The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-02-03
doubtless have painted china and
wrought elaborate fancy work, but, liv-
ing where she did. all her skill was con-

| WORK. Whlle third, called tiger
lily" was made up Of triaupu ar pieces
OF pink calico leather-stitched to q
foundation of white cloth. The whole
| termed itariu.y COuyentiunaiized lily
or was supposed to do so
There was one rug that v as Olive's
special pride. 1t represented an i'm.
possible animal with huge Qogglo cy rs,
and several supeuumerary legs aud
horne. This animal was surrounded
by brighl scariCt scroll
Poor beWlldered Abe, when b. frs.
saw Ibis rug, thought it portrayed some
one OF the sllego ica beasts found i'm
the Book Of r. velltion.
Olive admitted hat she didn't quite
know what i did look like when it was
finished, 80 she called it "sea horse"
Soon the neighbors began to surmise
something. But Olive pursued the
even tenor OF her way and would not
understand their sly jokes OF illusions.
81 the days flow by, Que morning,
early in September, a radiant vision
appeared at Olives door, in the shape
OF her niece Anrie, one of the whom
she mothered in their childhood days.
The girl was very pretty and daintlly
clad, so that, to the country eyes, she
seemed perfection.
Her aunt was delighted TO see her
once more, and before long told her all
about Der engagement.
o course Annie was 10 crested. and,
after seeing Abe, tod her aun he was
"just splendid, and so handsome"
The child meant no wrong, but fiji. t.
ing was as The breath of her nos riis,
and, indeed, had become UGH second
nature that she hardly knew when she
was flirting.
Any body but Olive, and she, if love
hal not blinded her, would have known
what was going on. But Olive pever
needed.
One day she was sitting in little
wood near her house, picking partridge
berries. Suddenly she heard Abe
speaking in strangely agitated toue.
"Oh, Annie!" he was saying, "Why
did we ever see each otherI God knows
l loved her till you came. She is the
best woman ever knew, except my
mother. She loves me and l am false
to her. But, Annie darling, love you
so well that it is JOY just to be near
you, 10 hear your voice, to touch so
much as your sleeve"
Jest the way feel toward him."
murmured Olive, swallowing her tears,
" only couldn't say it 30 pooty as he
does!"
She could hear Annie sobbing out
these words:
"Abe, didn't mean to make you
love me. Well go away from each
other and forget"
Here o i've walked iuto sight, pale
but composed, to find Abe and Annie
locked in each others arms. They
sprang apart and stood facing her
sheepisbly.
"That's not very good way to be-
gin forgetting" said Olive, dryly;
" however. under the circumstances,
it'll dol Now, see here, children, of
course you'll marry each other amt
such TOOL as to want man who is
hankerin' after another woman all the
time. Pm goin' few fix things tew
suit myself. l won't have all the neigh
bors laughin' an sayin' Old FOOL She
ought tew have know'd he'd leave her
for the first pooty face be saw"
Abe WINGED, but Olive was too much
of woman not to send this shaft.
IAN lie! you go home in the mornin',
an Abe, as soon as your times up, you
go. l shall give you all the dxin's
made for myself" She swallowed once
or twice, then went calmly on.
81 shall come tew yer weddin', and
I'll make the neighbors think you was
speak tew mel" she said sharply, as
Abe sprang impulsively toward her.
" Git, both of yewl "
Olive fought her battle alone that
day and conquered. She came home to
tea quite tranquil, and during the two
remaining weeks of Abe's stay she
treated him as kindly as ever.
Almiry appeared blind and deaf be-
fore her mistress, but she remarked to
herself, in the privacy of the kitchen,
" She's lost i'm, in spite of her ribbons.
l knowed she would"
In the winter Olive received her in
vitatiOn to the wedding. She packed
up the quilts, sheets, rugs, etc., ready
to take with her. Then she took
lilac. colored silk dress pattern from its
wrapping paper and gazed at it as one
gazes on the face of dead friend. She
did not put it in the trunk with the
other articles, but laid it in the drawer
again.
When all was done, she took a pressed
fern, withered rosebud, and two short
notes from writing desk and burned
them.
"He'll be another woman's husband
tomorrow" she whispered, an l
don't want no mementoes of other
folks husbands"
The next morning she went to the
wedding. She was as bright and CHEEKY
all through the day, and when the we'd
ding was over she shook hands cordially
with both bride and groom, but did not
kiss her niece.
"Olive," whispered Abe, "you're
the best woman ever knew. You're
almost better than my motherl"
She reached home in the evening
more nearly cross than Almiry had ever
seen her before.
"Yes, it was good enough weddin' ,
but shan't tell you one thing about it,
Almiry Powers, till mornin', I'm 80
tiredl Mol / didn't swaller no razor,
but I'm dog tired, 30 therep
Almiry made no remarks, but the
next morning at breakfast a dish OF