The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-01-12

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When you speak a trifle louder than
usual, like that, l have no difficulty in
understanding what you say.
She must be awful def if she calls
that tri6e louder n usual, said Mr..
Peters to me. Hain't she never had
anything done to her ears?
made an excuse to get away as
soon as possible. / couldn't have kept
my face straight much longer. / busted
myself about getting dinner, but could
hear every word of the conversation in
the kitchen. Elizabeth asked him all
about his farm, and his family and
seemed TO be getting very much inter.
ested in him. She kept him repeating
his remarks until he fancied he was
getting hoarse.
I've always fancied l would like liv-
ing on farm, said Elizabeth. Do you
think the children would take kindly TO
to stepmother, Mr.. Peters?
They'd have to if got married again,
was his reply. l reckon there wouldn't
be any trouble about that.
No, don't like cats, said Elizabeth
I'd prefer a dog. Do you keep dog,
Mr.. Petersp
didn't say anything about cats, he
responded. You didn't ketch my re-
mark.
think just as you do about that, re-
sponded Elizabeth. l don't like to
hear them bark. We seem TO have
quite a similarity of tastes, don't we,
Mr.. Peters?
Presently dinner was ready, and they
came out together and sat down to the
meal. l had told Elizabeth that l
would wait on them. l knew l could
never undergo the ordeal of sitting at
the table with them.
suppose you have lots of strawber-
ries and fresh cream and everything
like that on the farm, said Elizabeth,
her face fairly beaming with interest.
How delightful it must be!
like il, said Mr.. Peters. There's q
good deal of hard work about it, though,
one has to git up afore sunrise and that
makes long day in summer.
Yes, answered Elizabeth. l like
summer. It's strange what similar
ity of tastes we have, isn't it? hope
you ike moonlight walks and boating
Mr.. Peters2 do 30 much
Wall, can't jest say as l do, re-
sponded Mr.. Peters. Bein' out at
night Especially on the water, don't
agree with me. 1t makes me rooma-
tick.
Romantic? There it is againl cried
Elizabeth in delight Pm 80 glad you
are, for I'm the most romantic girl you
ever saw.
l didn'tsay romantic, corrected Mr..
Peters in tone that made the dishes
dance. said rooma,ick.
Oh, pardon me, said Elizabeth. But
occasionally you seem TO forget that i
am trlfe deaf and speak 30 low. But
you'd get used to it in time.
i don't believe l ever would, said
Mr.. Peters to me. Don't you suppose
some thin could be done for her?
l don't know, I'm sure, / replied,
turning away TO hide my face.
All the afternoon my wicked sister
kept that poor man shouting at her
BY degrees he got hoarse and hoarser,
Just before tea was ready he came into
the kitchen where l was at work.
I'm all beat out, he said. My throat
feels rougher'n CRATER. It's harder
work to carry on conversation with
her than it is to drive oxen. It's dret-
full pity she can't have something done
for her ears. She's smart, an good
lookin', an she seems to take great
likin' 10 me.
Maybe you'd get used to it and would
not mind it after little, l said, consol-
ingly.
dom know-I'm afraid not, he said
It's considerable OF risk to run. Dc
you s'pose now she'd be willin' to 60
an see some ear doctor an see il he
couldn't do somethin'? l wouldn't like
to make any agreement of any kind un.
less there was some chance of hel
hearin' better'n she does now.
You'd better talk to her about it, ]
suggested.
can't, said Mr.. Peters. I'n jest
used up. guess she gets worse to'ards
night, for it's harder work to make her
understand now than il was at noon.
did think o. stavin' over until tomorrow
but guess III be agoin'. You can
talk with her il you'd jest as soon, an
il she is willin' to have her ears doc
tored, an it does any good, I'll come
down agin. don't see why your aun
didn't tell me about it. But maybe she
was afraid your sister'd lose the chance
II she let on afOre hand It's dretfu