Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-23
CHAPTER XIV.
AFTER MANY YEARS.

1OuS garnet was stocked WIN tnem. ana
great clusters of thoroughwort, boar
hound, boneset spearmint pennyroyal,
and coltsfoot. duly labelled. were hung
up. together with lunches of sarsapa-
rila sassafras burdock, elderberry,
and dog-fenncl roots, and bags of To-
bella beans. These, it may be said,
were her great specifics, whether it was
Meier taken with cramps, Hannah with
"yaller ianders." old Cy with "rheu-
mats" or any one else Aunt Comfort
was privileged to dose.
Every spring at house-cleaning time.
Aunt Comfort threw out the old "arbs"
TO be replaced by new, and in the fall
the roots were also renewed. In fact.
her best black silk, always wrapped in
a sheet and hung in a closet, and her
best "bunnit" received no more soici-
touS care than her annual store Of
"arbs." Neither was her dosing pro-
civity confined TO her own family; but
ii a neighbOr was known to be in the
least "aiiin'." Aunt Comfort was on
hand in no time. and she knew Just
what was good fort
relish her encroachments on his calling,
but he was "a natural born diplomat,
and many time he would go to Aunt
Comfort and ask for small bunch of
boneset or handful of sassafras roots
to use later, and then drop them by
the road side. AS a result she always
praised DR.. Sol, and assured the neigh
bors he knew his calm
In pursuance of her regular custom
when certain "arbs' were ready for
gathering. she had. on this pleasant
Saturday morning. spent by Martin in
fishing, gone with Angie and Meier
to carry the basket. on an excursion
over the hillsides and into the woods
overlooking Greenyale, and was just
returning.
Meier, on ahead, halted now and then
to shy stone at a bird or squirrel.
Aunt Comfort was waddling along. and
Angie carried an umbrella for a sun
shade, when Martin came in sight.
Il yum, do believe it's Martin
Frisbie.' exclaimed Aunt Comfort. in
tone Of delight; Il heered this morn
in he'd come"
We'll, what of that?" answered
Angie, coolly. and secretly nettled at
Aunt Comforts tone; mo one here
is likely to drop dead on that account"
The fact is. Angie had heard so much
about Martin, how rich he was in COM
parison to other Greenvalcites and what
an event his return to Grcenvale was
likely to be, in the past two weeks tn at
she was prepared TO dislike him at
sight DR.. Sol. Aunt Comfort, and sew
cral Of the gossip-loving neighbOrs had
also reminded her of what she wished
to forget. Then she also fancied he
would be self-conscious of his impor-
tancc, and dcport himself as if he eX-
pectcd the village to bow down before
him at sight. She was sure that she
would nOt-in fact, had fully deter
mined that when she did meet him. he
would be made to know at once there
was one to whom his coming ana
wealth were matters of perfect indiffer-
ence.
Like all her sex she was little cur
ious however, and as he drew near she
noted with feminine eyes every detail!
OF dress and manner
why, bless me-" he exclaimed, COM
ing up and removing his hat as he ex-
tended his hand, If this isn't Aunt
Comfort good-naturcd as ever: and An
gle, how arc you, too?" And porforce
she had to take the hand he offered
though the How do you do. Mr.. Fris-
bieY' in return was entirely Identified.
We'll" he continued rapidly, Il sup
pose you heard | arrived last night and
spent the evening tramping around to
Hill time? 1t was a good joke on me-
for | forgot to write the doctor, and
he was out"
I'm very glad to see YOU" asserted
Aunt Comfort, "you look nat'rI
knew We the minute sot eyes on
yc.' And she beamcd upon HMM
fact, she beamed upon every one.
But Angie was silent, quite willing
her aunt should do the talking.
Il made an carly start for my old
favorite trout brook" added Martin
pleasantly, CHANGING at Angles i'm
passive face, land didn't recognize il
when | found it, it has grown so small
presume III find lots of othel
changes"
He came near relating how he haC
stood for half an hour in front O
Aunt Comforts home and askine
Angie if she were not singing, bu
somehow her reception chilled tn,
impulse. Then, after replying 10
few more cordial questions from
Aunt Comfort and thanking her 70,
her urgent invitation to call, he once
more raised his hat and passed on.
And this was his unrOmantic meet
ing again, with her whom She hat
worshipped when callow youth, anl
who was destined to mete out t
him more humiliation and hcartach
than all else in his life before.
Rather cool" he muttered to him
self when out of carshot. but sh
hasn't changed much. Fits her dres
little better, but same bright eye
and cherry mouth. Wonder who wa
singing with her.'
In some intangible manner, Angi
had conveyed to him the impressio
that the Stiffness of her youth wa
dead and buried forever, and tina
any reference to 1t would meet a re
buff. She had said very little, ha,
ing merely spoken and looked at hi
In a perfectly courteous and cali
manner, her brown eyes curious onl