Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-14

rival had been accomplished, or the
nature of her escort. The first greet
ing over, Polly remembered her guide
and motioning towards the door, dis
covered me to the assembled grour
standing awaiting their recognition
| saw that the lady of the house
was at once surprised and not a lit
tie tickled at my appearance. As
she bowed on Polly's introduction, !
would fain have responded, but as |
lifted my hand to my hat, it clutched
a band of snow, even now thawing
under the influence of a warmer tenn
perature, and dreaded lest should,
by departing one degree from the
perpendicular, deposit portion of it
on the handsome carpet. From Pol
ly's appearance knew my own must
be remarkable enough, and l saw
that the good manners of the whole
party were sorely tested by the
strange figure cut and the awk-
wardness of my position.
" Pray enter" the lady said, at
the same time herself stepping for
ward to relieve me of my snow
weighted hat, and directing her eld-
est son TO deposit my cape in the
hall Meantime Miss Polly was sent
off with her sisters to change her wet
garments, and, as if to put me at
ease, the lady proceeded to examine
me as to our adventure. When, as
briefly as | could, | told her of what
had befallen her child, saw how
hardly she restrained her emotion
Then Polly came in to be embraced
once more, and, in common with the
rest Of the company, to fall to work
with most unrom4ntic appetite on
the hot cakes and attendant luxuries
needed to restore animal vigor to our
exhausted systems. So long as | bid
fair to be but a passing guest, the
good lady troubled little about my
belongings, but when the snow beat
ing against the windows told that it
was likely to render my early depart
ure, however desirable, an impossi-
bility, the careful mother began skill
fully 10 investigate the character Of
the stranger thus suddenly thrown
upon her hospitality for an indefinite
period. 1t was not long before she
had a fair knowledge of my family
connections, business, and general
mode of life and then, apparently
satisfied, she began to talk on indif-
ferent subjects until bedtime. With
many sage reflections on the course
of the days events, some kindly
thoughts of poor Bob passing the
night in charge of his train and it's
troublesome company, and some by
no means unkindly ones of the bright
eyed, brave-hearted cause of my de-
tention at Borton Green, / fell asleep,
to be awakened at intervals by the
fearful bowling of the wind and the
beating of the still falling snow.
All the next day, and the next, and
the next, the roads were impossible,
and Borton Green was no nearer to
for any useful purpose, than
It would have been at the antipodes.
Meantime | did my best to be agree
able. The boys, confined to the house,
were delighted to have an older boy
than themselves to share in such
anu. ements as could be enjoyed in
loors, whilst Polly, with frank sim
olicity, admitted the pleasure she felt
1t returning the obligation my servi-
,es had, as she said, imposed upon
ler. At length, however, the farm
ers of the neighborhood, being seri-
ously Inconvenience for want of
communication with their market
own, set their laborers to work to
clear the Hexton road, by which means
ny captivity was terminated, and |
vas able to depart AS | looked back
IN the events of the past few days,
md reflected on the strange chance
hat had thus introduced me so unex-
,ectedly to new and pleasant associ-
atoms, could not help wondering
whether it was all to end here. Was
to go away and be forgotten by
Polly, and her mother, and the boys,
md the cheerful group with whose
pursuits and home-life l had been SO
closely, though briefly identified ? Of
his, at least, | was sure, that my
liscreet hostess would cry quits
when was once fairly under weigh
lgain, and that | need look for no
enewal Of our friendship on her in
,itation. But it seemed that to her
good nature the debt for services
endered was not yet fully paid. My
sister must accept vicariously the
payment of the obligation to me-
The must visit Borton Green in the
ipring, and allow them to show their
gratitude for my kindness to Polly.
Need | say that, as soon as reached
london, | wrote to my sister full,
rue, and particular account of the
whole affair, or that Jenny enter
ID with girls love ,of romance
nto the spirit OF the adventure,-
hat she accepted the invitation, was
harmed with Polly, with Polly's
mamma, and everybody at Borton
Green and, shall say it, most art
ully contrived to be invited again at
when, Of course, after Pol
US experience, an escort was neces-
ary, and what escort so suitable as
Ter brother? So the ice once broken,
he two families were placed on terms
If friendship, and | paid many visit
o Borton Green, till its kind and hos
'itable mistress left that part of the
country and then"
"But who was the young lady, pa.
"a? what was her name? what be-
,ame of her y asks my eldest girl,
o whom have been telling the sto-
y where is she now, papa 2"
GO oh mamma pollyV