The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-07
SELECTED STORY.
AT the End OF the Road.


surprise" said Lou Harlow, posing her
self like one about to take flight, in the
doorway of Mrs. Green's kitchen. "You
must come, Mis- Green. Twill do you
good to get out. You're too much shut
up. Sarell will miss you if you don't
come. She'll want TO see her near
neighbors, if nobody else is there. Get
'Rastus to bring you down.
Mrs. Green set the teapot further
back on the stove and murmured an in
definite MIN" The milk-house door
opened with rattle of pals. LOUIS
eyes turned slightly in that direction as
she talked on persistently.
"Brother Ed was going TO stop yes
terday and invite you, but he had to go
another way, so stopped in now. It's
rather late to be giving invitations, L
know, but it's all been planned in such
q hurry that we are out and out Nus
tered. l thought, too, that might stir
you up to coming better than Ed could.
It does seem too bad not to have lot
at tin wedding surprise party Every
body's to bring something besides re-
freshments, you know. I've the cutest
little oatmeal cooker that l got at the
five-cent store in the city, and shall
take that. Well, / won't hinder you
any longer about your supper. Good
bye. Now do come if you can. Good
bye"
The kitchen door timed its closing
with mathematical accuracy to the is
suing of young man from the milk
house. Through the window Mrs.
Green saw LOUIS innocently surprised
start and cordial bow, but the bit Of
talk that followed was inaudiDle to her.
She felt certain, however, that 1t was
about the surprise party.
elf those Harlows amt managin'l"
was her mental comment. "But it'll
take more'n pretty putin on to make
Lou one mite engagin' to 'Rastus,
guess"
'Rastus came in presently, and, after
washing al the sink, sat down to sup
per. He was thin and not over tall,
with vivid boyish complexion and
chin like his mothers, marked by de-
cision that the almost severe GOODNESS
of grey-blue eyes accumulated. 1t was
only when 'Rastus smiled that one
knew how winning his face could be.
''Lou Harlow stopped in to ask US to
a tin wedding surprise at her brother
Wills. Probably che mentioned it to
you," said Mrs. Green, as she poured
the tea. 81 shall have to carry some
thing in the shape of tin. l wonder
if the dipper l got Of that peddler last
week won't do. l took it for rags.
They do pay 30 little for rags now, l
declare it's hardly worth savin' 'em.
If it hadn't been for them old overalls
of yours l shouldn't made out enough
To Get this uipper.o
"Likely they won't have more'n
seven dippers," said 'Rastus, helping
himself to second dish of apple sauce.
Mrs. Green looked disturbed.
"Well, dippers are handy. Every
housekeeper needs two, and they use
up quick. Dippers nowadays amt
what clippers used to be. There's
hardly one to be got but has weak
ness in the solderin'. l don't know
what's more provokin' than to have a
dipperful of water come splashin' onto
the floor and leave nothin' but handle
in your fingers"
The quick, bright smile flashed over
'Rastus' face.
"Better carry pan or something OF
that kind"
His mother took the suggestion as
profoundly serious. =.
81 haven't one / could spare. Can't
we stop for the Blake girls, 'Rastus?
They like to get out, and it's rather far
for 'em to walk now they're failin'. l
declare, it goes to my heart to see poor
Miss Betsey so meechin' lately. She
doesn't seem to know whether her
things is on straight or not. Last Sum
day twas all could do to keep my
foy tttnJ
straightin' her false front. Twas
twisted so the partin' was over one eye.
And it's real pathetic to see Miss Har-
riet, hoverin' about her sister and
fussin' to make her comfortable, when
all the time Miss Harriet's the oldest.
Miss Betsey amt but sixty-eight. l
shouldn't wonder if 'twould chick 'em
up consid'able to 60 to the surprise
party this evenin'."
"Well, you can take 'em; I'll walk.
'Twould be too crowding in the buggy
for us all, and 1 don't want 10 get out
the business wagon. There's spoke
loose"
Mrs. Green looked narrowly at him;
the repose of his face indicated moth.
ing.
HBut 'Rastus, can't hitch old Nell
You now how she acts the minute we
get out-a-caperin' and pullin'.
"I'll be on hand to look out for you.'
'Rastus pushed away his chair, and the
door closed after him.
His mother watched as he went across
the yard, with slender shoulders well
thrown back. Even in overalls and
colored shirt he had not the slouchi.
ness of many farmers. She recognized
the fact with thrill of pride; but an
other fact was present to her also
The boy who used TO sob out his little
griefs upon her sympathetic bosom had
reached mans estate, how entirely was
told by some trick of many, by occa
sional tone of voice or lift of eyes. He
thought that she did not know, anC
therein lay part of the sting. 1t seem
ed to put her far from him, and she fell
chilling prescience of time wher
her place in the house would be taker
by someone else. Regret that q boy
must ever grow beyond boyhood FLIED
her now for q moment. She would
baua l;Lad IN COLL him haob ooJ aox