The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-05-22

cry AnA AHeA iAet hNAtA AiH AHA NAV
up"
Bet Ton had not been to SCI her now for two
vecks. aud Ia that time Minnie bad thought over
the matter grsa, deal. and had begun to see
ihs right way through i, as she voald have eI-
pressed It. some Of these thoughts were IN Der
mind nov. bu, the minister gave out the hymn,
aud Minnie tried 10 put all such thoughts away
'or She was good, religious girl, and believed in
everything that vas proper and orthodox. ]
know that factory htroines are perpetually won
dcriug Why The All Powerful permits sin aud
then Furnishes i,-Why they are curscI with In
hcrited vices they that are sentimental inAdss
ia short fearing to trust themselves to gloomy
and cruel faith. Meme Of theso doubts and fears
had Miunic.
The congregation we're accustomed to spend
the iniernission 10 the grave yard, where they
gathered in groups to eat their lunch, and TO
gossip Minnie stole away to an uninSiing
spot where tho old omhs,ones wsro half sunk
in the earth, aud the graves O'HErOWn viii
weeds. Here she thought that she would not
te tollsWed for che pOw wanted Io thtnh Of
Tom
She had been there but few moments whom she
saw him coming slowly towards her, With eyes
bent upon the ground.
"lIe is sorry, poor fellowr" she thought; 81
know he is sorry"
Tom started on seeing her. "lIow you stnrtl'
4 Al l.sE HLa
ghost. What is the matters Does anything
trouble you. Minnie'" he added in more kind
ly tone.
Minnie did not lean her pale face sgaiust the
tombstone, and say: "God knows!" or look at
him reproachfuy like dumb animal being
led to slaughter. or do anything else she ought
10 have done. She looked at him with contempt,
and exclaimiug, "Tom Hartle, you are
fool - walked away as fast as she could, for
fear she would cry, which was weakness Of
hers.
She did not go far The thoughts that Toms
unlucky question had dissipated, came back to
her, turning suddenly round she went back to
! the place where she had left him lie was lean
/ ing against the fence, looking at the hills in the
distance with sad aud troubled fiec.
"Tom, said Minnie, kindly, laying her hand
on his shoulder, 81 know what you are thinking
about, Don't gricye over it. It can't be help
ed, and you're not bit TO blame for il, and
guess il viii come out right in the end, some
how"
Aud she was gone before Tom quite eompre
hended her words.
Ton. did not intend to walk home with Kitty
Smith, but when they went out of church and she
looked at him with her great brown eyes, he was
drawn 10 her side as by magnet ,and they walk
ed away together Minnie saw 1t, and it made
her angry. Angry that he had so little consid-
GRAFTON for her after what shO had said to him in
the grave yard, and more angry because he did
it in the sight of all the congregation, who knew
aud wondered at il and pitied her.
Her road was the same as theirs, but she went
round longer way to theNnarry, so as to avoid
walking behind them. The quarry was half way
home, and when she got there she sat down to
rest in thick growth Of young pines, upon the
summit Of a breezy hill But she was destined
ia find no mental ropose that day, for she had
been there but few minutes when Tom and
Kitty came in sight. They had lotercd along
on the road. They should have been home by
this time. Minnie watched them as they seated
themselves on the grass near her place OF con-
ccalmcnt, and she noted Kitty's coquettisb ways.
and Toms increasing admiration.
Il wish she would slip down into the quarry
and break her neck!" thought Minnie.
At last, on Kitty's expressing wish for some
wild gooseberres, Tom went of in search for
some. He was gone long time, and Kitty be-
gan to yawn, aud Minnie wished most heartily
he would come back, so they could go home and
she could get away Kitty saw a turf Of colum-
bines Dodding on TIE very edge of the bill, and
true to natural instinct Of gratifying a present
pleasure without thought beyond, she ran to
them and plucked them of. The ground here
was sloping, the grass dry and slippery. She
felt herself swiftly gliding down the hill. and.
clutching wildly at the air. she caught bold Of
birch sapng as she swung of, which had been
quarried away until its rocky sides we're almost
smooth for descent Of some forty feet. And
there she hung-her only support the sapling
which she grasped with her left hand, and which
bent SO low with her weight that its plumed top
touched her head. She knew il must break soon,
and she locked at the jagged rocks far below her.
and cried, and shrieked for help.
II she had had any presence Of mind she would
have seen that she had one chance for her
life. Minnie saw 1t in a fash. and called out to
her
"Swing yourself little TO the right, Kitty.
and put your feet upon that little point Of rock.
Don't you see it'''
81 see IL" shrieksd Kitty. "but can't do it.
Help me- o, help me!''
Minnie ran to the spot. There was no friendly
rock OF bush to hold to-nothiug but the shiver-
ing bank, and slippery grass, aud the one sap
ling which was the frail support Of poor Kitty
She threw herself upon the ground, as far from
the edge as she could. and seized hold Of Kitiy's
wrist
"sOw, Kitty, don, le, 60 the sapling, and
swing yourself upon that Jock--you can easily do
IT,"
81 can do it! shall fall IL move! Pail me
up, Minnie, pull me upl''