The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-11

ingl" she said, holly. "You're work
ing along in the old tracks farmers were
in fifty years ago? Father says sol
When you went to cut down the bank
of that big slough you were dtching
last spring you used spades and shovels
and worked three weeks, and father
said if you'd taken one of these big new
road-graders and some horses you could
have done it in few days."
Larry took this scathing harangue on
his modes of work with perfect good
nature. Mabel's temper necessarily
cooled somewhat. She went over to
the fence and seated herself on the top
board, leaning against post.
Larry turned his face toward her.
1--WE may be little too-too-what you
call unprogressive," he owned; "but
better than being too much the other
way"
Mabel had an answer ready for this
and her large dark eyes flashed with
the triumph Of it before she uttered it.
"You are no richer than we are
thenl-not one bitl" she cried. "Your
taxes were the same as ours last win
ter-almost exactly the samel l re-
member hearing the folks laugh about
it, Ours were eighty-seven dollars,
aud yours were eighty. seven dollars
and fifty cents 30 nowl'
ooh, WE'LL" said Larry, reasonably,
"anyone can see why we're not we'll
off-with so many girls in the family.
Five girls nearly all grown up, and only
one boy. Nobody could be rich fixed
like that
1.-The girlsl The girls, indeedl" ex-
claimed Mabel, Indignantly. "To blame
them for it'll It's Just like you'll"
"Now, Mabel,' insisted Larry,
"there's no denying that lot of ex-
travagsnt girls in family will keep a
man down."
Mabel shut her lips tightly and looked
away across the pumpkin patch as if
this last argument was too contempti-
BILE to be answered. Larry watched
her awhile, then his merry eyes
twinkled daringly.
"Oh, don't say all girls are that
way" he assured her. "There are
some girls, now-the fellow that gets
one of them is in luck, too. Take for
instance, the girl that's interested
enough in the farming to go out on a
| law NONChUCl Joy anu ON Oh
kin for an hour watching crowd of
what's to be done with them. Now,
that kind of girl, l say is worth"
But Larry got no further. Mabel
suddenly jumped down from the fence
and started away for the house with
the severest of expressions on her face
He stood there and watched her till
she disappeared some distance away in
a maple grove, in the midst of which
a white house nestled. He then wen
back to his hog wagon, climbed in ant
proceeded homeward.
That day on which Mabel and Larry
quarreled in the pumpkin patch was
as it happened, the last one of the milo
fall weather. Winter set in immediate
ly with the greatest fury, and the snow
fell thick. Larry hastend through TIT
rest of his completing with all die
patch. Then, when that was finished
there was coal to haul, and after tina
some STRENGTHENING to do. Later on
after the holidays, he took job of ice
cutting at fish pond in the neighbor
hood where most of the farmers go
their icehouses supplied. The worl
was hard, and Larry was not afraid o
exercise. Then, on near the end o
January, when everything seemed t.
be done, the annual farmers institut
was held in the county seat.
1t was on the afternoon Of the secont
day of these institute meetings tina
Larry curried and brushed his favorit
horse with the greatest care; then pre-
ceeded to harness him and hitch hir
to the sleigh. He was going to tn
institute. 1t was not his wont nor hi
fathers TO attend these annual meet
ings, but he knew Mabel would
there. She always went, and her Who'll
family.
1t was late when he reached th
town, and the afternoon meeting Wa
well begun when he entered the ha
where the institutes were held. Their
were several rows in the back half
the room that were but sparingly ljlleC
In one of these seats Larry discovere
! Mabel. He Immediately started dow
The aisle for this seat and sat down bC
side her. She gave him cold stare
then went on listening to the speaker
T But Larry's. courage was equal TO th
also. He unbuttoned his overcoa