The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-10-23
ESEzIE EAEE.

"I'll bet You'll be homesick before two
days, both Of YOU"
~What viii you bet?"
My diamond ring against your picture"
The opIS color came and went at men
ton Of the picture and she glanced quick
ly towards dark, bright girl sitting be-
side her.
"Promise him, Elsie there isn't any dan
ger Of losing your bet. Homesick! l
never was half as sick Of any place in my
life as New York city. l hope no one will
follow us out there"
Not even the elegant lie Ray" her
brother said teasingly.
bah. the very name of the man sick
ems me.
He IS rich, Nora, and you know YOU
are going to marry a rich man.
"Ge>, but he is vulgar in the extreme. l
shall never marry poor man, neither shall
| ever marry a man beneath me-
Nea shrugged his shoulders 4 shouldn't
wonder if You would m4Ty a farmer yet
NoIa, and make your own butter and
cheese"
The naughty lip curled as she said !:
@There isn't the slightest danger. [ have
no fancy for a rural life. 1t does very well
for feag weeks in the summer when one
has nothing to DO but enjoy the fresh air
and sunshine.
The girls sat on the grass, and Ned,
m&nlike, was peTched on the feuce-a post
aad rail fence, TOO, at that They were
waiting at the railroad STATEN of D
for the carriage Of = country aunt whom
they were gong to visit. and whom they
had not seen since they were children.
The little station house vas close and
they chose rather to wait outside. The
waiting was not tedious to Ned and Elsie.
for they were betrothed lovers. and the
passing Of time IS always rapid to such as
they; but Noia kept wishing the carriage
would come every few minutes. At last
it came IN sight-a low, uncovered wagon.
such as are used a gre deal in New Eng
and,a tasty little affair, but still unlike apv
carriage Nora had ever seen before. That
Young lady arched her naughty brows and
looked daCgers at Ned, who was helping
Elsie in as though he thought it were the
handsomest barouche New York could
boast.
is my aunt expecting Us to day !" she
curtiy said to the driver.
she is, but your letter only reached her
Yesterday, she could not spare the time to
come to meet YOU, but she bid me SAY
warm welcome awaited you at the farm"
a wel-turned speech for a person in
his position. for l suppose be Is ouly
field hand" This Nora thought to her
self and once comfortably seated, she fixed
her bright eyes upon him, taking notes.
He wore a pair Of dark pantaloons and
Whit linen blouse; and a plated straw
Lat, something tie worse for wear, was
crushed down over the b!ackcst curls she
had ever seen.
Ned and Elsie were sitting very close
together, Ned holding her hand under
cover Of her "duster." Mona turned round
quickly.
You two are entertaining, l must say.
Ned, should think Elsie won d roast with
Won sitting so close to her this July dav."
Mora, don'. you feel little bit sickisb,
homesicki>h ike, already!'
"No, l don't, ard l haven't the least
idea of being SO. Elsie, l am only sorry
for one thing-thet we let Ned come along.
There's never any peace where there's al
man, never
The handsome driver now arcbed his eve /
brows AMI would have whistled if be dared,
and Ned looked teuc!erly into EIsIes ewes. (
and whispered: "Do YOU, Elsie, do you
wish YOU hadu't let Ned come along !"
Elsie blusLeI crimson, and the driver
sad =
'Yon can see the house yonder through.
the trees
Z moment more and they were at the
gate. Long, low, and ramblug-I Ike
IL and Nora, gathering up her skirts,
placed her dainty fee: uron the wheel, and
was out before the astouisbed driver came
to her assistance.
Aunt Mary met them warmly for their
mothers sake aad soon they were seated
around Tue ample board with Very Unc.ty-
Ike aPnst-tes, Mr. Brewster, Aunt Mary
husband, was welLto-do farmer with a
broad, kindly face and large heart. but,
in spite cl 2 lite-times training. be would
forget and put his own knife in
the butter. Aunt Mary saw the look 0
disgust with which Nora viewed I
the proceeding, AID then whispered softly .
and tenderiy 70 her husband: "SimoD, dear,
try and remember to use the butter-knifv
while the girls are here"
His manners were so gentle, and his
voice so kindly when he said to Nora:
Here, ehlIdie, let me give you some more
Of the strawberries. You must cat Just as !
many as yon can while Won are here" that
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