Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-07-27

dressed in her best, and ran all over
the house, talking and asking the time,
so that any one might be sure she was
quite ready; but Mr.. Ashton did not
offer to escort her-and she went
alone. | iancied he was not church
sie,nss man. But ten minutes after he
put on his hat and coat, and went in
quite an opposite direction, and never
came back until half past twelve.
OF course Araminta was in a pet
that afternoon, which was to be ex-
pected But, as l told the girl, who
knew what odd sect Mr.. Ashton be-
longed to? He had travelled, and
travelling appears to unsettle people S
minds on religious subjects.
Poor Araminta! She had said that
she had half a mind to give up Mr..
Ashton, and marry young Tompkins
who really did adore her.
The next week, however, Mr.. Ash
ton seemed to be as devoted as ever
There was more sewing, and Araminta
insisted on having Liddy Lizer Of af
tern0ons, and he read more poetry
He drew, it seems, and asked leave to
sketch her as she sewed.
When he was done he would not
let her see it because it did not suit
him; but | peeped into his portfolio
the next day, and saw that he had
really been dissatisfied, for he had
rubbed Araminta's portrait almost out
and left only Liddy Lizer sitting on &
bench at her feet.
The boldness Of that Liddy Lizer
I VOW | never half knew what it wa;
until about hower-pIanting time.
went Unexpectedly into the garden
and saw the girl, with seeds and root:
in her hands, talking to Mr.. Ashton
some rubbish about loving flowers
and feeling that they were her friends
Ma" said Araminta, Its yer!
plain Mr.. Ashton is in love, but ht
don't say any thing. can't tell why.
"You don't lead him on" | said.
"Tompkins don'tneed any leading
on ma" said Araminta.
1t was provoking! Mr.. Ashton
had been there six months, and Ara
minta's miiliner's bills were frightful
Liddy Lizer was past seventeen now
absolutely refused to wear aprons a
all, and would put her hair back wit
combs and let it grow. She was han
dy, too, and made herself look alto
gether too fxy for a hired girl. Jus
then, too, she started up to 90 to Sur
day evening meetings; and what wit
the minister's wife, and the knowledg
that she was quite near the end of he
time with me and very useful, ] let he
have more other own way. Beside.
! | had not so much time to think {
her. My mind was full Of Araminta
a prospects.
, At last one night-a Sunday, in til
2 first of May-Araminta said:
Il am going to find out what NJ
Ashton does with himself Sundays. y
h Well, the child came home at ha
p past nine, pale as a ghost.
e Mother, l followed Mr., Ashton, an
he went to a Methodist meeting"
4 as that all" | asked.
r "No, ma, said Minty; @wait mi
O ute. He sat in the middle aisle, an
# I went into the gallery; and prett
! soon saw Liddy Lizer come in, al
y march up the aisle and seat herse
r. beside him, and they spoke, and loo
n ed on the same book, and, ma, he sa
a her home"
# "You mean she followed on aft
d him, l SUPPOSE"
i mo, ma; she took his arm"
p I could not sleep all night for thin
o ing of it.
At daybreak l went down stairs
,r There was Liddy Lizer frying fritte
d for the early boarders. She look
k up, and said:
4 "Good morning"
" "Can you have the face to speak
" me ?" / said. "You are found o
T miss; your character is known at la
&c I know why you go to church so mucl
70 She blushed, and said nothing.
10 "My house is a respectable one,a
" I'll have no iIl-behaved creature he
to r. Your time is up in a week: fine
place by then, and take yourself
4 then-sooner if you can"
~ She did not fire up, but said:
i eyes ma'am."
ID Not another word, only "Y
ct ma am" And it made me so ans
rs that I struck her. And then I turn
cb and saw Mr.. Ashton looking at
~ from the hall.
A week went by, and on Stature
oil Liddy Lizer came to me and s;
,ir quite coolly:
Itb "You wouldn't mind my leav
No. this evening, presume, Mrs. Tral
on "The sooner the better,"I I repli
ke An hour after, she came to
de "Good-bye."
in " Goodbye, Liddy Lizer," / s
nh "only don't come to me for a cha
nv ter, for | could not give you one" :"
he " | shan't come, Mrs. Trab,"
nd said, and went away as a lady mi
,Iv with little polite bow. Cook
III lowed, and came back to tell me
Iov had gone to the minister's.
inf "Ariminta, said after tea, a
fba plain that Liddy Lizer has decei
oto Mrs. Scrantum. It's our duty tc
90 around and let her know what
IL