The Vermont watchman. [volume], May 13, 1909, Page 2, Image 2

About The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911

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VERMONU. WATOHMAN & STATE JOCJBNAL, THUESDA7, MAY 13, 1000
The Alraost
Tragic Tale of
AnEasterHat
Bu MARION C. SMITH
Copyrlght, 1908, by M. C. Smlth
III. ARTHTJR AVBny was ln n
bad liuinor. Ho glared suspl
clously nt hls coffee, tasted lt
as If ho suspected lt of belng
polsoned, scowled vlclously nt hls
bolled egg nnd pushed lt from lilm.
"Hnrd ns a brlckbat," ho snnpped.
"Can't you get a cook who cnn reod
the clock?"
He was ono of those mcn who are
always ln a bad humor when tbclr
conscicnces aro out of order. Ho had
Just rofusod hls wlfo the inoncy for nn
Enster hat, and she had borno the dls
nppolntment wlth becomlng meeknoss.
Sho dld not know the roason for thc
rofusnl, but Iie dld, nnd thnt was the
trouble. Ho wanted to Joln nnotlier
club.
Mrs. Avery sunnlsed thnt hls con
sclenco was uneasy nnd took hoart
Sho hopcd that ho avouUI corac around.
Thoro wero stlll four days to sparc,
and evcn lf hc dld not como around
untll aftcr Enster sho could bonr lt it
only tho ono hat she wniited had not
boen sold ln tho lntcrvnl. It wns a
hat worth waltlng for, and lt match.ul
hcr new sprlng sult to perfectlon.
Nothlng elso would do. Tho hats
that year wero tnonstrosltles. Mrs.
Avery was n womnn of excellcnt tnsto
nnd know whnt she wnnted. Sho nlso
kncw that her busband was very rauch
ln love wlth her. Suroly ho would
como nround!
Ho dld not come entlrely nround that
day, however. Iie went so fnr as to
tclephone to hls frlend ln tho now
club, nsklng hlm not to proposo hls
nnme just yct. Thoro wns a little un
certnlnty. Ho would let hlm know ln
n day or two. The next day nt luuch
tlme he went uptown and flattened hls
nose flguratlvoly agalnst one of the
show wlndows at Mercer '& Mllner's.
He couldn't remember the prlce she
had roentioned. Was lt $15or$20? Ab
surd, of course, but not extrnvagantly
hlgb, ns hats go. ne would Just go ln
nnd prlco them.
"It must be bluc, because she sald lt
matched her sult, nnd I know tbat's
blue," he sald hclplessly to the salos
woman. "Blue? Oh, we haro n model hat ln
blue," sald that astuto young person,
"AND THEY DON'T EXCHAKOE HATS I"
golng up to one of tho mnny huge
glnss cases whlch wcre dnzzllng tho
bewlldcred eyes of Mr. Avery.
"Thls 1s a Parlslan hat," sho sald,
wlth a grand manncr that dlsarined
crltlclsm. "And a wonderful bargaln,
only 25!"
Twenty-flve! Well, tho dues nnd
lnltlatlon foe of tho club would ainount
to more than that If Edlth llked it
"Isn't lt rather largo?" he faltercd.
"1'in suro thls ls tho rlght thlng,"
sho sald, wlth lncreased conQdence.
"I thluk I reuiembcr a lady of that
deserlptlon ndmirlng thls hat and uny
lug sho uilght como back nnd buy lt
lf hcr husbnnd was wllllng."
That dldn't sound llke Edlth, but lt
furnlshed a clow, and Mr. Arthur
Avery wns tlred nnd felt very helploss.
Thero really sccmed notblng to do but
to order the hat scnt homo.
Mrs. Avery camo ln with a frlcnd
that nfternoon and saw tho box, whlch
tho mald had plnccd ln tho rolddle of
tho bed.
"Laura, look nt thatl" she cxclalmed
npprchenslvcly. "Ho's bought mo a
hnt-bought lt hlraselfl"
"Oh, how lovelyl" crled tho frlend.
"I don't know nbout thatl I I'm
nfrald to look nt lt. Thoro was Just
ono hat I wnutcd, nnd I never nllow
nny one, not even Arthur, to chooso
for mo."
