The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-06-13

Oiten she saw HIM riding with elegant
ly dressed ladies and gentle men, but he
always seemed the most elegant Of all to
herr and by-and.by she fell TO contrast
ing Merrick with him, and wishing
Heaven had made him like MIR. More
land From that she went on to wish
that she was a lady herself, and some-
body else was in her place, and to feel
above the forge and the cottage kitchen,
the blacksmith, and his mother, who had
thought her below her son because she
was the "help."
One day Mr.. Moreland found her
shedding tears, in quiet spot, where
they were in the habit of meeting by ac-
cident, and would nave the reason.
''Its nothing-only I'm tired" said
Efiie.
Mr.. Moreland drew closer to her.
"Tired," lie said, mo wonder; YOU
are too good for all that sort of thing
too good TO work in kitchen and wear
cotton gowns-and altogether too good to
be blacksmitls wife. It's no use deny
ing it you know you are."
''Oh, hush," cried Eiie ''Merrick is
tie best man in the world, I'm sure.
I'm not tired of Merrick."
''Of course not" said Mr. Moreland;
'and we cant help our feelings" and he
sighed.
Then he whispered a good deal that
Ellie could not understand entirely, but
knew was very fine and sentimental, and
quoted poetry, and made great eyes at
her. Out OF novel, the girl was sure
no one was ever SO charming, and she
went home with the firm conviction that
If she chose she might jill the blacksmith
and marry the fine gentleman
From feeling sure she could, she begun
to wonder whether it would be so very
wrong TO do ito doubt whether Mer-
rick cared muclr|about her, and to feel
sure that Mr.. Morcland loved her better
than his life-and sharp word from
Mrs Masters finished it. Something had
gone to waste in the store room, and the
old woman fused and fumed about it, as
she always did.
''Them that has nothing is allers most
wasteful," she said. "Yuu'd orter re-
member you're to be married to man
who has something TO manage and take
care of. There's Peggy Gray-ncver
let's Il bit spoil, and dal1,s anil patches,
and makes and menls, year in and year
oct. But she's got three thousand in the
bank, besides what'll come to her when
the old man goes and wasn't took in on
charity. | wish NIerrick had took a
notion to her."
''Say goodbye, and let him do it now,
them said Mr.. Moreiand VIXEN the girl
had told hun her new trouble.
"Ah, but have no other friends, and
no other home to 60 to-" sighed Ellie.
"fou have," said Mr.. Moreland, "a
friend who will never cease 10 love you,
and such home as you deserve. Share
my home and my life EfIie"
Then he put his arm about her, and
kissed her and called her loving names,
and she promised all he asked of her.
She was TO meet him ON Monday even
ing Chat was Saturday at mill;ner's
shop in the village, and there they were
to take Il carriage and 20 and meet the
train.
At the first practicable moment they
were to be married, and after that their
bliss was to have no end.
"And as for the blacksmith" sneered
Nloreland, she can have Peggy, you
know, 50 don't fret about him."
For all that Etfies conscience smote
her when Nerrick was kinder than usual
and So full Of the time now 50 near ut
hand when she MAS to be his wife, as
they sat together ON the porch that sun
day; and when Monday morning came
she broke more china, and made more
bIunders generally, than had been laid 10
her charge for years before, Mrs. Masters
oplned that she was growing crazy. But
neither she nor the girl herself knew
quite how mad poor Eiiie was
Tea was on the table and Mrs. Masters
bury with some dish she prided herself
upon, and the sound of Merrick's whistl.
sounded louder every instant as he tramp
ed homcward from the forge, when she
slipped up 10 her room, and putting on
her things tip,toed down the back stair
case, and away toward the village.
IL -'iIo. AidStclS fnI-Scu Ipr size knew
she would only be too glad to nave her
son to herself a while, and there WIS no
chance of Mcrrick following her.
But it was hard to choke the tears
down as she plodded through the long
green grass-for the snow had gone long
ago, and it was summer and not winter
now-and she only made herself brave
enough TO turn her back upon the forge
by the thought that Mr.. Morcland would
die If she did not keep her promise.
Il couldn't break his heart" she said
to herself, seven if could bear to marry
any one else"
She reached the miliner's shop at last,
and went in 10 talk to one of the girls.
The plan was that when Moreland was
ready, he was 10 show himself at the
door a moment, and she was to 20 out to
meet him and say goodbye just US if
she was gong home.
Eflie sat with one eye on the glass door
which opened from the work room TO
the shop, while she tried to chat careless
l, nj 10, A.