Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1901-12-20
A HUSBAND BY LOT
NEW YEARS STORY BY Mrs. Jeanette H WaIworth
Copyright, 1900, by Jeanette H. Walworth

spent uve years ana big lot of
money up at Yale college, and now he's
being manufactured into Il lawyer. By
the time he gets home he'll be primed to
attend to all the legal matters that ! pay
the lawyers to keep straight for me- AS
soon as possible after his homecoming
I'll shift all my business on to his Shout
ders | mean to wind up all my out
| standing affairs and see him settled one
way r nuthcr, with no more shilly shall
/ lying. LeaStways, Mrs. Maxwell, syou
can't say I'm pressing you very sore
There was Just the fainteSt suggestion
of threat in the cold gray eyes and in
the raucous voice that delivered this ulti-
matum. 1t was quite apparent enough
to fill the timorous soul of his debtor
with torturing anxiety touching the fu-
ture. As the front door closed upon the
ungainly bulk of the first MORTGAGE a
back one opened to admit three slim fig
ures in black Three tender eyed com
forters surrounded the sobbing widow
1--WE heard every word, mamma. We
eavesdropped We considered it our
duty. Tacott Thorneycraft indeed!'
"A sandy haired, freckled face dunn
N.Y.
"A thing all legs and arms-like
devils darning necdle!
with no head at all to speak OFF,
Gentle little Mrs. Maxwell, on general
principles, always defended the absent.
MY dear girls, try to be a little more
just. Think how many years since you
have seen him! There is no animal in the
world that has more come out in him
than a boy. He was at the most trying
age when he used to come over here to
study under Miss Blake, and it was a
terrifying experience for any boy to
study with three saucy girls
Rhoda's eyes blazed indignant surprise
at this unexpected partisanship. so,
then, mamma, you want US to marry
him"
Catherine airily shifted the situation.
Mrs Maxwell included the group in a
wintry smile. You dear chatterboxes.
Your cheerful nonsense does me good.
But, my daughters, if you heard every
word that Mr.. Thorneycraft said to me.
yoti must have caught tho
Threat in the last sentence" Cath said
briskly, with an angry toss of her pretty
head. 1--WE did. 1t meant Il prompt set
Element by giving him one of your girls
for a daughter-in-law or a foreclosing of
that dreadful mortgage without no more
shilly shallying.
Three pairs Of eyes flashed electrically.
Agnes, the opttmist Of the family, es-
sayed comfort. The very proposition is
nm insult; but don't worry, mamma.
Think of tia whole year and two
months to work our way out of this snarl.
Why, of course we can manage it some
way or another long before next New
Years day come one"
Mrs. Maxwell turned reproachful eyes
On her comforter. Your poor, dear ia
her was always arguing just that way.
Agnes, but we never did work our way
out Of it, and now he is gone and nothing
eft but debt and despair" Sobs dislo-
,ated her sentences.
AS she had reached that point of her
mid woe which her experienced daugh-
ers knew had its elimination in sick
headache. those three wise virgins chang
ID the subject to the safer one of spring
Only when they were shut into
heir own room at bedtime, safe from the
depressing influence OF their mothers
hopeless misery, did they resume it.
Catherine, by reason of priority and
superior force of character, usually led
he debate on ways and means. She did
Ter sweet young face.
at is one thing, girls, to talk airy nom
ense for poor mothers benetit-quite an
ther to deceive ourselves. But the stern
acts must be stared in the face and
he drew in her breath hysterically-"so
aust Talcott Thorneycraft.''
"You mean
THAT we can no more pay off that
than we can circumnavigate the
loon."
at would kill mother to have to move
ut of this house"
THAT is what we will have to pre-
ent. Thanks to our reverend cousins /
forts, l am already provided with work,
nd start north with the Skaters next .
yeek. BY dint of years hard work | I
lay be able to rise from the position of
mere typewriter to that of a stenogra :
her Having never experienced any pre-
lonitory symptoms of irruptiye genius. =,
hall probably stick at that. Doubtless :
" earnings would suffice to keep mother {
nd myself in New York
with help from my salary as teach
r. Agnes flung in eagerly. +