"Oh, Edlth, hurry and open ltl lm
Hiiro lt'a all rlght. It's so good of blrat
I wlsh my" . But she stopped ahort
ns Edlth suddcnly opened tho box and
ktood transflxed ln horror.
"Laura Glenn, wlll you look nt thatl
And they don't exchange hatsl"
She slowly drow lt from Its tlssuo
papor wrapplngs nnd held lt up ln all
Its blue nnd plnlc rndlnnce.
"It-why, Edlth," faltercd Laura, "it
lsn't so very bad. It's ln tho very lat
fst style."
"I wouldnrt bo found dead ln HI"
broke out Edlth. "Latest stylcl Thls
AHVEHTISE IN THE TYATCIHTAN.I
blue wlll fnlrly sbrlek nt my new
sult. My hat wns a toiiuo wlth the
most cxqulsltely dellrnto llowers, and
only 51D! Whnt poor Arthur must
havo pald for thls horror! Whnt shall
I do? 1 can't tell hlm hls glft dldn't
Biilt .1110. llo'll nevur forglvo mo, nnd
It wns n Hacrltlce on hls part too. 1'oor
dear Arthur! O-o-oh!"
Mcanwlillo Mrs. Glenn had boen try
lng ou the hat. Sho wns short nnd
dark. nnd the offoct upou hcr wns np-
palllug.
"rhorc, you sec!" cxclalmed Mrs.
Avory. "No one could wenr lt! It'a a
moustroslty."
"But, my denr," sald Mrs. Glenn
calraly, "tho bnts thls ycnr nrc raon
strositics. I've got one mysclf."
"Well, I don't cnro whnt you've got.
I wou't woar n monstrosltyl The one
I choso was a dcar, nnd they don't cx
chnnge hntsl"
"Perhaps they wlll thls tlmc. I can
tostlfy thnt you dldn't try lt on. They
wlll never thlnk of my hnvlng trled lt
on."
"Oh, do you thlnk I can persundo
thcra? Como wlth me nt once!"
"Very well," sald Mrs. Glenn rcslgn
edly. "I supposo I'U havo to see you
through."
Suddenly Kdlth dropped lnto n chnlr,
wlth n tragic gesture.
"I can't. Laura!"' sho exelalmcd. "I
cnn't chnnge Arthur's cholcel He wlll
be wounded. Ho'll thlnk I don't love
hlm."
"My dear, don't be nny more foolish
than you nbsolutoly havo to be, Mon
aro not llke that only womcn. Arthur
won't care n button if only you're
ploascd."
"You don't know Arthur."
"I know mon, nnd I don't inlnd say
lng that I'm older than you, for you
know It nlready. You can trust mo."
"And you thlnk ho won't bo hurt?"
"I know ho won't."
"But I'm not surc!"
"Oh, well, wear the hat, thcn. It's
tho only nltcrnntlve."
Edlth shudderod.
"Unless," pursued Mrs. Glenn, "you
can make hlm thluk they sent tho oth
er by mlstake."
"Whnt, decclve hlm? now cnn I?
And yct botter docelvo hlm than hurt
hlm. now c.iu I tell hlm I desplscd
hls cholce?"
"Oh, corac along, Edlth; there's no
time to wnste. Telcphone for n cab."
In duo course of tlme Edlth was re
llevlng her fceltngs by reproachlng tho
head salcswotnan ln the mllllnery de
pnrtment at Mercer & Mllner's for
hnvlng pcrsuaded Mr. Avery to buy
such a hat. The glrl lookod abashed.
Sho had not bclleved that the gcntle
man wnnted lt for any one llke Edlth.
But sho sulkily persisted that lt was
a Parlslan model!
"It's n rarisian horror!" crled Edlth.
The head of the dopartment was
callcd, nnd, wlth n man's susceptlblllty
to a prctty woman's dlstress nnd upon
Mrs. Glenn's testlmony that Mrs. Av
ery had not cver trled lt on, ho con
sonted to effect tho changc, provlded
thnt the dlfference ln prlce was not re
funded by the flrm. Edlth nccepted
tho condltlon and joyously carried off
her first cholce.
