The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1907-07-04
She Kept Her Promise

the boys around here want good
enough for her. She amt old enough
to know her own mind anyway, only
eighteen. If Mr. Forrest Mason
should by any means happen to
come before she gets from the store,
he won't meet with a very warm
re"
Her reverie was broken by
knock at the front door. 81 do be-
lieve that's him now" she told her
self excitedly, "and Milly amt here
l just wish I'd seen him before, then
wouldn't be so hard to talk to him.
Oh, dear!" She whisked off her blue
print apron and hastily donned
stiffiy starched white one A moment
later she opened the door.
"How~-d'-ye-do," she said to
the stranger who stood without. 81
am" he began.
Eyes, l know" Mrs. Varney in
terrupted, you're Mr.. Mason. We
was expecting you, but not quite so
early. My niece had to run down to
the store, but she'll be right back.
Come, right in. Here, take this chair
by the window and then you can see
when she's coming"
Thank you. l called to ask you IL
you h-have considered
'Milly told me all about it," Mrs.
Varney broke in with a knowing
smile, and l have decided to give
You what you would ask for" The
woman was much impressed by the
young mans looks, and she thought
that Milly was not to blame for Xix
Ing him after all. She had intended
20 treat him very coolly, but found
herself doing entirely opposite from
what she had planned to do.
You are very kind, l am sure"
returned the young man. But told
your niece | was sure you would ap-
prove of it,
Yves, | approve of it." she hest
tated, but l fear I'm a very selfish
woman. l have taken care of Milly
ever since she was a little tot of
three, s-since her mother left us, and
seems just like my own
you must be greatly attached to
her, Mrs. Varney."
Yes, / am, but | want her to be
happy, and as | know what will make
her so, | haven't the heart to with
hold my consent. It's a good deal to
ask of me, though" and Mrs Var
ney bestowed another meaning smile
upon the young man.
1T is, indeed, but the thought
that you have done such a noble deed
will, | am sure, more than reward
you for your generosity"
There was a silence between them
for a few moments. You have al
ways attended the Boonville Metho-
dist Church, haven't your" he
queried at last
Yes, most always" responded
Mrs. Varney, thinking what an esti-
mable young man he was Il believe
l didn't go to the last prayer meet
ing, but Milly went and she came
home and told me all about it. She's
a good girl, Milly is, and she goes to
regular"
The young man began to wonder
If she didn't intend to talk of any
one else besides her niece. He tried
to turn the conversation into differ
ent channels, but some way it al
ways drifted back to Milly. Presently
he said: Il think l must go now,
Mrs. Varney."
go without seeing Milly!" she
gasped. Whatever did this mean?
She wondered If she hadn't treated
him kindly enough.
that I'm very glad that she per-
suaded you to give SO literally. l
can't begin to express my thanks /
shall call again soon in regard to
this matter"
Before Mrs. Varney had time to
recover from her amazement, he had
hidden her good day and departed.
1t was hardly five minutes. later
when she saw Milly coming up the
walk with stranger. She wondered
If they had met Mr.. Mason, and what
he had thought of Milly's being with
someone else when she had expected
him. The woman asked herself
other questions before her
niece came into the room. And the
fact that Milly introduced the gen
tleman with her as Mr.. Mason did
not tend to diminish her perplexity.
DO you know, auntie, that we
have just met our new minister"
said Mile f1urriedly, land he turns
out to be For-Mr. Mason's cousin.
[ told you about him the other night,
you remember; but he didn't know
when he talked with me then that /
was the Miss Varney that Forrest
had written him about, and | never
dreamed of his being Forests cous-
In, did you, auntie?"
No. answered Mrs. Varney in a
weak voice.
And I'm so glad" Milly ran on,
that you've decided to give what
we spoke about toward building the
new hospital Mr.. Mason, Forests
cousin, says you're very generous
lady"
Mrs. Varney did not think 1t ne
to tell her niece that she had
meant something entirely different
from giving a large sum of money to-
ward building a new hospital In
Boonville She remembered now that
Milly had come home from the pray
er meeting very much enthused
over the new minister's idea of
building a hospital, and that the sum
Of $500 had been mentioned as her
share of the good work. And now to
think she had just the same as prom
sed to give it. Well, she would give
it, rather than to let anyone know of
the blunder she had just made.
A little later when Forrest Mason
asked Mrs Varney If she would give
Milly to him, she did not say no, for
she was as much impressed with
him as she had been with the new
ninister.-Boston Post.