The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-09-20


70 my son. but il be didn't want 'en,
significantly. 'rd sell 'em to him"
Zs.i's upper lip twilehcd, and he took
iirmer hold u the nape ~ his meek,
bus he made no reply until nine airi
one-half days later Then he stopped.
swill pail ia band. and asked gruiiiy,
MA. when you goin' 10 begln that there
house on the uieddsrsF'
"Just As soon as the frost Is out Of
the ground" replied Betsey swiftly,
''fcr rs got TO be used by the last cf
September"
She had won She fastened 10 tell
Eliza. The latter was pleased. but she
looked actually pale.
"Aln't my plan with Atulky work
in'Y' asked Betsey snxiously
Mrs. wilet groaned "Workln'w she
calculated. "It's workin' me TO dea,h
Why, that girl keeps me all OF atrcm
Bile. don't know where we're comm
out. Last Monday she says, says she
Ma. IL marry Zed III have Aunt
Atulky sit me a black silk coat. llaed
with white satin Listen 10 that. Bet
sey Agnew, And ! give In. Tuesday
she come Ia and says: Ma, II ! marry
Zed you've got to git me a bow Of
furs | won't have him without EN-.
Just hear that. Belts! And | give In.
Aud yesterday she says: MA, I'm goln
to have one OF them long lace fishers.
Aunt Atulky says they're all the rage
And. Belts, give in. Now. where am
! goln' TO stop givin' Int" Mrs. Wil,et
applied her handkerchief TO her eyes
and wept
"Ycs, yes. Elizy, | know it's hard,
responded Betsey. with the light OF
victory In her eyes. but it's worth all
that TO have our own way where peo
pie think we can't Now must hurry
along and hire the carpenters. BY the
way" with her hand on the doorknob,
"Tm goin' to send Zed over Sunday
night TO set up with Atulk."
Eliza groaned afresh "0f course It's
got to be done, but It'll mean another
silk dress out of me, as likely as not,
before she'll set up"
Zed "set up" Sunday night with his
prospective brlde--that Is, he sat In one
corner OF the large parlor and blinEed
ut the lamp. He held himself down by
means of his toes hooked around the
hind legs of the straight backed chair
on which he sat Mrs. Wlllet, with 81
face full of anxiety, had received him
and Immediately retired and closed the
door behind her A commotion began
at once upstairs and down. Xed grin
ned appreclatlyely until the door flew
open and Atulka projected herself into
the room and, without so much n
casting her scornful eyes on Xed
fiounced into chair In the farther
corner, pressed her nose against the
window pane stared ixedly out into
the darkness and chewed gum.
Zed sat patiently until the hands of
the clock designated the hour specified
by Betsey and then took his silent de
parture He nearly fell over Mrs. VIII
let, whose ear had been applied TO the
keyhoe In order that she might report
progress to Mrs. Agnew the following
day,
h7Fa was eFPae Tf Shf erphsaf599rr r haf Sc rreR2f RRaf
the house was finished and the wedding
day set, until zed's upper lip had been
permanently twisted sidewise In dis
gust and Atulka had secured such q
trousseau as no one IN the county had |
ever had before. Then Mrs. Willet had |
a report to make one Monday morning.
1t was not much, but It excited and de-
lighted both mothers.
"They talkedr' Mrs. Willet ex-
Now the Lord be praised" cried Bet
sey, plously sinking into rocking
chair. "Whatd they sayT
Mrs. Willet shook her head. 81
couldn't make out a word, they talked
so low"
II should like to know" said Betsey
"seeln' It's only two weeks
to the weddin."
my, amt glad it's only two weeks
more,' murmured Eliza pathetically.
i'The clothes that Atulky has got out of
me! They make folks open their eyes,
though, tell you!" Eliza found
lrumb Of comfort there. but | just
feel as II ! was comm Oh TO the town"
"Well." returned Betsey calmly, Il
guess that deed ! got recorded last
week up to Auburn will take trihe
more out of me than Atulk's clothes
nave out Of you, and the new house.
You amt the only loser"
81 know II, Belts" fretfully, "but III
De all fired glad when it's over"
Il can't help wonderin'," was Bet
'ey's ambiguous response, "what they
,aid."
Unexpectedly zed enlightened her
That very afternoon. Zed had been
iolng an unprecedented amount OF
for weeks and little plan
ming. He was proving himself the
worthy son OF his mother. but bad his
mother known II she would have been
Fnr from pleased On her movements
Led had kept a wary eye until the pre-
sious week. The day Mrs Wlllet and
Mrs Agnew drove to Auburn together
he, feeling secure, had brought to-
yetier pen, Ink and paper, hooked his
feet around the legs OF his chair and
with perspirlng face toilsomely indlted
A letter. II was the longest he had
ever written and proved to be the
most satisfactory
MA" said Zed, coming into the pan
try-"ma. me and Atulky want 10 90
% the circus Wednesday at Auburn.
You know it's Atulk's birthday, and
we want 10 celebrate"
Betsey was delighted Mrs. Wlllet
was delighted. They beamed on the
world generally and on each particu
arly for two days. Eliza early decid' ]
Vi to ''set out Wednesday" with Betsey {
n order 20 finish their arrangements
for the wedding She hurried across
he fields just after Hed aud Atulka
iad departed. aud the two women
damned cakes and creams. salads and
old meats until eundown
The dusk Of the shortening Septem-
Der day was fast approaching when !
hey heard the sound Of horses al the D
rant s.afe Mrs Mlllei arose hastily.