"Thank goodness that's overl" crlod
Laura ns they dlsmlssed the cab and
gulltlly brought ln the box.
"It's over, but I'vo decelved hlm,
and I'm ralserable," bewnlled Edlth.
"Tell hlm all about it, then!"
"Never J must suffer in sllence!"
That nlght upon Arthur's return
Edith flung her nrms nbout hlm nnd
wlth her face buried ln hls coat collar,
thnnkcd hlm almost tearfully for the
lovellost hat she had ever had.
"Tho very ono I chosel" she gasped.
"Good! Let's soe it on."
Wlth trembllng hands she drew from
tho box a hat of modorate proportlons
and gracoful arrangement a very
symphony in blue nnd white and set
it upon her golden locks. The effect
was maglcal.
"But but," stainincred Arthur, "it's
not the one I bought!"
Edlth turned her back and buslcd
herself wlth tho hatplns.
"N-not tho one you bought?" sho
faltered.
"No; that was much larger and more
expenslve, I'm sure. Thls won't do at
all! They've scnt the wrong one, and
they must glve me the othcr or rofund
tho money. It was much handsomer!"
"Oh, Arthur, I want thls one! I most
keep lt! You seo yourself"
"But it isn't worth $25."
"Twenty-flvo dollars! Doar, dld you
pay all that? now cxtravagant, bnt
how lovely of you!"
"I'll go tomorrow mornlng"
"No, nol Leave lt to me. ' Meil nl
ways muddle such thlngs. I'll I'll set
tlo it. Arthur, pleasol I'm afrald of
loslng thls hat."
"Very well, but they must refund the
dlfference. Stupld fools! It's lucky
thoy hit upon the hat you llked, but
tho othor was so much handsomer."
"Thls is ldeal," sald Edlth, but her
volco trombled.
"I must got tho $10 out of my sav
inga bank fund," sho thought "Oh,
whnt n tangle of dcceltl He'Jl flnd lt
all out and never lovo mo agaln!"
Tho next day was Good Frlday, and
Edlth went to church, but she camo
liomc with a headache. On Saturday
mornlng sho could not get up. no
was scrlously t'roubled about her.
"I'll send up Dr. Moore, dear," ho
Baid. "You must get well and wear
that Easter hat tomorrow. I'vo set my
hoart on lt."
Upon thnt, to the poor man's utter
nmazoment, sho burst lnto a torrcnt of
tears nnd sobs.
"I'll nover, never wear it!" she crled.
"Oh, I'm a wicked, wlckcd woman !'
"Edlth, my love! For heavon's sakel
Wicked? Absurd! You'ro norvous
nnd worn out. I told you you wero
golng to church too much thls Lent
nnd working too hard over Deody's
now clothes. Oarllng, don't cry so.
I'vo got to leave you buslness nr
ABYEKTISE IN THE WATCH1L1N 1
polntmcnt nt 0 o'clocic. I can't put it
off, nnd I can't bear to leave you llko
thls. That's rlghtl Try smllo nnd
tell mo It's all noiisouse."
"It's It's nll nonsense," sho qun
vcrcd pltcously.
But nftor ho left her ho wns not so
suro of tho nonsense theory. Why
should Edlth cnll herself wlckcd? Was
lt only tho effect of rcllglous oxcltc
mcnt or wns lt nnythlng tnnglblo? Ho
recallcd the fnct thnt John Dcnt hnd
talked to Edlth qultc n good dcnl of
lnto whenever they had bcen out to
gcther. Could it bo that hcr fnncy
hnd turned thnt wny? Arthur turned
cold with horror.
Ab 111 luck would bavo lt be mct
Jobn Dcnt ln tbc strect.
"Uello! Cbnngcd your mlnd nbout
thc club?" cnlled out the unconsclous
object of hls wrnth.
"No, confound it, nnd I won't chango
lt!" snnpped Arthur. "Cnn't you tnke
n man's word for it that he knows hls
own mlnd?"
"Wbew ec ce!" whlstlod Dent.
"Whnt's the rantter with you, old
mnn? Wnnt to tako my head off?"
