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

tion to her."
Say good bye, and let him do it now
then,' said Mr.. Moreland, when the gir
had told him her new trouble.
"Ah, but have no other friends, and
no other home to go to-" sighed Ellie.
+" You have" said Mr.. Moreland, /" a
friend who will never cease to love you,
and such home as you deserve. Share
my home and my life, Effie."
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 miliner's
shop in the village, aud there they were
to take carriage and go ard 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
Moreland, she can have Peggy, you
know, SO don't fret about him."
For all that, Effie's conscience smote
her when Merrick was kinder than usual,
and SO full of the time now so near at
hand when she was to De his wife as they
sat together on the porch that Sunday /;
and when Monday morning came she
broke more china, and made more blum
ders generally, than had been laid to her
charge for years before, Mrs. Masters
opined that she was growing crazy. But
neither she nor the girl herself knew
quite how mad poor Efiie was.
Tea was on the table and Mrs. Masters
busy with some dish she prided herself
upon, and the sound of Merrick's whistle
sounded louder every instant as he tramp
ed homeward from the forge, when she
slipped up to her room, and putting on
her things, tip-toed down the back stair
case, and away toward the village.
II Mrs. Masters missed her, she knew
she would only be too glad to have her
son to herself awhile, and there was no
chance of Merrick 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.. Moreland would
die if she did not keep her promise.
81 couldn't break his heart" she said
to herself, seven if / could bear to marry
any one else.'
She reached the milliner's shop at last,
and went in to talk to one of the girls
The plan was that when Moreland was
ready, he was to show himself at the door
moment, and she was to 60 out TO meet
him and say & goodbye" just as if she
were going home.
Eflie sat with one eye on the glass door
which op ned from the work-room to the
shop, while she tried to chat carlessly, and
in few moments she saw man enter
from the street--not Mr.. Moreland, but
of all the people in the world, Merrick
Masters. Her first thought was that he
had followed her, but in an instant she
saw that he had business of his own. He
spoke some words to the mistress, and she
brought out a bandbox.
"That's yours" she said. ITS a pref
ty bonnet, don't you think so Going to
make a birthday present of it pink and
black"
He said, "She'll look well in it, know"
And Fife saw bright, tender look
come over his face, as though lie saw her
in it.
Of course the bonnet was a surprise for
her, and it smote her to the heart to re-
member that she should be miles away
before her birthday dawned. Poor Mer-
rick would he feel badly, and was it cru
ell of her?
AS she thought thus, the door opened
again, letting Merrick out with his two
bundles in his hand, and two ladies in
ladies from the hotel. whom she had often
seen riding with Mr.. Moreland. They
asked for ribbons, and went on with their
talk while examining them.
Who was that standing before the
door %
40, Moreland." ..,sl
81 though so. How oddly he behaved.
He didn't seem TO want us 10 see him."
Perhaps he didn't; he has his secrets,
/ expect. One of them is that Irritation
with the blacksmith's girl 81
Shocking Some one ought to write
TO Mrs, Moreland."
Poor thing, she's use TO it. You know
she's quite middle-aged and plain, and he
married her for money. He's been at his
pranks ever since. Actually, my dear, he
ran away with girl last summer. The
brother tried to shoot him. ard she drown