St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-03-19


behind the same horses. no knowing
what might happen in the future.
They might just as well gone in
costume as look the way they do
now" grumbled Miss Diamond to
her mother as the Crowlnshleld girls
came out from the stone portico.
"Did YOU ever see such outland'sh
things? | should think those girls
would just die with the clothes they
have to wear.
1t was true that Agatha was
appareled in a sprigged muslin that
had once formed part OF the raiment
of a Saltpepper cousin, and the
brooch that fastened her collar had
originally adorned the fair throat OF
Madam Hepsibah Peaseltree. Bar
bara likewise had ian and a belt
that looked as if they had been
brought over in one OF Capt. lchabod
Steptiptoe's earlier cargoes. But
then the girls had not worn these
things for display; it was simply
because they had nothing else, and
before they had gone mile Agatha
at least forgot that she had any
ancestors.
Acquaintance ripened after the
coaching parade. Judge Forrestheld
hurt his hand, and Edmund came
over to milk the cow-a peculiarly
appropriate arrangement, Madam
Forrestheld thought, for his father
used to milk this cows maternal
ancestor when he was ragged,
barefoot youngster 40 years ago.
Agatha and Edmund were sitting
on the back stoop at twilight after
the milking.
agatha" said Edmund, in the
same gentle, deliberative voice that
his father had, would you like to
marry me? You will have the best
time you ever had in your life if you
do"
The girl blushed as if the blood
would burst from her face.
IL don't think | could" she fall
tered.
agatha" said Edmund solemnly,
as he took her hand, "it it were not
for Sir Benhadad Saltpepper, Capt.
Ichabod Steptiptoe, not to mention
Col. Michael Peaseltree, would you
marry me?
Just at this moment Madam For
rest6eld's staff was heard pounding
vigorously on the foor-a summons
that her granddaughter never dared
disregard.
"By Jove," said Edmund, there's
the ghost of the Rev. Eldad Henbane.
He's mad because | left him out.
Goodby, Agatha, III see you later.
Now you remember what | have
said" And with that he rushed off,
but not till he had kissed her.
Edmund took the early morning
train from Stumpville, and he was
gone several days. Emerald brought
over note to Agatha, but it told
nothing of his whereabouts. On
Saturday night he came back, calm
and confident.
Agatha, ! have been looking up
family history. | have been to
Portsmouth, lovely Portsmouth
that old beer barrel down at the
mouth of the Piscataqua; also over
to Salem, another hole in the ground
with wharves so rotten that
shouldn't think they could keep the
town from tumbling into the sea
Yes, I've seen it all. have rumagec
round in the Essex institute, tn,
Peabody museum, and all their othel
old curiosity shops. | have explored
archives, and | give you my candle
opinion, Agatha, | am surprised tina
such a nice girl as you could hav
such a lot OF meaSlv ancestors. Why
they were an awful tough crowd
To begin with, there is Sir BenhadaC
Saltpepper. He first set the fashion
OF running off to Canada. When tn
Revolutionary war came on wha
did he do but pick up all the plunde
he could lay his hands on and 5000
over to New Brunswick, and the
board a British man of war an
sneak back to England! About tina
time my great-gran' sir was hghtiu
in the Continental army under oil
Sugartongs Sullivan. AS for Cap
lchabod Steptiptoe, he was an gu
and out pirate, and I've got I'll
documents to prove it. He loote
Spanish galleons, and he was Ell
gagged in the African slave trade, an
he was holy terror. The only deret