The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-22

bunch of the flowers, and had 'em in a
glass on a shelf and she noticed 'em.
So thought I'd send her some," said
PerrOt, innocently.
His wife looked very hard at him.
"Do you want to make fool of your
self, Samuel Perrot?" she inquired.
How does it look to see married
mana man with sick wife, who
mayn't have three months to live
chatting over counters with a frisky
widow, and sending her flowers and
things?"
"Why, Marthy, of course 1 don't
mean any harm by it'll Goodness
knows" he added, with sigh, 'that
I've no comfort in the prospect of be-
ing left widower! And what are the
poor children to do without mother?
Mrs. Vaughan seems to feel for US al
ready; for she's always inquiring about
your health"
swell, she neednt!" responded Mrs.
Perrot, her sallow face flushing, "and l
think, Samuel, that you might have
better sense, if not better feeling, than
TO go around chatting with other wom-
en- about your wife dying. One would
think that you were anxious to get me
out of the wayl" she added, reproach-
fully.
"Now, Marthy, you ought not to talk
30. You know how grieved I'd be to
lose you. And if married again--for
the children's sakes, mean-1'd look
out for somebody as near like you as
could be found"
"Married again" exclaimed Mrs.
Perrot, with indignant emphasis.
"For the children's sake you know"
repeated her husband, sheepishly
scratching his head.
"And you can sit here and talk about
giving my darling children step
mother?" said Mrs. Perrot, in a deeply
injured tone. samuel, Samuel! when
come to this!"
Perrot, as he always did when he saw
that squall was brewing, took his hat,
and while his wife's face was buried in
her handkerchief he silently vanished
from the room.
~ wouldn't mind it, Aunt Martha,
said Lavinia, consolingly. "You know
he loves you better than anything else
in the world; but it's natural he should
sometimes look forward to the future.
And Mrs. Massey has told everybody
that you don't expect to live beyond
this winter, and you see, folks pity
him; and Mrs. Vaughan being widow
herself, can feel what he would suffer-"
81 never said expected to die this
winter!" said Mrs. Perrot, defantly.
"I've felt better the last few days than
1 have for weeks. People needn't be
digging my grave beforehand, and med
ding with my husband and children.
And I'd thank Mrs. Massey not to be
raising false reports about meP
She was rather cool TO Mrs. Massey
when that lady Ga next-door neighbor)
paid the usual daily visit. She even
told the woman that she had not taken
Monday, and that she felt better than
for long time past.
Mrs. Massey was offended, and did
not repeat her visit for some days.
81 think I'll just step on the front
porch for awhile, as the sun is 30 warm
today" Mrs. Perrot observed, as she
looked from her window.
Mrs. Vaughan was sitting at the
opposite window, sewing, but Mrs.
Perrot never looked that way. Wrap
ped in a shawl, and accompanied by
Lavinia and the rejoicing children, she
walked out upon the porch, noticed the
rose-bushes, and arranged struggling
branch, spoke to passing acquaintance
who stopped to congratulate her on
"being about again." and finally re-
turned to her room, declaring that she
felt rather refreshed by the change.
Perrot silently rubbed his hands, and
exchanged glance with Lavinia, who
merely remarked that she hoped her
aunt wouldn't be imprudent, and take
a cold that might settle on her lungs.
"My lungs are as good as they ever
were," declared Mrs. Perrot. 81 never
said nor thought that anything was the
matter with them; and think" she
presently added, "that the fresh air
must have done me good, for l feel as
though l could eat bit of broiled
steak for dinner"
She ate the steak with a relish, and
even drank glass of ale which her
husband brought for her. Thence
forth the toast and tea, and boiled eggs,
and arrow root jelly, upon which she
! had for some time subsisted, disappear