Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-09-05

Il. but feel toward so uncertain charac.
Z? ter. Yet with such an opportunity to
hand how could l let him go without
another question:
Mr.. Trohm,' said l, "you have the
= kindest heart and the closest lips, but
= have you ever thought that Deacon
!" Spear
Is He stopped me with really mortified
l. look. Deacon Spears house was gone
&c through yesterday said he, las mine
n Will be today. Don't insinuate anything
\ against him., he entreated. Leave
:. that for foolish William. Then with
j. the most charming return to his old
It manner for l felt myself in measure
rebuked, he lifted his hat and urged his
II horse forward, But having withdrawn
e himself step on two, he paused and
: with the slightest gesture toward the
. little hut he was facing added in Il much
: lower tone than any he had yet used:
a "Besidcs, Deacon Spear is much too far
/ away from Mother James cottage.
o Don you remember that told you She
| never could he got to 90 more than 10
: rods from her own doorstep" And
: breaking into a quick canter he rode
! away past Mother Janc's cottage, at
3 which he barely glanced, into the mazes
, Of the forest beyond.
| | was left to think over his words |.
, and the impossibility of my picking up
any clew other than that given me by .
Mr.. Gryce.
was turning toward the house when .
heard IA slight noise at my feet Look
ing down, | encountered the eyes of
Saracen, He was crouching at my side,
and as turned toward him his tail ac-
tually wagged. 1t was a sight to call
the color up to my cheek; not that sign
of good will, astonishing as that was
considering my feeling toward dogs,
but his being there ut all without my
knowing it. That made Amelia Butter.
worth blush. That was sign that no
woman-I make no exceptions-can lis
ten more than one minute to an agree
able man S expressions Of sincere admi.
ration without letting go just a little of
her watchfulness. 1t may not be TO her
credit, but it marks her out as a w0m-
an, which, after all, is not thing to
deplore, especially whore one has not
really passed the line beyond which all
weakness Of this nature is ridiculous.
Lucetta n!etlno. just as expected, Mt
the door. Bat her words were not lust
what | anticipated, p4rhap, because Of
that short look she gave NE before she
venturcd to speak.
II am glad, " said she, "to STE you
looking 50 bright this morning We are
all feeling better. now thar the incubus
Of secrecy is removed. hut | still would
not like to think You told what has
happened to Us to Mr. Trohm.
"Lucetta,' said |. There may be
women Of my age who delight in Cos
sipine about family affairs with com.
parative strangers, but | am not that
kind Of woman. Mr.. Trohln, friendly
Is he has proved himself and worthy As
he undoubtedly is Of your confidence
and trust, will have TO learn from some
one else besides me anything which you
may wish TO have withheld from him. -
For reply she gave me an impulsive
kiss. Il thought could trust you, " she
Then with dubious look,
half daring half shrinking, she said:
"When YOU come to know and like
us better you will not care SO much TO
talk to neighbors. They never can IN
lerstand Us or do us justice, Mr.. Trohm
especially, -
BY which 1 knew there was some
hing more between these two than l
had yet found out
Late in the afternoon William burst
II with news from the other end Of the
ane.
"Such lark" he cried THE in
at Deacon Spears house had
,een a mere farce, and just made them
epeat it with few frills. They had
Ing up my cellar and they should dig
Up his. Oh, the fun it was The old fel-
ow kicked, but | had my way They
ouldn refuse me, you know. | hadn't
efused them. So that man ; cellar bot
ON had a stir up. They didn't find
nything, but il done me a lot Of good
nd that's something. | do hate that
Deacon Spear-couldn hate him worse
he'd killed and buried ten men under
is hearthstone.
There is no harm in Deacon Spear,
aid Lucetta quickly.
Did they submit Mr.. Trohm house
} a search also:" asked Loreen, asham-
/ of William 5 heat and anxious to
vert any further display Of it,
Eyes they went through that too
was with them. Glad | was too
say. girls | could have laughed to see
Il the comforts that old bachelor has
bout him. Never saw such txings.
Thy, it S as neat and pretty from top
bottom as our old house is not. It's
lly, of course, for a man. and I'd
lther live i'll an old rookely like this.
here can walk from room to room in
uddy boots if | want to and train my
lgs and live in freedom like the man
am. Yet l couldn't help thinking it
lightly comfortable, too, for an old fell
W like him who likes such things and
mt have chick or child to NEEDLE
'hy, he had pincushions on all his
lreaus, and they had pins in them
The laugh with which he delivered
is last sentence might have been heard
quarter of mile away. Lucetta look
at Loreen and loren looked at me,
it none Of us Joined in the mirth,
hich seemed to me very i'll timed.
Suddenly Lucetta asked:
Did they dig up Mr.. Trohm's cell
r?''