The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-06-29

Marsden only was reading a novel
yesterday where a woman got tired
Of her husband and put something IN
his coffee that didn't smell nor taste
nor anything. and he"--
Lawzee, Becky. / always knew you
was light headed snapped Miss La
Vinia. Nevertheless the group Of COS.
Sips turned suddenly silent and gazed
at each other wide eyed
MY, wouldn't Il be awful II we had
poison case here1"
The girlish figure in the rear rose
now and a clear voice rang across the
stuffy little shop
You've no right to say such things
You don't know Mrs Burkett and new
er wanted to treat Der right. and
you're wicked. wicked women to talk
about her that wayr
Astonished silence fell upon the wo
men. Then Mrs smithers' voice, no
longer oily and compliment, rose cut
tlngly
That's a nice way FOR you to speak
to your elders, Peggy smithers, and
I'm ashamed Of you D'you mean 10
call Lavinia Hart a liarT'
The girl fingered her bolt OF braid
nervously.
mo. aunt. but / can't SIT here and
listen to such dreadful things about
Mrs. Burkett I've worked for her,
and I know she's a lady through and
through and she's not doing anything
wrong There's a reason"
"Well, Miss Peggy, seeing as you're
the only one in this party that has a
visiting acquaintance with Mrs. Bur
kett, you might just walk up there and
see who that man H."
"Oh, aunt, can't I couldn't ask
such a question:
''You don't need to ask. Worm n out
while you're there You can take up
that new set Of points you've made
Perhaps Mrs. Burkett might like to
wear them with her widows black
The last words came spitefuils.
Tho girl stood IN A pleading attitude.
"This is a nice way to treat your old
aunt that's given you bed and board
for ten years now. Now. You stop sniv-
cling and trot along"
Poor Peggyl Before those words
bed and board" she never hesitated
They formed the spiritual lash which
her aunt swung with unmerctfuI hand
The girl never stopped to reckon the
mittens she knit for the shop. the lace
she made or the interminable days Of
fine sewing as a recompense for the
obnoxious bed and board"
Drearily she lifted her simple saficy
nat nom the shelf beneath the counter
aud started on her hateful errand.
The great trees arched protactingly
sver her head. the wild strawberries
bloomed at her feet and from the
woodlands came the calls Of her favor
tie birds But her eyes were heavy
with unshed tears. Was It not bad
enough to listen day after day to the
gossip that emanated from her aunts
shop without being forced into part |
nership with the gossipersY
Languidiy and fremblingly she |
mounted the broad steps leading to
Widow Burkett's porch That much I
discussed lady met her at the door.
Her quick glance detected the misery
IN Peggy's face
"Coms Ia, child You look utterly /
worn out" she remarked, ushering
Peggy into the DIM cool parIor. What |
have you there7 oh. such lovely lace
collarsl ] must have one Of them. But
I'm AFRAID this sort Of work Is pulling
you down. You're looking bad, Peggy"
Tho girl flushed guilty. and Der
tongue chung to the roof Of her mouth.
Mrs Bnrkett studied her curiously.
cit Is long walk from the village
and as soon as Ned comes in well
have some lemonade. He makes IA
nous lemonade"
Ned That must be the awful man,
And she called BIN BY bis first name
with such a proud light IN her eyes.
A brisk step sounded in the entry, the
knob ratified. and Peggy turned dizzy.
ANed. dear, this Il little Peggy
smithers who made that lovely lace
for me. Peggy, this is'-
Peggy had risen mechanically, and
as she caught the next words she
raised her eyes, swimming with tears,
to Mrs Burkett's astonishad gaze. De
licious little chlIis were chasing up and
down her hot spine. Oh, II only she
might rush from the house down the
shady street TO the shopl But, no: that
man stood between her and the door.
Peggy had never seen just such a
man before. He stood 50 very tall and
straight, laughed in such friendly fash.
lon with HIS eyes and helped her TO
tiny cakes and drink, all cool, sweet
and sour, with the air Of Prince
Of fairy book famel From
somewhere far, far away-came the
trill Of a riotously happy bird. Peggy
raised her eyes once more to Mrs. Bur.
kett's face, and this time there wers
40 tears
''Why, you're looking better already,
Peggy. And now, If you won't have
any more cake or lemonade, shall
sariy you Of to my room. want yen
" see tife DSAutiAnb HAAAS ANU chiHAVi1'
cries Mr.. Lameroux has brought me
rom Japan and China"
The eossips at Mrs. Smithers' shop
we're becoming restless when Peggy
.ame back The girl fairly shivered
With suppressed excitement, and her
hand trembled as she stuck the hatpin
through her sailor.