Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-02-26

heart. Size knew. because sl,a had nro,.o,t
1t twice. f''' 81"
Al This point i'm her reflections. shc
icdcueu the home of Melvin Brown sit
u"tou midway between her large white
mousse and Deli hines small brown one. Ii
was near supner-timc. and Melvin sat ON
ms front porch smoking short clay rila
ms front Nald, surrounded by a white
PlcNet fence, was narrow, and Candacc'S
PHEASANT smile was plainly visible TO the
man on the porch. lie removed his pine
ana Eiinned back with a solemnity be-
httlng his recent bereavement.
Nice day." called Candace i'm firm
pleasant voice.
passed on.
mat she did pass on and did not pause
Mrs. Miles saw from the crack i'm the
north Kitchen door to which she had an
phed her eye the moment Candace left
tne south porch. Mrs Miles heaved "A
SlSn OF relief and shut the door gradually
All she wanted was to see that Mrs
Blake got past Whoever Browns with
out conversation
Neither lady had deceived the other.
Each knew the other stood ready at q
moments notice to respond to Melvin
browns call for a housekeeper. Each
Knew That lindaville was wondering which
OF the two widows. who lived one on
either side of Melvin, would be called
eventually to fill the departed Mandy's
pace, Tor this custom held sway in Lind
dNlle When man was. in the wisdom of
roNldence. bereaVtd, he hunted out some
widow, respected by the community. to
undertake the duties of housekeeper. and
generally, after a decent period of I. ourn-
ing, the twain became one, and Linda
vile was satisfied.
Know Melvinll want that you shall
Keep house for him. began Candace
one day in October. Everyone in Lind
awhile is sayn' So" Candace had settled
herself calmly by the new fire in Del
phine's sitting room stove and was look
ing at her hostess with understanding
eyes.
She enjoyed seeing Delphino grow red
and uncomfortable, because for years
they had been the most intimate friends,
My. Cam Delphine exclaimed, I've
been hearin' folks say he'd have you
sure as preachin'.'
oh. but I've told you. Del. that !
couldn't leave my place even if he wants
that l should, which amt likely for a
minute"
Mrs. Mics's face turned scarlet 1t had
not occurred to her to protest that she
could not leave home because she knew
that she could, and Delphine could not
tell a lie. no matter how much she want
ed to. She looked hard at Candace and
saul, ullN. How often, can,
I've heard YOU say that your house was
so big and fun of nice"
And if l should leave" interrupted
Candace, quickly, the mice would get
such upper hands of me that l couldn't
never get rid of EN-"
Delphine's eyes fell in vexation but
Candace laughed and raised her shapcly
foot to the heat. drawing aside a be
coming new gray skirt Delphine pulled
her
skirt and longed fervently to be able to
say sharp cutting things in the sweet
way in which the other spoke
We'll. l must be goin'," said Mrs
Blake, rising slowly. "even though your
fire does smell good haven't got my
sittin'-room stove up yet Melvin said
he'd run in this evenin and put it up
and looking over her shoulders to as
sure herself that this blow had struck
home, she departed
November snow flew. but still Melvin
Brown had not made choice of house
keeper, and Lindaville had become more
and more curious. People asked ques-
lions of everyone save Melvin himself
He was not a man whom people ques-
toned He lived alone. in two rooms.
and kept them as neat as any woman
could have done, cooked his own food,
and seemed to enjoy life in spite of his
neighbors' disapproval
1t amt natural for man to be put
term around in a woman's place" said
Delphine anxiouslv one December day
when Candace Blake was calling.
1t was always Candace who was call
ing on Delphne. as Candace prided her
self on her pedestrian powers, princi-
pally because Delphine was too stout to
walk even the half mile which lay be-
tween the small brown house and the
big white one.
oh l don't know" returned Candace,
carelessly. He tells me he is gettin'
along all right" with a sly emphasis on
the me which instantly congested her
hostess's checks. And then, Now be-
fore forget 1t. Del will you give me that
recipe of yours for your new salad?
Melvin said the last you sent him was
licking good
Delphine gasped She lost the power
of speech in the wave of anger and en-
barassment that went over her at the
knowledge conveyed in her callers words.
Her round face revealed the workings of
her mind instantly to Mrs. Blake, who
stroked a large new muff and smiled even
w at the shamefaced woman hurrying
for the recipe book. In the pantry be-
hind the door, a few tears fell into the
burrows of Delphines fat cheeks. She
wiped them away with her apron and
rubbed out her eyes before returning to
the sitting room.
Mrs. Blake copied the receipt and
drew her golf cape around her. (Del-
phine wore a blanket shawl) We'll,
must be goin' now" and for once Del
phine did not urge her to remain to
supper and eat of Just what few vic
tills there is in the house
The winter passed and spring came.
Nav found Melvin Brown putting in his
crops and cooking his food. June found
him still alone, narrowing, hoeing. cock
ing. Lindaville, all except two of its
residents had ceased to wonder and turn
ed its attention elsewhere. These two
could not ahate their interest while one
lived a quarter of mile due north on
the turnpike, and the other quarter OF
n mile due south on the same road
counting Melvin Browns house as the
central point, and as long as one OF
them was famed for her cooking ana the
other for attractions unusual in Linda
ville's middle aged women.