Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-01-12

journey lOIIle' L SIlTTou nOt, and MADE
no sign.
At length l was ordered of. / was get
ting thin and i'll, and my master saw it,
and told me to 90 into the country for ten
days. obeyed in part; but instead of.
going into the country l commenced
systematic search for Greenmantle. ques-
toned everybody; cabmen, policemen,
porters, many had seen her, but not lately.
and none knew where she lived. l was
pursuing my search still, and a week of
my leave had nearly expired, when coming
suddenly into the market-plaee, l saw
Greenmantle; l was sure it was she, but
some carts intervened, and before ! could
reach the spot she was gone.
Here was new life, new hope for me-
l spent long hours in the market next day,
with Bowen's spectacles always looking at
me and seeming to ask what l did there,
but | was rewarded at last. Isaw Green
mantle coming, and pushed towards her
through the crowd. l reached her, and
should have spoken it; it was her mantle,
but the. bonnet was different, so was the
face!
Here was a disappointment doubly deept
| was reckless; my timidity had flown,
and | spoke to the girlwho wore the man
tie had been seeking so long. She was
GreenmantIe's sister. Greenmantle was
i'll; but shewas better. Oh! yes, shewas
getting strong again; they did not live far
from there, was mad, believe, and /
fancy the girl thought so. Ibought grapes,
oranges, apples, flowers, and l wanted to
buy wine for her. Ipoured my purchas-
es into the skirt of the green mantle, and
insisted upon seeingit home. sent mes
sages of love, sorrow, happiness; l was
grieved for this and happy at that miser-
able for the other; l was eloquent and be-
side myself l talked more in the ten
minutes which it took us to go through
the market and to the top of Smithy door
than had done for months before; and
when was dismissed at the door, l stood
gazing absently at the old picturesque
building which held nearly all cared for,
until l turned sick and faint from excess
of JOY.
l went there in the evening, and knock
ed timidly latter many eforts) at the door.
The 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 l had
called; would wait then?" 1 felt very
nervous, but l would wait and in few
moments the sister came to me: Green
mantle had recognized me; Greenmantle
would see me; would l walk up stairs
1t was an old-fashioned house, and l
had never before seen one so charming;
the stairs were old oak, wide and spacious;
l sprang up them with alacrity; three
flights were passed, and then, in large
wain-scoted, poorly furnished room, Ifotind
Greenmantle, pale and propped with pill
lows, but with pleasant smile of welcome
on her worn, dear face. could do no
more than had done, she said; they were
well of, 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 Greenmantle spoke
of books, pictures, flowers; led me to my
own subjects, and appeared to listen with
interest. Twas eloquent; l was inspired;
l astonished myself in prrticular; but I
had no time to think of it then. Her sis
ter told me to go; Greenmantle was tired;
but might come again; the next day if l
chose. did choose, and / chose to go
for many day after. haunted the
of their lodgings; and l
have particular affection yet for the large
old window near the top of the most pic
turesque old house in Manchester, that at
the higher end of 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 | had
spoken nay love, which Ibid soon, without
any very extraordinary bungling in doing
so, she told me her plain, simple story
Their father was 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 nothing left for
them but their piano and some trifing ar
ticles of furniture which their fathers
creditors had presented to them. They
had an uncle in Manchester Che was in the
next room, and l must get his consent9
so they bad come here, and Greenmantle
had maintained both her sister and herself
bv her exertions as governess. She had
had continued her sisters education too,
and she hoped now that she could supply
her place. ;5- s
And so Greenmantle went with radi-
ant face, to call her uncle; and | awaited,
in fear and trembling, his much-dreaded
First heard great clatter of
falling books, then merry laugh and shut
fling of slippered feet and then the door
opened and GreenmantIe entered, leading
by the hand-my old friend Of the college
library r5as
Isprang to him; 1 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 he joined our hands
together, and shufled away to his books
again. ea
And then Greenmantle made her con-
tession. She had known me quite as long
as had known her: indeed she thought
longer, for several times she had passed
me whilst was looking at my watch she
saw that / was punctual; she saw that |
was fond of books; she guessed that Tx
ID pictures; she knew that liked flowers;
,he had knownmy name long since; she
Knew that her uncle had met me; and
;rowning confession Of all-but that was
lot made till after we were married-she
produced my portrait, which she had
painted for herself in secret, after, as she
,aid, she knew that loved her, and hoped
hat l would some day tell her so.
So Greenmantle's sister began to pass
he old church at twenty minutes to nine