Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-08-24

great kitchen, where at the tea table sat
his mother and the girl who had summon
ed him-an orphan, who had lived with
the old woman for years, ever since she
was child, in fact, and had grown into
his heart, somehow before he knew it,
The old mother was quite displeased when
she found it out for Eflie was, after all,
only "the help and the blacksmith's
widow and blacksmiths mother felt proud
TO say that "none of their folks had ever
hired out"
But for all that, there are people in
this very village who look down on us be-
cause l shoe their horses and mend their
wagons" said Merrick.
More fools they to take airs" said the
old woman.
So say l." said Merrick and we
would be as bad as they to look down on
Efiie for washing dishes. She's as good
as you, and deal better than me, rich or
poor"
And Merrick Masters had his way, and
the whole place knew they were engaged
in a fortnight.
Now, when he went into tea, the first
question both asked him was about his
new customer.
Efiie says he's the handsomest man
she ever saw" said the old woman.
So he is" said Merrick, not a whit
jealous; "but aoho he is, l don't know
He came and went, and had his horse
shod, that's all know; and he asked who
you were, too, Effie."
Sand | had this dreadful old apron on,
toe" said Effie.
He didn't notice that, / guess" said
Merrick.
"Why not?'
Merrick laughed.
"OlI, do tell me-
Well, he asked who that pretty girl
was"
Efiie hid her face in the old apron, and
Mrs Masters turned her head. She new
er quite admired Effie's beauty.
What notions to put into the girls
head !" She thought, and it was pity for
Efiie was vain enough, already A great
er pity, too, because, whenever horse
man galloped up to the forge thereafi er
she ran out, under some pretext, hoping il
was the handsome gentleman who had
asked "who that pretty girl was ?" Not
that she meant any harm, but to be called
a pretty girl by such a man was some
thing glorious.
She saw him at last, and there was a
look, and a smile, and bow, and after
that, somehow, they kept meeting. Still,
no harm in it all, only Eflie did not men
tion the fact TO Merrick or to his mother !,
and Effie learned that he was a Mr.. More
land, stopping at the great hotel in the
village, and guessed he was very rich and
fashionable.
Often she saw him riding with elegant
ly dressed gentlemen, but he always SEEM
ed the most elegant of all TO her; and
by-and-by she fell to contrasting Merrick
with him, and wishing Heaven had made
him like Mr.. Moreland. From that she
went on to wish that she was a lady her
self, and somebody else was in her place.
and TO feel above the forge and the cot
tage kitchen, and the blacksmith, and his
mother, who had thought her below her
son because she was the help"
One day Mr.. Moreland found her she'd
ding tears, in little quiet spot, where
they were in the habit of meeting by ac-
cident, and would have the reason.
It's nothing-only I'm tired,' said
Effie.
Mr. Moreland drew closer to her.
"Tired," he said, "no wonder; you
are too good for all that sort of thing
wv t5OOu " hoih III Il hftCHtli anu wear
cotton gowns-and altogether too good to
be a blacksmith's wife. It's no use deny
ing it; you know you are.'
"Oh, hush," cried Effie. " Merrick is
the best man in the world, I'm sure. I'm
not tired of Merrick."
"Of course not" said Mr.. Moreland
sand we can't help our feelings" and he
sighed.
Then he whispered good deal that
Etfie 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 ore was ever so charming, and she
went home with the firm conviction that
if she chose she might jilt 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 tito doubt whether Mer-
rick cared much about her, and to feel
sure that Mr.. Moreland loved her better
than his life-and sharp word from Mrs.