Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-06-24


when she was vexed.
Halloa y exclaimed David Wilson.
There comes John Duane, who makes the
music up to St. Johns Golly. what "a
little sharp steeple that church has got
The boys call 1t the Church of the HOLY
Iooth-plck. John has got one of the
Hunter girls with him. Say. Patie, would
MT thee look fine with thy hair all kinked
up like that, and red flowers in thy bon
net p
Patience Wilson, frowning, said If
thee isn't quiet David, I'll tell mother
1t was a threat not to be disregarded
The boy glanced backward at his mothers
Madonna face, and was quiet,
Patience looked after the two pedcs-
trians who tripped lightly by the side of
the road. How pretty Katie Hunter was
she thought. She was not absolutely pret-
tier than herself, but Patience knew that
Katie Hunters good points were brought
out and intensified by harmonious colors
and the mo1iste's skill, wh;le her own
She glanced down at her drab dress, with
the old disparaging look. and sighed
j Ohm Duane was so fond of bright tints aud
decided shades He was fond of all things
beautiful He was a fashionable man
too-a man of the world, Aunt Phebe
called him. He had mingled much in So
ciety, and the society of women who studied
Paris fashions, and made their purple and
fine linen after the latest modes. He was
great lover of music Under his skilful
fingers rare melodies were evolved, and to
his careful ear no harmony was lost. He
danced also. Moreover, he liked it.
Katie Hunter said it was lovely beyond all
things to dance with him, he kept such
perfect time. And she? She was
Quakeress, hedged on all sides by disci-
pline that even took the curl out of her
hair she said, sarcastically. John Duane
was a star out of her sphere. What stars
were in her sphere? She glanced down at
Eli Gardner. He was the man Of her
mothers and Aunt Phebe's election but
she shook her head and drew away in
stinctively, so wrapt in her own thoughts
that she did not hear Eli Gardner until he
had addressed her twice
The picnic-the walking picnic to
Eagle Clif-has thee heard of it p he
asked
Patience shook her head No she
answered. absently.
The young people will be sure to invite
thee Eli went on to say.
/ shall be sure not to 90 Patience an
swered
'Oh nor Eli Gardner demonstrated
If thee don't 90 | shall not care to-
Patience bit her lip, and said in vexed
way, like that in which she spoke to her
little brother Don't let me influence
T I IL.
But thee does Eli Gardner began,
turning his honest brown eyes on Patience
I Wilson's face.
Take care, or thce1l upset Us = shouted
David Wilson, as the horse turned toward
the widow Wilson's house, and Eli Gard
ner, coming back to his horses, left some
things unsaid that were in his heart TO say.
j ohm Duane. going to st Johns that
afternoon, looked into the widow Wilson's
front-yard, as was his custom and pleasure,
and saw trim little figure under the To-
cust-trees that drew him by some secret
attraction through the front-gate, and to
the little clump of locusts.
l want 10 see you minute, Miss Pa
tience he said
Yes certainly answered Patience
Wilson, in a confused wav. blushing deep
ly at the amused smile that passed over
the young mans face at her reply. II
don't mean that thee certainly wanted to
see me she added, biting her lips III her
characteristic manner.
But | do certainly want to see yOu,'
John Duane said, emphatically. - In this
uncertain world there are few things more
certain What is more, | want to see you
ten times when | get the chance but once
Our ways are so very different, Miss Pa
tience."
"Yes," Patience answered. The differ
ence of their ways had been the burden of
her thoughts that day.
:" wanted to see you especially to in
vite you TO join the walking party to Eagle
Cliff on Thursday John Duane explained.
/" The Hunters and Mortons, and most of
the young people of St. Johns are going.
[ hope you are not going to refuse, he adj
ded, seeing the doubt on Patiences face.
g don't know" Patience began.
Oh, but you must GO John Duane
urged. 81 have made great calculations
on having you there. | am going early to
drive my invalid sister Susie around by
the back road | want you to see her, for
[ am sure you will ike each other But
| must 90. The choir at St. Johns will
be waiting for me. Good-6y, Miss Pa
tience, and remember that | shall be great
ly disappointed if you are not at Eagle
Cliff on Thursday"
Ct have decided to 90 to Eagle Cliff on
Thursday, Patience Wilson said to Eli
ting the carriage-block with his whip-lash.
The young mans face frightened visi-
bly, q / am glad thee has changed thy
mind" he said, earnestly.
! ohm Duane's sister Susie, the Grip
:. They say she is a lovely character, and
[ shall be glad to know her"
Eli Gardner's face fell Patience Will
son had made her decision with reference
to John Duane's sister, and might not j ohm
be the motive power? Girls were past
understanding. Patience Wilson, espe-
cially, was beyond his ability to make out.
Well, as a wife, he hoped to solve the
mystery of her nature.
AS if women like Patience Wilson be-
came wives of the men who were unable to
read the riddle of their beings before
marriage
1t was a gay party at Eagle Cliff. Pa
tience Wilson hardly felt at home among
the young people of St. Johns, and would
have been i'll at ease but for } ohm Duane
and Susie, the invalid sister, Katie
Hunter was there with an infnitude of
clustering ringlets under her jaunty little
hat, the gold and garnets at her throat,
and a crimson sash over her suow-white
dress.
& Miss Hunter is great BELLE" Susie