Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-01-12

4no9'ei uOHhNdTu, specuIatlnS upon my Ot
ing seriously unwell, or possibly defunct
Thus things went on till midsummer
met Green mantle, without appearing t
recognize her, every morning, and / spon
hours every evening IN wishing places il
which l thought it possible to nee
with her but, except at the precise spot. a
twenty minutes before nine, never had tn,
luck to find her.
had even begun to speculate upon th,
possibility of obtaining a days holiday, in
order TO discover where she went to, and
possibly, even where she lived | dwelt up
on the idea delighted, but the obstacles ap-
peared insuperablo. Could | say that had
urgent private business? OF course But
Of what nature | could not summon eour-
age to tell lie, and perhaps still less could
have tod the truth.
One morning Green mantle did not ap-
pear, 1t was at midsummer, and we were
busy with our annual balance sheet 1t was
all but complete, and had to sign it; in
stead OF Richard Naylor, signed, ''Green
mantle, tore of the corner surreptitious-
ly, spilled some ink upon the mutilated rem
nant, and toiled far into the night to produce
clean copy, which had very nearly sign
ed "Green mantle" again.
FOR the next week OF two was miserable;
that Green mantle mus. be ENJOYING her
holiday, knew well enough but il was no
) slight priyatiOn to find myself alone, morn
ing after morning, at the accustomed hour
determined | know not what | would
speak to her; | composed numberess pretty
speeches one or two fresh ones for every
DAY l committed them resOlutely to memo
ry; l counted them over as | walked, in the
Office even and made mistakes IN the
books ; my ledger, which no penkhife had
ever touched, was disgraced for ever: and
still Green mantle came not.
1t was the middle Of August, and ought
to have started upon my annual Journey
home. l stirred not, and made no sign.
At length was ordered off | was get
/ ting thin and Ill, and my master saw it, and
told me to 20 into the country for ten days.
obeyed IN part; but instead of gong into
the country | commenced systematic
search for Green mantle. | questioned
everybody cOachmen, policemen, porters
many had seen her but not lately, and nenc /
knew where she lived. | was pursuing nv 1
search still and week Of nv leave had .
nearly expired, when coming suddenly into
the market place, I saw Green mantle: | .
was sure 1t was she, but some carts inter-
yened, and before | could reach the spot She
was gone.
Here was new life, new hope for me
spent long hours IN the market next dav,
with Bowen 5 spectacles always looking at
me and seemins to ask what | did there:
but was rewarded at last | saw Green
mantle coming, and pushed towards her
through the crowd. | reached her, and
would have spoken 1t was her mantle, but
the bonnet was different; SO was the face
Here was disappointment dOubIy deep
was reckless; my tim,dity had flown; and
| spoke to the girl who wore the mantle
had been seeking so long. She was Green
mantle's sister. Green mantle was i'll had
been very i'll but she was better Oh
yes, she was getting strong again they dld .
not live far from there. l was mad, | be-
lieye, and fancy the girl thought so. |
bought grapes, oranges. apples, flowers, and
wanted to buy wine for her. | poured my
purchases into the skirt of the green mantle,
and insisted upon seeing it home. | sent
messages Of love, sorrow, happiness / was
gneved at this and happy at that, miserable
at the other; | was eloquent and besides
myself. | talked more IN the ten minutes
which it took Us to 20 through the market
and to the top of Smithy door than had
done for months before and when was
dismissed at the door, stood gazing absent j
ly at the old picturesque building which
held nearly all cared ior, until turned sick
and faint from excess of JOY.
went there in the evening, and knocked I
timIdly latter many eforts) at the door. The r
woman of the house told me Green mantle's
name "Yes, Miss Walton and her sister
lived there Miss Walton had been i'll but
she was mending nicely she would give my +
card, would say that / had called; would | q,
wait then? ?" | felt very nervous, but |
would wait, and in a few moments the sister I
came to ac; Green mantle had recognized a
me Green mantle would see me would | :
walk up stairs?
1t was an old fashioned house, and | had a
never before seen one so charming the q
stairs were of old oak, wide and spacious; | -.
sprang up them with alacrity three flights
were passed, and .hen, in a large wainscot- l
ted, poorly furnished room, l found Green s
mantle, pale and prOpped with pillows, but
with pleasant smile Of welcome on her
worn, dear face. could do no more than |
had done, she said they were well off, they 0
were rich at least they had surhcient to ,
last them for sometime, but she was glad to
see me; it was like seeing an old friend.
Then Green mantle spoke of books, pictures, t
flowers led me to my own subjects and ap- d
peared to listen with interest. | was elo- /
quent, was inspired | astonished myseIf
IN particular but had no time TO think of T
1t then. Her sister told me to go; Green t
mantle was tired but might come again; &
the next day if | chose. | did choose, and
chose TO go for many a day after. haunted
the neighborhOod OF their lodgings; and l a
have particular affection yet for the large !
old window near the top Of the most pic
turcsque old house in Manchester, that at
the higher end of old Smithy door. From I
that window Green mantle has often looked
kindly down at me.
She recovered rapidly; her sister said that
was her best doctor and after | had spok- |
en- my love, which did soon, and without
any very extraordinary bunglrng in doing
60, che told me her plan, simple story. Their
father was a tradesman in a distant town
they had been carefully educated partly with
the idea that they might have to fight their
own way father and mother had both died
suddenly, and almost at the same hour, and
there was nc thing left for them but their
piano and some triflng articles of furniture
which their fathers creditors had presented
To them. They had an uncle in Manchester
(he was in the next room, and must get his
eopsent); SO they had come here, and Green
mantle had maintained both her sister and
herself by her exertions as governess. She
had continued her sister s education too,auu
she hoped now that she could supply her
place. - d,.
And 60 CIR cen mantle went, with raoi,
ant face, to call her uncle; and awaited
In fear and trembling, his much dreaded
approach. First heard great ciattfr oil
falling books, then merry laugh ana
shutting of slippered feet, and then the door
opened and Green mantle entered leading D,y
the hand-mY old friend of the college II
brary
sprang to him. think / should have
liked to kiss him, for he shook me warmly
by both hands, muttered something about
being happy-good boy, good girl, very good
girl; and then be joined our hands together,
and shufiled away to his books again
And then Green mantle made her comics
siou She had known me nuite as long as