Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-12-28
WHEN He MARRIED.
THE postmaster smiled 4 little when be

Sihs uia DOT notice lie was trying 70 re |
member whether 1t was yeast cake or
pound Of cheese lie had meant to gel at The
store.
He went out Of the post Office still pom.
dering and ended BY forgetting both articles,
his attention being diverted b. the SIGHT Of
two boys playing marbles on the sidewalk
This was the first sign Of spring Luther had
s~en, so it was no wonder that bis mem
DRY played him false.
After he had got home and had eaten
his supper he thought Of the mail IN bis over
coat pocket. He brought it to the table and
sat down TO examine it. There was the
weekly county paper, poultry journal, an
agricultural monthly, and, last Of all, let
ter.
well, now said Luther, picking it up,
Il wonder who's been writing to me.
don't know when I've bad a letter."
lie looked at il eagerly, held il nearer to
his eyes, then farther off. He removed his
glasses and polished them in nervous haste.
After replacing them on his nose be picked
up the letter again and scanned il narrowly,
then he looked over his glasses as il at some
person and said.
II snum"
He sank into reverie, out Of which be
reused himself With a start TO study the en-.
yelope with renewed interest,
Mrs Luther Wilkins" be said. Mrs,
Luther Wilkins. And / an old bachelor who
never 50 much a. hardly thought Of getting
married. Mrs Luther wilkins, why, where
Is sheg And who IS sheg
well, | guess I'll see what's in it, He
inserted the point Of his knife under The
corner Of the envelope Zap; then he hesl-
| lated
"What business have / opening Of her
lettersg' he asked himself Il never did
open other folks letters, and guess won't
| begin now" lie rose 60 bis feet and carrying
it TO the maute,pieee leaned i mp against
Che clock.
He settled himself go hrs papeus but
| thoughts of Mrs. Luther wilkins Kept III
| guding on what he was reading about pat
| emit nest-h boxes and undertaking, and the
news OF the village.
Thereafter. during all his waking hours
| Mrs. Luther Wilkins was often in hi-
| thoughts. She even haunted bis dreams AZ
! times. He wondered what she was ike, and
/ he thought Of the kind Of woman he would
| wish her 10 be, and enjoyed himself very
| much in imagining how il would seem ta
| have her meet him at the door when he
came IN from tie fields, and how aice It
would be not to have TO get his own meals.
At first he was a little cynical ard told
| himself that the imagining vas much more
/ satisfactory than the reality would BE- hu.
| after awhile he changed bis mind and would
Sigh heavily when he came into his lonesome
house.
The letter by the clock, too, began 70
| trouble him. He had dey0uHHg curiosity
10 zee what was il t, and besides it dad not
seem Just right TO keep It so long before de
| tiyering Il.
one evening in june Luther put on hi'
hest clothes and walked three miles 70 SEE
an old scboolmate who had an unmaFTlee
cousin living With him. IL seemed 70 mn
that Eliza Elliott fitted IN exactly with MI
idea 81 Mrs. Luther Wilkins,
He came home quite early very mneh as
/ appointed Eliza wouidp do az ELL
He worked doggediy for a month, tryin.
lard not 10 think Of the disquictmg subject
If Ma no use, and toward the end q July 4
vas observed that Luther was becomni
vsry neiphborly. lie spent his evenings a
different neighb0rs' houses, be accepted 10
yitatious 70 tea, he went 70 church regularly
and q Am the Sunday school picules, An
| stiIl he could not ind suitable owner 10
tie letter.
# must be terrible tussy,' be sighed
ssTye rot acquainted with about al the WON
on in town; thew nice women, every on
6f them. but somehow they don suit me-
guess IN have to give up beat.
II was one cold, raw day in early Novcu
har thnt Luther sat az a window maAln
slum.y attempts at mending pair OF Ever
ragged socks. Happening 70 glance agro-
nv street he saw q woman out III ltan
mond's yard. She was busy rakins mp To
fallen autumn leaves,
"Letitia Hammond" Luther commented
"RM Hammouds sister We don g
much OF her lately. She don't even 60
church. there's 30 many Of Bills children :
aok after. and Bil's wife is 80 took up W.T.
Ter clubs and things. rs hard ON l.e'll''
hut She never finds a word OF idult.
The sock Dc was mendine tell to the moo
a and Tia wooden egg inside 1t struck WI
.ufh loud bang that the eat started ia j.
.leep. Luther ala not notice. lie w.
standing At the window staring out
syb,t i best which hcth nearest, 4
aid Aosmnly. what 4 fool I've been
he found bis hat and eft the house. 2
= most running across the road. lie took q
non rake away from I.etitia gently, " ll "a,
TOO hard work for little thing Ike you
said ,s-
Letitas blue eyes were tull OF "ohae
int she welded the rake weakly
YOU'D better 20 into toe house zoo ="
Luther. aI.'s cold out here.
No one had been thoughtful Of her p
f,re for long time. and Letitia coudn
understand III. When Luther returned, q
rake She asked him TO let her do someih'i
for him. -
liz carried her his best pair u so,Ss.. p
vas Mortified at their condition, and mend'
them in very artistic manner.
Iuther looked at them IN wonder a.
reverence. IN never wear EN-, ne s4i
gben he was at home again. ! wo3u.dn,
ave let her do it only knewlt would MAJ
Fcr fecl better and it gave me chance
see her, too.
he found that il was an easy matter 10 I
vent excuses for seeing her, aud hnai.s' son
tirne n tie winter, be asked her, in tear -, ~
tremblne. II She would be Mrs. Luther W