Brooks, little beside the news that the Waterman barn, the finest barn in the
whole township, had been struck by lightning and burned to the ground. Stephen
was away at the time, having taken Rufus to Portland, where an operation on
his eyes would shortly be performed at the hospital, and one of the neighbors
was sleeping at the River Farm and taking care of the cattle; still the house
might not have been saved but for one of Alcestis Crambry's sudden bursts of
common sense, which occurred now quite regularly. He succeeded not only in
getting the horses out of the stalls, but gave the alarm so promptly that the
whole neighborhood was soon on the scene of action. Stephen was the only man,
Mite reminded Rose, who ever had any patience with, or took any pains to
teach, Alcestis, but he never could have expected to be rewarded in this
practical way. The barn was only partly insured; and when she had met Stephen
at the station next day, and condoled with him on his loss, he had said: "Oh,
well, Mite, a little more or less does n't make much difference just now."
"The rest would n't interest you, Mrs. Brooks," said Rose, precipitately
preparing to leave the room.
"Something about Claude, I suppose," ventured that astute lady.
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