But Arthur was off, mutterlng in
nudlbly, "1'd do lt for 5 ccntsl"
Mcanwhlle Edlth know that sho bad
made dlsclosurc Incvitnble, nnd sho
dcspalrlngly prepared herself for the
. r Ci i,mm .
"AND 80 AltE TOUl"
Encrlfice. Arthur cnme home ln the
cvcnlng, pale nnd ferocious of mood,
to flnd her slttlng in nn nrmchalr
looklng equally pale, clad in n long
white tea gown, her halr parted over
her oars, her eyes stralned and wlst
ful. She lookcd up pltcously, but Arthur
dld not smllo. Iie set hls tecth hard,
drew up a chalr and sat down in front
of her wlth stcrn and tragic inien.
"Edlth," ho snld, "what is the mean
ing of nll thls despair, of your self ac
cusatlon? I have bcen thlnklng of lt
nll day. I have been a wretched man.
I am determlncd now to slft thls thlng
to the bottoml"
She brokc down and sobbed, but he
dld not waver.
"You have callcd yourself a wicked
woman," he proceoded sternly, "and
here and now you must tell me whyl"
Sho clasped hcr hands hard together
and drew in her breath. The moment
bad come.
"I 1 have decelved you!" she gasp
ed. nis face whitened, and a terrlble look
came lnto his eyes.
"Decelved me?" he repeated mechan
lcnlly. "Yes. Oh, you'll never forgive mel
You bought thc hat You made a sac
riflce. That horrld John Dent sald
you wouldn't joln tbo club."
nat! Horrld! What was thls? A
strange revulsion of feellng came ovei
hlm.
"You don't llke John Dent?" he in
tcrrupted, with secmlng irrelcvance.
"I never llked hlm! I don't seo whj
you do. Ho doesn't llke me, I know.
ne talks to mo, but bo makcs fun ot
me. I decelved you nbout tho hat 1
changcd tho one you bought for me!"
"You did? So tho mlstake wasn't
thclrs? But what does that matter?
Why dldn't you tell me?"
"Tell you that I had rejoctcd your
choieo! Oh, Arthur, when you thought
you wero plcaslng me! But 1 couldn't.
I lt dldn't match my sult. And a
smallcr ono sccmed better. You know
the hats thls year are But, oh, I
decelved you! I'vo destroycd your
lovo for me!"
Arthur had beeu wnlklng up and
down, trying to control a fceling of
mlngled nngcr and rollef. To thlnk
thnt hc bad suffercd so all day for
nothlng! And sho bad mado herself
111 for nothlng! But now, at hcr last
words, ho turned nnd took her in hls
nrms.
"Oh, Edlth, you dear, foolish little
glrl!" ho crled. "You don't Unow what
you've put mo througb, accusing your
self for nothlng"
"For nothlng!" Iler tone vas tragic,
but thrllls of bllss -wero runnlng all
over hcr.
"As if I carcd nbout tho hat, only so
you wero pleascd," ho sald. "If you'd
told mo I would havo had lt cx
chnnged gladly. I dldn't llko it much
myself, but tho glrl said lt was Just
the thlng, and X supposed the hats thls
p'car wero all monstrosltles and lt
couldn't bo helped. "Was thls nll your
trouble?"
"I should thlnk lt was cnoughl I
dld decelvo you. I tlfought"
"I Unow what you thought, foolish
child. But you don't know what
Well, never mlnd. Now you'll sleep
well tonlght and wear tho hat tomor
rowob!" "Of courso I wlll," sho nnswered
happily. "I don't deservo lt, but lt
really ls n perfect dcar, you know,
Arthur.. And so aro youl"
ADYEItTISE IN TnE WATOHMAN.
iiNatiaral Gas
I And
By MARY
t Miranda.
ALDINE
$ Copjrlghtcd, 1909, by A&EOclated
Llterary Press. T
Mr. Satnucl Perklns, asslsted by two
Itallans, all wlth thelr conta nnd vests
off nnd pcrsplrlng profusely, wns bor
lng nn nrtcslan well on hls farm.
