Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-01-20

to do. I'd save old Mack IL | could To
have good, seasoned, ineligible man
like that turn chicken for a girl that
hadn't quit eating slate pencils and but
toning in the back was more than l
could look on with easiness.
"Rebosa," says I, earnest drawing up
on my display of knowledge concerning
the feminine intuitons Of reason-'aint
there a young man i'm Pima nice young
man that you think "A heap OFF,
yep" says Rebosa, nodding her pan
sies-"Sure there is! What do you think!
Gracous!'
Does he like your" ! ask How does
he stand in the matter?'
Crazy" SAYS Rebosa. Ma has to
wet down the front steps to keep him
from sitting there al the time. But |
guess thatn all be over after tonight
she winds up with a sign.
"Rebosa," saws /, you don't really
experience any Of this alteration called
love for old Mack. do your
Lord, no" says the girl, shaking her
head Il think he's as dry AS a lava
bed. The idea."
who is this young man that you like,
Rebosa?' | inquiries.
IT'S Eddie Bayles." says she. He
clerks in Crosbys grocery. But he don't
make but thrty-fve month. Ella
Noakes was wild about him once"
"Old Mack tells me- l says, that he
going to marry you at six o'clock this
evening"
That's the time" says she. IT'S to be
at our house"
"Rcbosa." says 1. listen to me. II
Eddie Bayles had a thousand dollars
cash-a thousand dollars. mind you, would
buy him store Of his own-if YOU and
Eddie had that much to excuse matri-
mony on. would you consent to marry
him this evening at five o'clock
rNHa-. l.. limit n
can see these inaudible cogitations going
on inside Of her as women will.
A thousand dollars?" says she. "Of
course / would
Come on" says l. wen go and see
Eddie"
we went up to Crosby's store and called
Eddie outside. He looked to be estimable
and freckled and he had chlls and fever
I when | made my proposition.
AT five o'clock?" says he, FOR a thou
sand dollars! Please don't wake me up.
| Well you are the rich uncle retired from
| the spice business i'm India, I'll buy out
old Crosby and run the store myself"
We went inside and got old man Crosby
/ apart and explained it, ! wrote my check
/ for thousand dollars and handed it to
| him II Eddie and Rebosa married each
other on time he was to turn the money
/ over To them.
| And then | gave EN- my blessing, and
]
| season | sat on a log and made cogita %
! tons on life and old age and the zodiac
! and the ways Of women and all the dis
/ order that goes with lifetime. | passed
| myself congratulations that had probab-
| ~ saved my old friend Mack from his
| attack OF Indian summer. | knew when
! he got well OF IL and shed his infatuation
and his patent leather shoes, he would
| feel grateful. ITO keep old Mack disn-
| volved" thinks l. from relapses like
this. Is worth more than a thousand dol
| lars" And most of all | was glad that
I'd made a study OF women. and wasn't
! to be deceived any by their means OF
conceit and evolution.
1t must have been half-past five when
got back home. / stepped in; and there
sat old Mack on the back Of his neck IN
his old clothes with his blue socks in the
window and the History OF Civilization
propped up on his knees.
This don't look like getting ready fol
a wedding at six" | says, to seem inno-
cent.
oh" says Mack, reaching for his to-
bacco. that was postponed back to five
O'Clock. They sent me a note saying tina
the hour had been changed. It's all owe
now. What made YOU stay away so long
Andy"
you heard about the wedding?" | asks
Il operated it," saws he. Il told you
was a Justice Of the peace. The preache
is of East to visit his folks and I'm tn
only one IN town that can perform III
dispcnsations Of marriage. l promise'
Eddie and Rebosa a month ago I'd MARI,
EN- He's a busy lad: and he'll have
grocery Of his own some day
He will" says l.
There was lots OF women at the wed
ding" says Mack, smoking up But
didn't seem to get any ideas from EN-.
wish | was informed in the structure q
their attachments like you said you was
THAT was month ago says l. reach
ing IN for the banio.-[O. Henry in Nc
Clure's Magazine.