St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-04-12

to prove that it would be quite
- impossible for him to be Mrs.
Beasley's charioteer was a credit to
the resources Of his invention. The
blacksmith might be back any min
ute; it was dinner time, and he was
hungry; Henry, the horse. was tired;
it wasn't nice day for riding and
he would come over some other time
and take the widow out; he But
Debby had conclusive answer for
each protest.
you said yourself the blacksmith
wouldn't be back for an hour" she OBJ
served. "And you can leave word
with the boy what he's to do when he
does come. AS for dinner, I'll be real
glad to give you and Miss Dorcas a
snack soon's we get back. I don't
mind IL 1t amt pleasant day. A little
fresh air'l do nle good. I been shut
up here housecleanin' ever since got
back from out west. Now hurry right
along and fetch your horse. I'll un-
lock the barn.
'.But Mrs. Beasley," put In the
schoolmistress, why couldn't you give
US a note to Mrs. Atwood and let US
stop for the diary on our way homef
I could return it to you by mail, or
you might get it yourself some other
day and mail it to me-"
''No, no! Never put off till tomor-
rer what you can do today. My hus-
band was great hand to put of and
put off. For the last eight years of
his life l was at him to buy a new
go-to-meetin' suit of clothes. The one
he had was blue to start with, but
it faded to brown, and toward the
last of it / declare If 1t didn't COM
mence to turn green. Nothin' I could
say would make him heave it away
even then; seemed to think more Of it
than ever; said he wanted to hang to
1t a spell and see what 'twould turn
next But he died and was laid out
in that same suit, and was so morti-
fed at the funeral | couldn't think Of
nothin' else. No; I'll go after them
papers and the diary while they're
you s'pose I'd let Sarah Ann Atwood
rummage through my trunks7 guess
notw
Phoebe began to be sorry she had
thought of sending for the diary, par
ticularly as the chance of its contain
ing valuable information was SO re-
mote. Mrs. Beasley went into the
house to dress for the ride. The
schoolmistress went with her as far as
the sitting room. The perturbed Bal
ley stalked of, muttering, to the black
smiths.
In a little while he returned, leading
Henry by the bride. Debby, adorned
with the befowered bonnet she had
worn when she arrived at the Cy
Whitaker place and with black cloth
cape over her lean shoulders, was wait
Ing for him by the open door Of the
barn The cape had fur collar, scat
fur" so Mr.. Bangs said afterward in
describing it.
'Pun the sulky right outr' command
ed the widow.
Bailey stared into the black interior
of the barn.
(Which is it?' he shouted.
Mrs. Beasley pointed with her ear
trumpet.
.sWhy, that one there, Of course
Tother's truck cart. You wouldn't
expect me to ride in that, would your
Mr.. Bangs entered the barn, seized
the vehicle indicated by the shafts and
drew it out into the yard. He inspect
ed it deliberately and then sat weakly
down on the chopping block near by.
Apparently he was overcome by emo
ton.
The .'suIky" bequeathed by the late
doctor had been built to order for its
former owner. It was Of the Garry
alp variety, except that 1t had but
single narrow seat It's top was
square and was curtained. the curtains
being tightly buttoned down. Alto
gether it was something Of curiosity.
Miss Dawes, who had come out to see
the start, looked at the "sulky," then
at Mr.. Bangs face and turned her
back. Her shoulders shook.
''It used to be real nice carriage
when Ezra had it, commented the
widow admiringly. 'sIt needs Him and
sprucin' up now, but guess twill do.
Conner to Bailey, who had not risen
from the chopping block Hurry up
and harness or we'll never get started.
Thought you wanted to get back for
dinner?''
Mr.. Bangs stood up and heaved
sigh.
81 did" he answered slowly, .sbut,"
with a glance at the sulky, "somethin'
seems to have took away my appetite.
Teacher, do you mean to-
But Miss Dawes had withdrawn to
the corner of the house, from which
viewpoint she seemed to be inspecting
the surrounding landscape. Bailey
seized Henry by the bride and back
ed him into the shafts
'sBack upp' he roared Back up, I
tell you! You needn't look at me that
way" he added in lower tone. 81
can't help It You amt any worse
ashamed than am. Therei The ark's
OF the ways. All aboard!s
Turning to the expectant widow, he
boosted her, not too tenderIy, up to
ffo uorro4v Soaf Thou bc c1funfaad In