Buddcnly the drill wns forced out of
the ground. Thcre followed a great
puff of vapor that hnd the odor of bnd
cggs and sulphur mlxed together. Mr.
I'crklns bad struck a nntural gas well.
A month later Mrs. I'crklns was say
lng to hlm:
"Samuel, remember tbnt we spell
our nnme P-a-r-k-l-n-s; also that n
month bcnco we sall for Europc.
"Wc'vo got money, and we'vc got a
daughter Mlrandn. We are golng to
glve hcr a chnnce."
"A chancc for whnt?" nskod thc bus
band, who was trying to got uscd to
wonrlng n collar nnd a coat around tho
nousc.
"To got pollsbed up nnd to mnrry
sonio ono worthy of hcr. You needn't
slt thoro thlnklng thnt a few wccks
ngo Mlranda was hanglng out tho
clothes. Wo'vo struck nattiral gas,
nnd that makcs a dlfference. Wo sall
in four wecks."
"I dld klndor thlnk we mlght go to
Niagara Fnlls for n wcck or so" bo
gnn Snniuel ns ho rubbcd hls chln.
"AVhat's Niagara Falls to pcople wlth
money? What aro they to Mlranda?
Samuel Tarklns, can't you reallze that
you struck gas?"
"I know 1 dld."
"We nre cllmblng for thc top of the
Jnddcr. We cnn't bo kept down.
Havon't you got it through your head
yet? It's Europe nnd polish. It's Eu
rope nnd a husbnnd for Mlranda. If
thcm Chlcngo butchcrs cnn take thelr
daughters to Europe nnd marry them
off to lords and dukos, why can't we?
"Isn't natural gas just ns hlgh toned
ns pork chops? You keep n coat on
and your shoes black and get uscd to
looklng llke somebody and leave tho
rest to me."
Mr. Tnrklns would rnther have sat
on the steps of the vlllage nnd rclated
for tho llve hundredth tlme what bls
emotions wcre when he struck gas,
but ho was draggcd off to Europe.
Mlranda bctrayed a surprlslng lack
of Intcrest, but Mrs. Tarklns dld tho
thlng wlth all her mlght. Sho had na
tlvo wlt and obscrvntlon. By slttlng
ln a corncr most of the tlme and hnv
lng ns little ns posslblc to say tho hus
bnnd nnd father made out nfter n fash
Jon. In duo tlme he even became inter
ested In thlngs. He bccnme so lntcr
cstcd thnt one cvcnlng aftcr they had
becn ln London for n fortnlght ho nsk
ed hls wlfe:
"Mary, nre wo hlttlng the plke all
rlght?"
"Hltting the plke!" she repeated in
scornful tones. "Samuel, cut the plke
nnd othor thlngs out. Mlranda and me
aro watching ourselves every mlnute,
and you want to do the same. Don't
you leave the spoon ln the cup when
you drink your coffce, and don't tuck
your table napkln clcar up under your
ears. If ycui spoll Miranda's chanccs
I'll never forgive you."
I "PSi S.11?! I vvSnT to. know ls bas
any feller Vome nround yet?" persist
ed the husbnnd.
"No, not exactly. But I've notlced
different ones looklng nt her and sorter
edglng nround. You leave that part of
lt to us, and you tend to yours. When
ever you can, you Just drop ln a word
nbout natural gas and mllllons."
"Oh, I wou't spoll nobody's chances.
I dldn't want to come at flrst, but
now that I've got over here I rayther
llke lt. Makcs n feller feel as if he
was somebody to hnve a boy rendy at
every turn to brush off hls coat
"I guess I'd be proud to hnve a lord
or n duko for a son-ln-lnw. That's Mi
randa's lowest flgger, haln't it? She
hain't comlng over hero nnd then take
up wlth no hayseed?"
It was Paris nfter four weeks in
(London, nnd thero wns n contlnual im
provcmont iu tho fnmlly. Mlranda
and her mothor plckcd up as much as
one Frcnch word a dny, and the hus
bnnd and father left hls fcars behlnd
hlm nnd nssumcd a little swagger and
a patronlzlng alr that sat well on hlm.
