Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-09-20
CHAPTER XIV.
We Build a Pool.


It was the strangest, sweetest sensa-
ton I had ever known to wake in the
morning and hear soft singing in the
room where a fresh breeze was wan
Idering. I saw Stella standing at the
window, her hair about her shoulders,
docking out She turned when |
stirred, came over to kiss me, while
her hair fell about my face, ana then
cried, FURRY! Hurry! I must get out
into the gardenr'
Presently, hand In hand, we went
over the new lawn to the sundial
(which stood amid a ring of brilliant
blOoms-which, however had become
unbeHevably choked with weeds in the
ten days Of my absence. The gnomOn
was throwing a long shadow westward
across the VII. We filed the bird
bath, which Peter had neglected. We
hurried through the orchard to the
brook, to see the flowers blooming
there, and there, alas! we found tie
volume of the stream shrunk to less
than half its former size. We ran to
the rows of berry vines to see how
many had survived, and found the
greater part of them sprouting nicely;
we went up the slope into the rows Of
vegetables and inspected them; we
rushed to see if all the roses were
alive; we went to the barn, where
Mike had just begun to milk, and
shifted the warm, sweet odor.
Eyes, it's better for amy mon to
be married" l heard Mike saving to
her, as I moved back toward the door.
Then he added something 1 could not
hear, and she came to me with rosy
face. ''The horrid old man. She was
half laughing to herself.
The goods we had ordered began to
arrive after breakfast Bert bringing
them from the freight house in his
large wagon. I took the day off, and
devoted the morning to laying stair
carpet, probably the hottest Job l ever
tackled. Thank goodness, the stairs
went straight up, without curve or
angle! AS I worked, small feet pat
tered by me, up and down, and gar
ments from big trunk in the lower
hall brushed my face as they were be-
ing carried past-brushed their faint
feminine perfume into my nostrils and
made my hammer pause in mida1r.
After the carpet was laid there were
a thousand and one other things to do.
There were pictures of Stella's to be
hung, and them we put in the hitherto
vacant room at the front Of the house,
next to the dining room, where Stella's
wall desk was also placed, and a case
Of her books, and some chairs.
"NOw l can work here when you
want to create literature in your room,
or can receive my distinguished Wis
itors here when you are busy" she
laughed, setting some ornaments on
the mantel. my, but I've got a lot
Of curtains to make! I never did so
much sewing in my life"
Bureaus were carried upstairs with
Mixes assistance, and the ivory backs
of a woman's toilet articles appeared
upon them; open closets showed me
rows of women's garments; glass
candlesticks were unpacked and set
upon the dining table, and the new
dining chairs dressed up the room
remarkably. Everywhere we went
Mrs. Pillig followed with dustpan and
broom, Sticking up behind us. When
night came it was still an incomplete
house-"Oh, million things yet to
get" cried Stella, ''just one by one, as
we can afford it, which will be fun!'-
but house that spoke everywhere OF
a dainty mistress. Outside, by the
woodshed, was pile Of packing boxes
and opened crates and excelsior.
There's your work: Peter" I said
pointing.
Peter looked rueful, but said moth
ing.
That evening I tried to work, bu
found it difficult, for watching my wife
sew.
you've no technique" laughed.
She made a little moue at me, an(
went on hemming the curtains, getting
up now and then to measure them
!"Why should I haveT she said pres
emily. ''You knew I was a Phi. D
when you married me. These curtains
be on your own head! I'm doing tn
best I can"
There was suddenly the suspicion o