The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-04-11

seeino him when he came, but | did not
deserve that Evan would be angry with
me. But he was. Eh, so high and
mighty, and spoke as though one like the
Squire could mean no good by coming to
SO poor place as the schoolmaster's.
He made me angry and | spoke up.
''For that matter, the Squire would
be glad 10 have me promise to marry
him." said /. "lIe thinks more Of me
than you do just now"
"NIaybe you like him better" said
Evan.
don't say that" said 'But bad
temper and Jealousy scarce make over
fond of another. pray may never
have husband who will scold me-
For he had been scoling me. There
was no other name for it.
Well, Evan was wroth with me, and
| with him-not heart deep, though, l
thought-and did not see him for more
than week.
| wasn't troubled much, though.
knew he would come round again, and
mayhap ask my pardon For before you
are wed you can bring your lover to his
senses when you will.
SO | did not fret after Evans absence,
nor quite snub Squire Turner, who liked
me more than ever. But one night grand
father came in from a lonely ride, and.
shutting to the door, stood between
grandmamma and me, looking at me, and
50 strangely, that we both grew Tighten
ed. AT last he spoke:
'Ive been to the Squire's," said he
"For the first time had to tell him that
| couldn't pay his rent when due.
opened my lips. Grandmamma's
hand covered them, Grandpa drew me
TO him.
"Ihourt young, lass" he said, "and
they are right who call thee pretty. Say
could'st like the young Squire enough to
wed him ?"
"EhI' said grandma. Sure you're
not wanderin p
esquire Turner asked me for this lass
of ours tonight. OF all the women in
the world, there is but one he loves as he
should love wife, and that is our little
Agatha"
81 dreamt of golden ring and bunch
of white roses on Christmas night" cried
grannle. Il always knew the lass would
be lucky"
But | put my head on grandfathcrs
shoulder and hid my face. The truth
must out, knew,
"Wilt have him, and be rich lady"
said grandpa.
And when he had waited for an an
swer burst out with ''no" and sob to-
gether.
"Shc's frightened" said grandmamma.
"Nay, we must all wed once in our lives,
my child "
Then grandpa talked to me. lie told
me how poor they had grown, and how
kind the Squire was, and had but to
marry him to make my grandparents
free from debt and poverty their lives
through. If | refused and vcxcd the
Squire, Heaven only knew what might
happen.
"She'll never ruin her poor grand
father" sobbed grandmamma.
All it was hard to hcar-bitter hard;
but now there was no help fer it. | took
the ring from my bosom and laid it on my
palm, and told them it was Evan Locke's
and that | had plighted my troth to him.
And grandmamma called me deceit
full wench, and grandfather looked as
though his heart would break.
|
Oh, would have done anything for
thom-arything but give up my true
| love.
That night | kissed his ring and prayed
God that he might love me always. Ir
the morning it was gone, ribbon and all,
from my neck. looked for it hiah and
low, but found no sign Of it And be.
| gan to think that the loss OF that dear
ring was sign that | wou never m trr,
Evan Locke.
The days passed on, and he never cam,
near me. son, it was cruel in him, "
thought, "to hold such anger for hasiy
word he had provoked, when | spoke il
that he must know that loved him so >
And grandma would scarcely look at me
Il know why now,) and grandpa sighec
groaned and talked Of the poor house.
And | thought should die of gric
amongst them.
One day grandma said tc me " 1
seems that your sweetheart is not ovel
fond you. nor over anxious to see you"
"Why not :" said |.
"Where has he been this monll
back :"
"Busy, doubtless" said |, with q
smile, though | thought my heart woulc
burst.
Perhaps you know all about it," saic
grandmamma. You're going with him
maybe"
"Where ;" said |.
She went TO the kitchen door and beck
oned in a woman who sat thcre-DamC
Combs, who had come over with eggs anC
chickens.
II heard you rightly :" she said. "Yor
told me Evan Locke and his mother wer,
making ready for voyage"
"Iheyre going t. America. My son
a carpenter-and good one, though
say ir-made the doctor a box for hi.
things. The old lady breads the new
. ] k,t IL, & IL 4 L