Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-07-01

benjamin. she said presently,
dropping her glass, and rocking till
her drcss rustled like an oak tree in
north wind. Benjamin, YOU cannot
guess what has happened now
Benjamin did not seem inclined tn
try, the task being so hopeless, and
| Miss Disbrow went on
That Bridget Gcoakes-she is a
reckless thing-rve long seen that. and
wonder Mrs. Whiting kept her so-she
has been and left pillow on the bal
cony railing. Went of and left it
or course the wind took il and so there
it lies. rufiiing. embroidery and all.
right down in the gutter, liable TO be
stolen by every passer-by. Now Ben
jamin. would you, or wouldn't You. 60
over ami tell them."
Benjamin's face, about one eve. was
| black. and the rest Of his face being
entirely white. this gave him peculiar
~ knowing expression when he cooked
up that eve. as he had way of doing.
And now he turned his black eve upon
Miss Disbrow. with quite the appear
ance Of winking it at her. Perhaps.
1 indeed. he did. ANYHOW. there was
evidently. some invisible freemasonry
between them, for Miss Disbrow in
stantly responded. just as though he
had spoken:
We'll. then, I will. Benjamin. Why
are we put into this world together. IL
/ not Ia help each o;her:" said she. NJ
with An air of viriuous responsibility
she threw little maize-colored rigo-
lcite over her weather-hcaten curlcs,
aud a white breakfast shawl over her
shoulders. Then putting on her gloves.
with the dignity of circumnarigator,
she started across the street.
Onc nigh; suppose she would pick
up the unfortunate pillow on the way
hut mol hope she was above med
ding with her ncighbor's things Ger
,alnly She walked imprcssively to the
door and rang the bell, which was in
stan,ly answered by Mr.. Whiting him
self. with carpet-hag in his hand. and
hi- hat upon his head.
"Going away are youF said Miss
Disbrow. diverted. for the time. from
her original errand by an opportunity
Of inserting the wedge of inquiry.
"Ah, Miss Disbrow! Yes, | am
going 10 Chicago, on little business
trip. Won't you come in
Thank you. Mr.. Whiting. not this
morning. Does yonr wife accompany
yon."
No. she doesn't. She is going To
Cincinnati for few days replied Mr..
Whiting. who was guileless as a spring
chicken. and not much of a Inonihful
for the mnnauvering black fox, who
ALWAYS found n great deal more flavor
in anything she had first unearthed bv
skilful digging. You had better come
i'll. continued he. cordially Mrs.
Whiting is busy packing, but she will
be glad to see you" And the deluded
man really believed so; for. although !
he had lived in close relation with Mrs. !
Whiting for five years. he was only a
man.
Bnt Miss Dishrow was a woman. and /,
So she knew great deal better than
Ia he persuaded that person a. glad |
TO see callers when packing. "Oh, no T,
indeed. Mr.. Whiting! Thank you; but I
| just ran over, in a neighborly way
To tell YOU of n little accident ! happen .
cd To observed from my window. A
pillow fell from the halustrade where
your chambermaid very carelcsslv len F.
it. and is now lying upon the sidewalk,
| was fearful il might come to grief
before any one Of the family missed u. I.
Good morning" And 50 speaking, I
Miss Disbrow bowed and rustled away. /
BENJAMIN" said she. mysteriously, |
when she reached her own rocking 4
chair again. II cannot see why Mrs. 1
Whiting takes time 10 60 10 Cincinnati /
when her husband is away. IL would 4
be my choice not 10 leave the house .
alone with that ilighty Bridget Geoakes. I
Or then. why not Mrs. Whiting 20 to- .
day. while her husband is here To see .
her Off, cannot understand it,. Z
And with this. Miss Disbrow fell in A
To tit OF rnusing. and mused 50 long .
and silently that Benjamin fell asleep .
and dreamed b. knew there was Il
wooichuck's hole. with the woodchuck |
in it.
Meantime Mr.. Whiting kissed his
wife (probably,) took his valise and
went on, happily unconcious ofa cloud
no bigger than a mans hand already
coming up in his domestic sky. He
of no shadow darker than the
bank of heavy darkness hanging above
his head in the heavens. And that
very evening those vaporous clouds.
having sulked long enough over the
wretched condition of the muddy
streets, made up their mind. and ex-
pressed it by coming down in an EN-
peatic fall Of snow. that glided from
umbrellas and drifted against windows.
like slipping of of great white blan-
kets. By day dawn the streets and
roofs and steeples were white as
miilea's cat. and the air rang with the
scraping of shovels and jingling OF
sleigh bells.
..Of course Mrs Whiting won't think
of starting after such snow, with
every prospect Of the roads being
blocked. or course not, Benjamin"
said Miss Disbrow, seating herself to
the occupation oflooking upon things
of her neighbor with all the eyes Of her
own, and all the eyes Of her glasses
watching them SO intently that actually
a pair Of pigeons few into the belfry |
Of the church, and q pair of ragged |
boys peeped into the vestry windows
without her knowing it. But her watch !
was rewarded, for at precisely quar-
ter past eleven close carriage came |
up to Mrs. Writings door.
ssAs sure as you are born, Benjamin,