The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-07-07

I've got you all fixed" And Elvira
drew her shawl around and prepared
to take her departure.
"Don't you worry about your things
or nothin'. I'll be over AM fix 'em up
for you"
Miss Penelope sat motonless for a
long time after her visitor had left her.
The sun crept down behind the horizon
line, and the stars lit their gllmmeriug
tapers one by one. A thread of moon
light stole through the parted curtains
and glittered on the shining andirons.
When she stumbled to her feet at last
and began to prepare her simple meal
there was still a dazed expression on
her face.
"Nigh on to 70 an goin' to the cap
it'll / wonder what Nathan would say?
Elviry seems to think it's my duty
She sed it wuz a slightin' of Provi-
dence."
Even now, after Nathan had been
dead thirty years, Miss Penelope found
herself deferring to his opinion, as she
had always tried to do while living.
Not that she had ever followed his adj
vice when given; it was simply form
OF respect by which she strove to hide
the consciousness that Nathan's judg-
ment was not to be relied upon. In
deed, no one but Miss Penelope had
much opinion Of Nathan Briggs. To
obtain certificate of responsibility in
Canaan it was necessary to be familiar
with ones family tree. Nathan had
come there a stranger.
He had always been singularly reti-
cent as to his ancestry, and although
this had been source of regret TO
Miss Penelope's pride she had been too
loyal to question him.
All of her friends had openly rebel.
led when, in addition to her own re-
sponsibility of making both ends meet
on slender income, she had taken
upon herself the care and maintenance
of Nathan Briggs. Miss Penelope only
smiled contentedlv.
Il can't say as Nathan loves to work
-no-but then, you see, I'm such
driver myself tibet / can do 'nough for
two. An I've heard tell how people
oughter choose their opposites." For
proof of which she would drop her needle
and thread and run out TO light her kitch-
en- fire rather than disturb him from the
perusal Of the evening paper.
He isn't Canaanite; thets it.
faint fair to weigh him in the same
scales" she would say to herself by way
of excuse, when she was wondering how
she would meet the grocer's bill while
her husband sat with his feet on the
porch railing, discussing the financial
state of the country.
But when the war broke out, then
MISS Penelope's heart thrilled with
pride. Nathan's name had been draft
ed, and he could not very well secure a
substitute, but she did not know that.
She only realized that she was giving
her all in defense of her country, and,
like the Spartan mother, she rejoiced
in the sacrifice. 1t had been her one
consolation in her bereavement that
Nathan had at last clothed his name
with glory and shown himself to be
worthy citizen of Canaan.
No one disabused her mind of this
belief in her soldiers bravery by init
mating that her Nathan was generally
in the rear guard. On the contrary,
they endeavored to foster her loyalty
by every means possible. Corporal
Brent went over the old battle scenes
again and again, and Miss Penelope's
eyes would flash and turn toward the
saber on the wall, while in Imagination
she saw her hero storming the barri-
cade, climbing the ramparts and facing
the fire of the enemy.
"She's the one tibet oughter gone to
the war an left Nathan home to was
the Dishes" Corporal Brent would say,
with stamp of his wooden leg. "She
got precious little satisfaction out of
him when he wuz alive. I'm goin to
give her all 1 kin now he's gone"
He was the first to come around and
bid her godspeed on her journey.
"Ef you haven't got claim ag'in the
government, no one has, Wilder
Briggs. I'd hev seen tibet you got
your Just dues long afore this, only l
knew your sentiments on the subject.
I'm glad you're takin diffrunt view of
the matter; I am So"
1t was the same with all the neigh
bors, old and young. They took such
an interest in her undertaking and
seemed to look upon it with such pro-
nounced approval that Miss Penelope
had not the courage to intimate that
her views had not undergone any re-
markable change, but that she was be.
ing prowled to Washington by the in
defatigsble will power of Elvira Brack-
EFT. 1t was only when she was seated
in the train in neatly mended apparel,
surrounded by various bundles and
packages-the donation of appreciative
friends-that she realized she was now
deprived OF that sustaining prop and
dependent on her own resources.
"Nigh on to seventy-two an startin
fur the capitil Whatever would Ma
than say?" the dear old lady kept re-
peating to herself as she counted her
bundles over and over, sitting bolt up
right, the prey to many fears and mis-
givings.
These were somewhat dispelled when
she reached the city and saw the genial
face of the landlady nodding up at the
Car window.
"There! l knew you the first minute
set eyes on YOU" she said, taking the
little old lady in her arms with true