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funny thing for a dog…fight to make you a vestry…man。〃
I could not talk on this subject。 〃Go on； Pomona；〃 I said； trying
to feel resigned to my shame； 〃and tell us about that poster on the
fence。〃
〃I'll be to that almost right away；〃 she said。 〃It was two or
three days after the dog…fight that I was down at the barn； and
happenin' to look over to Old John's； I saw that tree…man there。
He was a…showin' his book to John； and him and his wife and all the
young ones was a…standin' there； drinkin' down them big peaches and
pears as if they was all real。 I know'd he'd come here ag'in； for
them fellers never gives you up； and I didn't know how to keep him
away； for I didn't want to let the dogs loose on a man what； after
all； didn't want to do no more harm than to talk the life out of
you。 So I just happened to notice； as I came to the house； how
kind of desolate everything looked； and I thought perhaps I might
make it look worse； and he wouldn't care to deal here。 So I
thought of puttin' up a poster like that； for nobody whose place
was a…goin' to be sold for taxes would be likely to want trees。 So
I run in the house； and wrote it quick and put it up。 And sure
enough； the man he come along soon； and when he looked at that
paper； and tried the gate； an' looked over the fence an' saw the
house all shut up an' not a livin' soul about；for I had both the
dogs in the house with me；he shook his head an' walked off； as
much as to say； 'If that man had fixed his place up proper with my
trees； he wouldn't 'a' come to this！' An' then； as I found the
poster worked so good； I thought it might keep other people from
comin' a…botherin' around； and so I left it up； but I was a…goin'
to be sure and take it down before you came。〃
As it was now pretty late in the afternoon； I proposed that Pomona
should postpone the rest of her narrative until evening。 She said
that there was nothing else to tell that was very particular； and I
did not feel as if I could stand anything more just now； even if it
was very particular。
When we were alone； I said to Euphemia：
〃If we ever have to go away from this place again〃
〃But we wont go away；〃 she interrupted； looking up to me with as
bright a face as she ever had； 〃at least not for a long； long； long
time to come。 And I'm so glad you're to be a vestryman。〃
CHAPTER XIV。
POMONA TAKES A BRIDAL TRIP。
Our life at Rudder Grange seemed to be in no way materially changed
by my becoming a vestryman。 The cow gave about as much milk as
before； and the hens laid the usual number of eggs。 Euphemia went
to church with a little more of an air； perhaps； but as the wardens
were never absent； and I was never； therefore； called upon to
assist in taking up the collection； her sense of my position was
not inordinately manifested。
For a year or two； indeed； there was no radical change in anything
about Rudder Grange； except in Pomona。 In her there was a change。
She grew up。
She performed this feat quite suddenly。 She was a young girl when
she first came to us； and we had never considered her as anything
else； when one evening she had a young man to see her。 Then we
knew she had grown up。
We made no objections to her visitors；she had several； from time
to time；〃for；〃 said Euphemia； 〃suppose my parents had objected to
your visits。〃 I could not consider the mere possibility of
anything like this； and we gave Pomona all the ordinary
opportunities for entertaining her visitors。 To tell the truth； I
think we gave her more than the ordinary opportunities。 I know
that Euphemia would wait on herself to almost any extent； rather
than call upon Pomona； when the latter was entertaining an evening
visitor in the kitchen or on the back porch。
〃Suppose my mother；〃 she once remarked； in answer to a mild
remonstrance from me in regard to a circumstance of this nature；
〃suppose my mother had rushed into our presence when we were
plighting our vows； and had told me to go down into the cellar and
crack ice！〃
It was of no use to talk to Euphemia on such subjects； she always
had an answer ready。
〃You don't want Pomona to go off and be married； do you？〃 I asked；
one day as she was putting up some new muslin curtains in the
kitchen。 〃You seem to be helping her to do this all you can； and
yet I don't know where on earth you will get another girl who will
suit you so well。〃
〃I don't know； either；〃 replied Euphemia； with a tack in her mouth；
and I'm sure I don't want her to go。 But neither do I want winter
to come； or to have to wear spectacles； but I suppose both of these
things will happen； whether I like it or not。〃
For some time after this Pomona had very little company； and we
began to think that there was no danger of any present matrimonial
engagement on her part；a thought which was very gratifying to us；
although we did not wish in any way to interfere with her
prospects；when； one afternoon； she quietly went up into the
village and was married。
Her husband was a tall young fellow； a son of a farmer in the
county； who had occasionally been to see her； but whom she must
have frequently met on her 〃afternoons out。〃
When Pomona came home and told us this news we were certainly well
surprised。
〃What on earth are we to do for a girl？〃 cried Euphemia。
〃You're to have me till you can get another one；〃 said Pomona
quietly。 〃I hope you don't think I'd go 'way； and leave you
without anybody。〃
〃But a wife ought to go to her husband；〃 said Euphemia； 〃especially
so recent a bride。 Why didn't you let me know all about it？ I
would have helped to fit you out。 We would have given you the
nicest kind of a little wedding。〃
〃I know that；〃 said Pomona； 〃you're jus' good enough。 But I didn't
want to put you to all that troubleright in preserving…time too。
An' he wanted it quiet； for he's awful backward about shows。 An'
as I'm to go to live with his folks；at least in a little house on
the farm；I might as well stay here as anywhere； even if I didn't
want to； for I can't go there till after frost。〃
〃Why not？〃 I asked。
〃The chills and fever；〃 said she。 〃They have it awful down in that
valley。 Why； he had a chill while we was bein' married； right at
the bridal altar。〃
〃You don't say so！〃 exclaimed Euphemia。 〃How dreadful！〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 said Pomona。 〃He must 'a' forgot it was his chill…
day； and he didn't take his quinine； and so it come on him jus' as
he was apromisin' to love an' pertect。 But he stuck it out； at the
minister's house； and walked home by his…self to finish his chill。〃
〃And you didn't go with him？〃 cried Euphemia； indignantly。
〃He said； no。 It was better thus。 He felt it weren't the right
thing to mingle the agur with his marriage vows。 He promised to
take sixteen grains to…morrow； and so I came away。 He'll be all
right in a month or so； an' then we'll go an' keep house。 You see
it aint likely I could help him any by goin' there an' gettin' it
myself。〃
〃Pomona；〃 said Euphemia； 〃this is dreadful。 You ought to go and
take a bridal tour and get him rid of those fearful chills。〃
〃I never thought of that；〃 said Pomona； her face lighting up
wonderfully。