unreasonable prom
Use, surely you ought not to object. l
wouldn't be you adding of it,"
She caught her breath and shrank iron
him as he leaned toward her.
GGnapit follr hat 81 Oh al !
ed. "Td do anything OH earth to hell
you. I'd willingly work my fingers TO tn
bone; but l can't sin against a dead won
an. Besides, we'd both be churched for il
and we couldn't live in the community
The Lord knows I'd rather be your wife
I'd die the next minute, it seems to me, t
to be able to call myself that, if
was right in the sight of God. But
would be sin, and there amt no good O
happiness in SIM"
moment, then he rose and pushed ava
his hair
"There is two sides to it," he said, des
perately. "You say it will be sin agains
a dead woman. What about it being a si
against a living man? You can save m
from the dogs if you want to. If yol
don't marry me, the Lord only knows wha
will happen. I've just got so much NOR
tai strength and no more. can stant
out against temptation when life is wortl
living, but that's all. | am as weak as
rag tonight"
She covered her face with her hands
Her breast rose conyulsively. A low sol
escaped her, and then little moan. Sh,
got up suddenly, and without wor
shambled into the candle-lit room behin
him. She extinguished the candle. He
footsteps ceased and the room became 8
still that he could hear the clock on tn
mantel ticking. He leaned against tn
wall, hardly daring to draw his breath.
Something told him she was on he
knees beside her bed, and he folded hi
arms and bowed his head. He tried to re
solve to be better and stronger man; bu
he could think of nothing except her bow
ed figure and her sobs. Ten minute
passed, then he heard her coming. Sh
advanced to him from the darkness an
laid her hand on his arm. Her hail
which had always added such charm
her face, had become unfastened, and mad
her look so much younger. She held
handkerchief balled in her hand.
go away, Joel, and let this be your las
visit, after tomorrow at dinner" she saiC
81 have decided. 1t has been like dying
hundred deaths, but l can't be the cause {
your breaking that promise. admire 20
for making it to her, weak and sickly a
she was but l couldn't no longer if 20
broke it. A promise is promise undo
heaven; there amt no ifs and ands abol
it; it is just so. If you'll let me, III tai
the children and bring them up. I'll new
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