Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-22
a9l iStgllNnrOns.
A NEW ENGLAND TRACE Y.

You would have thought it the very last
ace for a tragedy, tina. little Vermont vii
&C. shut in among the qniet hills, where !
assed the summer Of 1859. 1t was abso
lelv. as it seemed set apart from the out
,ip world by those green SUBMITS which
.cIcd round it SO prOtectingly SUBMITS
which caught the first sunbeams, and said
# each new day, 1t is good" while yet
The valley where the little village clustered
was dusky in the shadowy morning twi-
..at had gone there just because it was
.le Of those restless spots where a year
.vmrd twice as long as usual. was
rel with the fever and turmoil Of life, and
wanted a little space in which to pause and
.4tncr strength for the coming time. took
p my abode with Mrs. Payne, widow,
1l good kind, motherly soul.
She had lived alone III her little, vine
adcd cottage for the two years since her
lsJund died and she was heartily glad
another inmate to share her solitary
meals, and enliven her life with little con-
.rSation now and then She was the very
sldest and gentIest Of gOssip ips-that is.
,.o knew all her neighbors' affairs as we'll
they themselves did and liked to talk
hem over and speculate about then ? but
Zig never miSjudged any one, and was the
p >t mercitul OF critics
So you're goin' to walk to the post-of-
,o. are you 2" she said one night, as put
my shawl and bonnet after tea. "Well,
wish y0G'd take notice who waits on you,
IS there's two of 'em there.
1t was half mile | had never taken
he walk before, a neighbours boy having
always brought my letters But was get
ting strong in the mountain air, and felt
alte able TO go, besides had an errand to
lo As walked on, under the apple trees
3. IN bloom, my thoughts grew so busy
With far away things that | had forgotten
Mrs Paync'S remark until it was recalled
omy mind by an excessively polite eager
-ess with hIch a young man came for
ward, as entered the nondescript eStab
shment which combined in itself post-of-
Ice, dry goods shop and grocery store, al
'e' the manner Of little New England villa
!e' This young man displayed in every
he Of his words and movements such
+lFongh self-satsiaction that you were at
nee tempted to search for the secret of 80
@ladIesS content He was Just the fel-
w to he the gallant Of a country village,
I'D turn the heads of all the silly girls
"'ose IDEAS of gentleman had been
aIned 10y fifth rate novels. His hands were
Fl'te and soft and we'll kept his dark,
.lnJ &ar was shiny with pomatum his
-,oFe wrS tall aud slender his eyes black,
With certain head-hke brightness about
-s0 his complexion delicate as a girls
WIN fresh bloom III the checks. He looked
ID" wax-tigurc III shop window, or a
lsaoh-pate in the front plate of maga-
.As u modes. knew enough Of just such
1Afy places as Greendale to imagine
I'D there he was considered the greatest
aae gentlemen, and carried Oh matters
,.,A a high-hand though there was prob,
',y not hard-fisted young farmer III the
-ae who had not five times as much i'll,
nation, good sense, and genuine manli-
less
just glanced at the person who stood
,s1ild the outer counter-a lumpish, mid
aged man, who looked as if he were
.~Jgct to hypochondria and afflicted with
;''a'lce ,I. Clearly, it was my red-cheeked
'I''e'handed hero whom Mrs. Payne wan
~ Aie to notice. l bought of him some
@'eaa and some cambria which | required
~ uFesstacing, received my letters at his
mus, nus, and went my way.
Hent in. .
.r, iae M young man waited on me-" l said
imp, | think, they call him"
les, Phil. Gleason. | supposed hC
,5uo' He generally does attend to th'
1G 1'Ges, unless they're old. Do you thinl
fascinating ?"
smiled at the seriousness with which sh'
''Aed the question.
don't think should find him So"
r1Is"tFed; but | can imagine some peo
PIE might"
les les, some people do !" she said, signif
ta"9sy and then sat there shaking he
icy ,@u waiting for me to ask further ques
,,ou' V"S' as her manner was when she had
''ory to tell.