IIo hnd struck natural gas nt homo
elmply by nccldent. IIo rcnsoned thnt
be mlght strlke n husband for Mlrandn
abroad in tho same way. Therefore
whenever he cnme ncross nny ono who
would llsten to hlm and who could
Epeak Engllsh ho Jntroduced gas wells
lnto tho convcrsatlon.
i It was nlwnys In tho plural. It wns
jievcr ono gns well, but hnlf n dozen.
Iie nlso trled hls best to mako tho
head wnltcr undcrstnud tho gas qucSJ
jtlon, nnd lf he dld not succced entlrely
ho nt Ienst cllcltcd tho cxclamatlon:
"Gas from tho cround. mnn dlnn!
lAnd onch well $1,000,000! How you
imust HUffcr wlth so inuch money!"
"Yes, a hcap of suffering, but I grlt
my tecth nnd stnnd lt."
When Mrs. Parklns nnnounced ihat
they were to leavo Pnrls for a rosort
ln tho Alps, Mr. Parklns hnd hls op
portunlty to nsk:
"Anyl fcllcr in slght yet?"
"Snmuel, haln't you got no pollsh ln
)hoso last two months?" demanded tho
wlfe.
"Of course' I have."
"TJjon show somo of it. No gentle
man would spenk In that bruta! man
ncr. I'm glad Mlrnnda wns not hero."
"Well, hns any lord or duko bcon
maklng up to bor?"
i "Mnklng up! Mnklng up! Humphl
Mr. .Parklns, aro you ln Europo or
JTcxns? My daughter Mlranda cnnnot
I AHYERTISE IN TnE WATCHJTAN,
be raado up to. 1 out-li your mcan
lng, however, and ln (.rdcr that you
may not use any moro such cxpros
Rlons let mo sny thnt I'm not worry
lng." "You mean"
"I mcnu that wo aro golng to Swlt
zcrland to stop for a month or moro at
tho sarao hotel wlth n lord."
"By George, but you don't mcan lt!"
exclnlmed tho husband. "How in'
thundcr dld you brlng lt nbout?"
"Snmuel!"
"Yes, but that's a cute trlck of yours.
You'll hnve hlm pennod rlght up."
"Samuel Parklns!" crled thc wlfo as
she flushed up.
"Oh, well, I won't say nothlng more.
You'n Mlranda go rlght ahead, and I'll
back you wlth natural gns cnough to
run nll France. 1 guess lt haln't for
me to mlx ln." i
Just how Mrs. Parklns located the
lord doesn't matter. For a flvo franc
plcco Parlslan chambcrmalds havo
becn known to locate a whole duke.
Ho wasn't reglstcrcd as a lord, but
that wasn't expccted. no would be
lncog. Mr. Parklns took it that any
of tho forty men nround the hotcl
mlght be hls lordship, but tho wlfe,
wlth thc kccner lntultlon of hcr sex,
spottcd tho rlght man wlthln twenty
four hours.
Thcn Mr. Pnrklns cnrao to tho front
llko n mnn. IIo lntroduccd hlmsclf to
tho vlctlm nnd talked of Amcrlca and
gas wells and dollars. Thero was cn
thuslasm In hls volco ns ho tnlkcd of
the gas that would contlnuo to pour
out of the oarth for centurles to come,
and he workod up conslderablo pathos
over the admlsslon that ho hadn't
cnough wells to supply over half tho
TJnlted Statcs. Mr. Parklns had dono
hls full share. The rcst dcvolved upon
othcr shouldcrs.
A day or two later hls lordship
strollcd up n mountaln pnth by hlm
self. A little later Mrs. Parklns nnd
Mlrnndn strollcd up thc saiuo path.
Hls lordship wns ovortaken Just In
tlme to rescue Mlranda from wnlUIng
out on nn ovcrhnnglng rocl: that would
havo surely glven way wlth her wolght
nnd dropped her lnto the vnlley a mlle
below.
The half falntlng glrl and tho shat
tercd mother wcre asslsted down the
path to the hotcl, and Mr. Parklns
found them in bed to rccovcr from the
shock. no heard the story and thcn
rusbcd downstalrs. When he appeared
half an hour later thero was a bland
smllo on hls face, nnd he wns rubblng
bls hnnds.
