Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-01-19

One morning Greenmantle did not ap-
pear 1t was at midsummer, and we were
| busy with our ballanee-sheet; It was al
but complete, and [ had to sign It in
stead of Richard Nayloy. signed.
Greenmantle. I tore off the corner
surreptitiously, spilled some ink upon the
| mutilated remnant, and toiled far into
the night to produce a clean copy, which
had very nearly signed Greenmantle again
For the next two weeks I was misera-
/ bic; that Greenmantle must be enjoying
her sholiday, | knew we'll enough;
but 1t was no slight deprivation to find
myself alone, mornings, at the accustom-
ed hour.
I determined to do know not what; I
would speak to her; l composed num-
berless pretty speeches; one or two fresh
ones every day; | committed them resO-
lutely to memory: I conned them over
as l walked, in the office even; a0d [
made mistakes In the books and still
cfneenmantle came not
It was the middle of August aud I
ought to have started upon my annual
journey home. I stirred not. and made
no sign.
At lenght was ordered off. I was
getting thin and i'll, and my master saw it.
and told me to go into the country for ten
days. l Obeyed IN part; but instead of
going into the country l commenced a
sytematic search for Greenmantle. I
questioned everybody cabmen, police
men, porters many had seen her but not
lately, and none knew where she lived
[ was persuing my search still, and
week of my leave had nearly expired,
when coming suddenly into the market
place, l saw Greenmantle; l was sure it
was she, but some carts interVened and
before I reached the spot she was gone.
Here was new life new hope for me. I
spent long hours IN the market next day,
with Bowen's spectacles always looking
at me and seemed to ask what did there;
but / was rewarded at last. [ saw Green
mantle coming, and pushed toward her
through the crowd. | reached her and
should have spoken; it was her mantle, but
the bonnet was different so was the face
Here was disappointment doubly deep
[ was reckless my timidity had flown.
and Bespoke to the girl who wore the
mantle l had been seeking so long. She
was Greenmantle's sister. Greenmantle
was i'll had been very i'll, but she was
better. Oh yes, she was getting strong
again they did not live far from there
I was mad, I believe, and [ fancy the girl
thought so. L bought grapes, oranges,
apples, flowers, and [ wanted to buy wine
for her. l poured my purchases into the
skirt of the greenmantle, and insisted up
in seeing it home. l sent messages of
love, sorrow, happiness | was grieved at
this, and happy at that, and miserable for
the other; [ was eloquent and beside my
self I talked more in tbe ten minutes it
took US to go through the market and to
the top of Smithy-door than [ had done
for months before and when [ was dis
missed at the door, | stood absently gaz-
ing at the old picturesque building which
held nearly all cared for, until turned
sick and faint from excess of joy.
I went there in the evening, and knock
ed timidly (after many efforts) at the
door. The woman of the house told me
Greenmantle's name: Yes, Miss Wal
ton and her sister lived there; Miss
Walton had been i'll; but she was mend
ing nicely she would give my card,
would say that had called would wait
then? ? F" l felt very nervous, but L would
wait, and In a few moments the sister
came to me; Greenmantle lad recogniZ-
ed me; Greenmantle would see me !;
would I walk up stairs?
It was an old-fashioned house, and I
had never before seen one so charming
the stairs were of old oak, wide and spa
cious | sprang up them with alacrity ;
three flights were passed, and then, in
large, poorly-furnished room, I found
Greenmantle, pale and propped with pill
lows, but with a pleasant smile of wei
come on her worn dear face. [ could do
no more than I had done, she said they
were well off, they were rich; at least
they had sufficient to last them for some
time; but she was glad to see me; it was
! like seeing an old friend. Then Green
mantle spoke of books, pictures, flowers !;
| led me to my own subjects, and appeared
| to listen with interest. I was eloquent ;
| I was inspired astonished myself in
particular; but [ had no time to think Of
| It then. Her sister told me to go ; Green
mantle was tired but l might come
again the next day if I choose. I did
| choose, and I chose to go for many a
| day after. I haunted the neighborhood of
| their lodgings and have particular af-
| fection yet for the large old window near
the top of the most picturesque old house
| in Manchester, that at the higher end of
| the old Smithy-door. From that window
| Greenmantle has often looked kindly
down at me.
She recovered rapidly; her sister said
| that was her best doctor and after l
had spoken my love, which did soon,
and that without any very extraordinary
! bungling in doing so, she told me her
| plain simple story. Their father was a
tradesman in a distant town; they had
been carefully educated, partly with the
/ 1Qea G0aB Iu6y might nave " uSub Lu6If
own way; father and mother had both died
suddenly, and almost at the same hour, and
there was nothing left for them but theiI
piano and some trifing articles of fur.
niture which their fathers creditors had
presented to them. They had an uncle In
Manchester Che was in the next room
and I must get his consent; J so they had
come here, and Greenmantle had main
tained both her sister and herself by hel
exertions as governess. She had eontin
ued her sisters education too, and she hop
ed now that she could supply her place
And so Greenmantle went with ra
diant face, to call her uncle and [ wait
ed, in fear and trembling, his much dread
ed approach. First, I heard great clat
ter of falling books, then a merry laugl
and shuffling of slippered feet, and theI
the door opened and Greenmantle entered
leading by the hand-my old friend of thu
! college library
[ sprang to him l think l should havt
liked to kiss him for he shook me warml!
by both hands, muttered something abou
being happy-good boy, good girl, yer,
good girl and then he joined our hand
together, and shuff1ed away to his book
, again.
t And then Greenmantle made her con
r fession. She had known me quite as lon
as [ had known her; indeed she though
longer, for several times she had passe
t me whilst was looking at my watch
she sew that I was punctual; she saw
was fond of books she guessed that