Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-09-19
STORY OF SEDALIA.


After feeling upon our neoks the stiff reins
Of many maid of all work we discovered
that those Sedalia welded were silken, and
that she was gentle on the bit. Indeed, we
were apt TO get our metaphors mixed when
we spoke Of Sedalia, for while 1t was the
aspiring young lawyer OF the family who
reproved the sporting individual for SUCH
a phrase il was the daughter OF the house
who likened Sedalia to a great rock IN a
weary land The paterfamilias Jocularly de-
cided that she was good for the prepara-
ton of human natures daily food. And
comment concerning her was capped by
the small boy emphatieally asserting that
she was all right.
So Sedalia adopted us, and we were duly
grateful for the honor. To be sure, she had
her peeuliarities. She couldn't abide body
trackin' up her floor. So few were the feet
which trod thereon soon after the sound OF
ner scrubbing brush had ceased. And she
resented-as rejecting upon her capabllty
the anxiety which brought the mistress
of the house out into the kitchen before
dinner. Her interest in the health OF the
household became vivid-almost aggressive.
One must render account for heavy eyes or
failing appetite. The boarder feared TO
meet her piercing gaze. Much as ne rel
ished her waffies, he shrank guilty. from
meeting her eyes. And yet he was the most
harmless OF boarders-the most innocent.
In regard to women his life was a blank,
white page While he had cared in the
course Of his 80 years for several women, he
had never been eonceited enough to fancy
that any woman could care for him. lie
lived in his Office, his books, his few old
friends The daughter Of the house called
him the alliterative artist-not, she eX'
planned, because he painted portraits IN his
leisure hours. but because he was proper,
peculiar. punctual, punctilious and pre-
possessing.
But then no one paid much attention e
what the daughter Of the house sand. She
was at the age when enjoyment OF athletic
game sweetened her life and her perpetual
exposition Of the aforesaid delights MADE
melancholy the lives OF others.
The first DAY that Sedalia bent her eagle
eve upon the bachelor Mr. Alexander
Trimnerth by name-that individual per
ceptibly WINGED.
lie looked up from his deleotable break
fast ia slightly nervous apprehension.
"You-you spoke to meT
Sedalia continued 70 regard him with ju
dicial gravity. !.
mol didn't. But I will-if You don't
mind. How's your iyery
Mr.. Trimmerth gasped. He hastily SET
down his coffee cup.
''Mv-my-' he faltered My"
your liver repeated Sedalia. III
doesn't seem to me that the whites OF your
eyes have got a real healthy look. They
are kind of yellow"
That was the time the small boy dis
tinguished himself-and disgraeed him
self.
III the whites are kind OF yellow, Sc
dalia." he ventured, why don't you cal
them the yolksg
But Sedalia was not TO be Disconnected
/ Although her interest IN each and every
member of the household was unusual, II
was Mr.. Trimmerth whom she was ap
parently most anxious to keep in perfect
| health. To tell the truth, he rather re
sented her solicitude, and as weeks went
on his resentment deepened. He spoke o.
it to the head Of the house with something
approaching CONSERVATION.
WHY. she moved the hot biscuits out Of
my reach this morning, as though | Were
a child" he gasped. said they were rea
short-I suppose she meant rch-and sale
they might bring on another headache.
| "You have not been having so many head
aches lately" he was gently reminded.
"N-ol dare say shes right in the main
But | can't say that | like her everlasting
supervision
"she's a capital cook" declared the land
lady.
ppm not denying that. But she's to-
conscientious. She takes an interest u
me because she thinks she ought to. That
the trouble with demonstrations. Now
| I'm old enough to take care Of myself.
He certainly was, as his silvering lock
proved, although he did not look within te
years OF his actual age
do YOU wish me to speak TO sedalias
| WELT won't hurt. But anyhow, IN
| next time she attempts to give me az
vice l won't take it,"
: This declaration OF independence was p1
70 the test the next morning. 1t was
bleak spring day. Rain had fallen IN q
night. and a raw east wind was blowln
| Mr.. Trmmerth came downstairs with
new spring raglan on his arm. sedalia eye
it scoruiully.
You'd better not wear that she sai
1T isn't but half az heavy as the one y
always wear, and this wind is going to
damage. Put on your winter overcoat.
Mr.. Trimmerth ate his breakfast IN stol
silence, but there was a resolute glare
=. his eve. The meal ended, he ostentatious
J donned the raglan, and without even b
toning it went off rebellious and victorlo
with his head in the air. But that evenl
= came Sedalia's revenge. For the board
came home with touch Of fever, hes
ache and a racking pain IN his side.
: the time the hard siege Of pneumonia "
over and he was-thanks chiefly to Seda
on the convalescent list, be was surprs
how pleasant he found it TO have the de,
chested and eomely young woman arour
What a pretty throat she had. How NJ
she always kept her dark brown ha
And there was a fine look Of loyalty in
gray-blue Irish eyes.
"Sedala. he asked one day, after
prolonged and thoughtful silence, W
have you never married.
MAY vet" said Sedalia, laconical
:. Don't think l VIII, though. don't ]
s, TO be taken care OF. I'm more used to I
% ing care Of people, am"
&C. I 49,, - D., -,id dr,-ls- fsKNas II Ia