"Mr. Parklns, what have you doue?"
asked tho wlfo as she sat up in bed.
"Hnve you bcen snylng anything to hls
lordship?"
"Now, don't you folks get lnto a
Bwcnt about me," replled Mr. Parklns.
"Mebbo I havon't pollshed up qulte as
fast as you havo over here, but I know
when to do the rlght thlng for nll
thnt."
"And you've seen the lord?"
"I hnve."
"And tnlkcd with hlm?"
"For sure. Yes, slr hnd qulte a talk
wlth hlm."
"Samuel Parklns, what dld you
say?" asked the wlfe ns she snt up
stralghter and a look of fear cnme lnto
hcr eyes.
"What should I say under tho clr
cumstnuces? I thnnked hlm from the
bottom of my heart for savlng Miran
da's llfe. You don't thlnk I spoke
about tho weather, do you?"
"And whnt else, Samuel?"
"Wha.t clse, pa?"
"ioffered hlm $25 ln cold cash."
Two shrleks shrieked out ln chorus,
and two females went lnto mlld bys
'terics, only Miranda's was susplclously
llke laugbter, whllo her mother's was
the rcal thlng. It was a long mlnute
that Mr, Parklns stood there, hands ln
pockets and wondering what had hap
pencd. Then hls wlfe forced back her
emotions and falntly asked:
"And-nnd whatr'
"And he took it nnd snld, Thnnk
ye!'"
Two days later ns they sat in the
train bound for home Mr. Parklns no
tlced a tear stenllng down Mrs. Par
klns' cheek. He turned to her nnd
asked:
"Aln't you feellug chlpper today?"
"Chipper! Chlpper! How could I
fccl chipper?" exclnlmed Mrs. Parklns
ln flcrce tones.
"Dunno, but you mustn't blamo me.
I dldn't know that he was a lord that
went about savlng human Uvos for
cash on the nall! And, anyway Ml
randa kln marry Joshun Itnwllns to
homo. Ho wrltes to me thnt he's golng
to glve up fnrmlng becauso he's struck
gas too."
And Mlranda squeezed hls hand and
whlspered, "You do everythlng Just
rlght, pa."
If you want to feel well, look well
and bo well, tako Foloy's Kldnoy
Hemedy. It tones up tho lddnoys
and bladdcr, purifles tho blood and
restores hcalth and strength. Pleas
ant to tako nnd contains no harraful
drugs. Why not commenco today?
Sold by nll drugglsts.
Mlxed.
An lnducement to return proporty is
offcrcd as follows: "If tho gcntlcman
who keeps tho shoo storo wlth a red
head wlll return thc umbrella of a
young lady wlth whalebono rlbs nnd
an iron handlo to tho slato roofcd gro
cer's shop, ho wlll hear of somcthlng
to hls advantnge, as tho eamo is a
gift of n decenscd mother now no
moro wlth tho naino cngravcd upon
lt." Exchange.
A Ccrlnln Curo For Aclilng Fcct.
Shako lnto your shoos Allon's
Foot-Easo, a powder. It curea Tlrod,
Acblng, Callous, Swcatlng, Swollen
feet. At all Drugglsts and Shoo
Storos. 25c, Samples FREE. Ad
dress, Allen 8. Olmstod, LoRoy,
N. Y.
MONTPEIJEll ItltlEF.S.
A daughter was born on Sunday to
Alr. and Mrs. E. D. Field.
MIss Ethel Butlor has returned
frqm Northfield whero sho ha3 been
spemllng n fow days.
Judgo and Mrs. E. !M. Harvey and
daughter wero in Burlington over
Sunday.
James Markham, conductor on thc M.
& W. railroad, is taklng a vacation from
his dutics and wlll be away about two
weeks.
Mrs. Robert Whelanhas returned frora
a monlh's stay in Now York City where
she has been tho guest of her son, W. T.
Whelan.
fTho Consolldated Lightlng Co., are
installing a street lightlng systein at
East Barre. Work wlll bo completed
May 20. They are to Install 235
llghts.
