Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-18

aeu uau cu4te4 until bedtime, u the
downpour continued, and Il was not un,
usual for him to slip out into the neid
and labor until wet to the skin. rather
than that his crops should not "get to
gr0win' when they ought to, or AZ
early as those Of his most energetic
neighbor. But this year, somehow, there
had been no uneasineas on Jed's part on
account Of the unpropitious weather.
Every morning when Il looked lowery,
Jed had remarked, . Mother poor day.
Can't harrer ner SOW ner kiver p'tatsru
today. Guess I'd better run over to the
Center Tor to Slab City, this mornin' an
fix up that culvert Tor plank that bridge
or see Walter about that key o. nails
Billy, yew en- spreout them p'tatets
ready to drop towards noon, II It fairs
on, an wen try an cit 'em under after
dinner" And Jed would hitch ND and
depart en- urgent town business that al
most invariably strung out 20 long that
his days labor 1t home amounted to little
besides helping about the chores. Even
on fair days he found occasion to turn
his back on the farm very frequently
now. Formerly, be had sent Billy, the
hired boy, who worked for his board and
attended school, to the creamery and
himself hustled to the field With horses
or oxen ae soon as breakfast was des-
patched, never letting up till the noon
hour. Lately he had discovered, he
claimed, that ssthem creamery folks need
watchin'.H His test had fallen on. Per-
haps the real reason for 1t was Billy's
carelessness in graining the cows, or their
hasty and incomplete milking. but Jed
alleged that the fault was elsewhere. So
he began 10 carry the cream himself,
every other morning, and as be generally
fell in behind lot of teams ahead---so be
reported-it was well towards noon those
days before he arrived home and IN
harnessed.
Mrs. Alden also noticed other symp-
toms Of a strange and untoward nature
in her husband. He had formerly been
pretty careless in the matter Of dress, and
not over-particular IS to neatness OF per-
son. The departure in this respect Of
late had been most marked. He seldom
came home from town now without
bringing a new article OF clothing or
ornament. He had quite discarded his
time-worn and rather faded best brown
suit, and arrayed himself in q natty
checked affair hose genesis Edna
had finally, by dint OF much pumping,
drawn out Of him. Oliphanf, the Center
clothier, kept ready made suits on hand,
limited in number, style and cost, but
generally sufficient to serve the everyday
needs of his rural customers. In add
ton, be carried q Wanamaker & Brown
sample book and took measures and or
ders for the more fastidious. II was one
OF these "business Suits" as Oliphant
briskly styled them, that came to Jed By
express, at a heavy advance in cost over
the old-style garments, but undoubtedly
10 his improvement in personal appear
ance. New collars and cravats, white
shirts and cuffs came home with Jed reg
ulariy. He discarded his "eowhides''
and covers" except for farm use, and
donned tight and squealxy shoes that re-
quired a good deal Of time, under Jed's
stin hands, to lace and tie. He had sven
procured "dicerr IS the browning glory
OF his attire, which gave him all kinds Of
trouble when the wind blew or his horse
started suddenly 10 keep II near a proper
balance, 80 fell purpose did il disclose
of dropping over front onto his nose.
resting on one ear or the other or disap-
pearing altogether behind
Jed had worn whiskers for years until
now. He had stoutly maintained they
were warmer In winter, didn't bother
him in summer, and perhaps the ec0no-
my in time spent At shaving had also ap-
pealed TO him in the old days when he
was lifting the mortgage. But one day
be horrified Edna and the children by ap-
pearing before them closely shaven, his
face CHASTITY white except for q careful
Iy cropped mustache--a brand snatched
from the burning, as II were. Rover
didn't know him and growied as be
jumped from the buggy, a new Jed Alden
quite. He passed Il Oh By remarking
that folks hadn't seen his face tor good
many years and it wouldn't do any harm
to show 'em be had one down beneath
the underbrush.
But Edna could be trifed with no
longer and next morning, when . slight
shower was breaking away into goodiy
sunlight, rs Jed sided toward the cham
Der door after breakfast, about to don his
attire for another Of his business trips fc
town, she stopped him.
ssSee here, Jed Alden, know what ailI
yew. 'Taint the bad weather, nor the
poor milk test, nor the pressin' teowr
bizness so much as it's this pusky PERTH.
cal bee in yer bunnit. Why, only last
4 night yew was a-talkin' in yer sleep an
sea yew, hi Walters fur me an, en- gil
most o. them bobbln makers at stat
City, Shows jest where yer mind il
An, Jed Alden, yer farm works goin' K
rewin. Yew amt yer old self a-tail
Don't seem to take no interest N thing
areound here. Don't tend to yer crops A
yew ust to. Why, here it's first o. MAJ
an scursely q bit o. seed in tn greound
an not even all the plowin' done. Yev
are bout as shifless as Anne Anderson
an they say he's allus season behind
I wish this perlitical bug hedn't neve
crept into yeour head If it's goin' to rattl
} yew this way. sposin' got to gaddin
areound on somethin' that didn't moan
to nothin' and rev didn't hev yeou
meals on time nor half enough to eat no
no buttons on yeour cloes-guess yes
wouldn't keep stiIl longs hev."
This was q warm outbreak, even 70
Mrs. Alden. who, generally sunny Il
disposition, occasionally spoke her min'
directly to the point. Jed stood abashed
with his hand on the chamber door latch
but he withdrew 1t and, stepping 10 th
, window, remarked that he guessed tn
. rain was about over and he would tend {
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