Frank Corry, Jr., and Charles Bailey
returned Sunday evening from a week's
stay at Amherst, Mass., where they have
been the guests of local boys at Ainherst
college.
Urban Sawyer, who was somewhat se
riously burned about the face whlle light
lng a furnace tire several days a:o, is able
to be out but ths burns are not yet com
pletely healcd.
John Wahlen, master mtchanlc on the
M. & W , bas returned from I'hiladelphia,
wliere he went to iuspect the new engine
for the main line. The engine will be
shipped thls week.
Severat of tho clerks of te McCuen
storo spent Sunday as the guests of the
Mlsses Kerm in Moretown. The day
was very happily passed, the day being
ideal for the outicig.
Four candldates from Middlesex
took tho examination at the Federal
building Saturday for tho ofHce o
postmaster in that town, whicu is
now under the civll servico rules.
Tho Montpelier drum corps whlch
now holds tho dlstlnction of being
tho lnrgest in tho world, the next
largest in Europe, boasting 75 mem
bers, wlll furnlsh muslc at the Mem
orlnl Day exercises in thls clty, May
30th.
Supt. P. S. Smitl. of tho water depart
ment and Mayor F. R. Dawley took a
trip to the reservoir Sunday and looked
over Berlicd pond, etc. There is plenty
of water on hand and a cuntinuation of
last summer's dry spell would not see the
city so badly rlxed as lt was last year.
A rather unusual freak of nature
is on record at Daley's bowllns al
ley in the shapo of a Eoston ter
rier pup that was born Saturday
night. Tho animal Is as large aa an
ordlnary dog at tho ngo of three
months, and is as lively as a crlck
et. It is perfectly marked and shows
every slgn of belng a prizo wlnuer.
'R. F. Collamer resigned his posl
tion as head olerk at tho hotel Burl
ington on Saturday. Mr. Collamer
was head clerk at tlie Pavilion for
several years prevlous to golng to
Burlington and Is one of the best
known and most popular clerla in
the state. He is not decided about his
futuro locatlon.
Mrs. Dora Wing and fllrs. EUza
beth Hathaway left on Sunday for
New York to meet Prof. L. J.
Hathaway of Montpelier who arrlves
on tho Princess Louise of tho Ger
man Lloyd lino on Wednesday after
spendlng a year abroad in the study
of music. Prof. Hathaway was ac
companied homo by E. E. Thomp
son, formerly princlpal of the Mont
pelier hlgh school.
Supt. of Education Mason S. Stnne
has announced the formation of thrce
new school districts, the first consisting
of the towns of Jericho. Bolton and
Huntington, Eugene M. Norton, chair
man, Frank B. Pease, recretary; the
second, consisting of tne towns of Wood
stock, Bridgewater and Sherburne, S. R.
Kelley of Woodstock, chairman, Rev. J.
C. Carmahan, secretary; the third. K.
Jolinson, Hyde Park and Eden, G. B.
Allen, Hyde Park, chairman, J. K. Foster
of Johnson, secrotary. i
Tho elocutionary efforts maul by
pupils of tho hlgh school and grades
havo becn notlceably Improved slnce
Mrs. Kato E. Terrlll began drilllng
tho students. Mrs. Terrill's work
has been noted by Thomas F. Rcddy
of tho Boston privato theatrlcal
school for chlldren nnd ho has
wrltten bor thnt ho would much llke
to seo her next effort ln managtng a
chlldron's play. Mr. Rcddy sends
chlldren's tlieatrlcal compaules to
tho hotols of tho Whlto Mountalns,
otc, durlug tho suinmer months,
and Is vory intcrested in all talent
nlong thls lino of mnnaglng those'
proiluctlons.
Chlldron'. Cry
FOR FLETCHER'S
C ASTO R I A
A CAKD.
Thls ls to certlfy that all drug
glsts aro authorized to refund your
monoy lf Foley's 'Honoy and Tar
fnlls to curo your cough or cold. It
stops tho cough, heals tho lungs
and provents pnouraonla and con
sumptlon. Contains no oykito3. Tho
genulno is ln a yellow packago.
Sold by all druggists.