The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-10-05

brooch, and began to think that she look
ed very we'll There was a bright, healthy
flush upon her check, and her eyes were
full of light and beauty.
She walked into Mrs. Perkins's sitting.
room and she found her awaiting hoi
with a smiling face. She thought she
must be in very good humor, but said
nothing, allowing the good lady to smile
as long and pleasantly as she wished.
She understood it all when supper time
came, and Mr.. Perkins entered, followed
by Mr.. Perry. This was well laid plar
to make the two become friends.
Miss Briggs bit her lips, and inwardly
vowed that nothing should tempt her tc
give that man her hand in friendship
She hated him.
He was placed directly opposite her at
the table, and times forced to pass the
biscuits, cake or preserves, and Miss
Briggs accepted them, although she de-
clarcd to Mrs. Perkins after supper that
they almost chokcd her.
Before evening they were both persua-
dcd to overlook the horse and COW diff
Guilty and be civil, and Miss Briggs was
| frightened when she found herself talking
to him with ease and pleasant familiari-
| ty.
The party was success, and although
the sports were generally monopolizcd by
the younger portion they found room for
old maid and her enemy, and several
tine she found herself doing the most
ridiculous things in the way of paying
forfcits.
At the end of the evening Miss Briggs
was at the door, ready to depart, when
he called out :
Miss Briggs, | am going right up
your way. VIII you ride ~
Would she ride and behind that old
horse, and beside that detestable man &?
She was wondering whether she would Or
not when Mrs. Perkins came and trilm-
phantly led her out and packed her into
the carriage.
1t was as dark as pitch, and they had
to let the horse go his own way, and find
t the best he could He did very we'll
until they reached the cottage. and then
he was bewildered.
Mr.. Perry spoke, jerked the rens. but
to no purpose. He then took out the
whip Whether his natural dislike Of the
article, or the memory of the indignities
he had suffered from the hands Of the
owner Of the cottage oyercamc him. it is
hard to decide, but at all events he kick
ed up his heels, ran few rods and fell,
overturning the buggy and its precious
contents.
Miss Briggs was up in a moment, un-
harmed, but Mr.. Perry was as silent as
the grave. She ran shouting through the
darkness, until Mr.. Perry's "help" came
out to her assistance.
They found the poor man half dead be-
meath the carriage, and while Dan was at
work, Miss Briggs ran home for her own
servant. After much hard labor they
succeeded in extricating him from the
wreck, but he was senseless, and they
bore him home and sent for the village
doctor. Upon examination they found
his leg to be broken, and thus Miss
Briggs's enemy was at her mercy.
The days and weeks that followed were
dreadful ones to the poor sufferer, but
Miss Briggs never left him. Day and
night she stood beside him, and her little
plump hands administered to every
want.
He forgot the COW and his turnips,
She forgot the cats and canary. He only
saw little woman, with pretty, rosy
face, trim figure and tender hands and
would you believe it, he fell in love.
How could he help it? She had sat
by him through long, drcary days of pain,
she had brought him her preserves, her
wine and nice invigorating cordials. She
had made blanc mango and custard. and
in all probability saved his life.
What could he do? Nothing, but fall
i'll love.
Miss Briggs" he said, one day, when
he was able TO sit up.
Well, Mr.. Perry
"You have been very good to me, and
feel as though | owed you a great
deal"
There, now, stop just where you are.
You owe me nothing"
" But would you mind if | trespassed
little further on your good nature p
Not at all"
"Well, Miss Briggs, will you take me
in charge for the rest of my natural
| life ?"
"What ?"
"Wil you marry me? There ~
Miss Briggs blushcd. and her answer
came thus :
" will marry you"
There was a wedding few weeks later,
and Mrs. Perkins prepared the wedding
supper.
4 Mr.. and Mrs Perry live in the bricI;
house, and the cottage is rented to young
man and his wife, to whom Mrs. Perry
bequeathed her cats and canary.
The mastiff and the knock-knccd old
horse are with their forcfathers,
A Nashville correspondent Of the Gin
cinnat Commercial writes as follows
"The Legislature ct,which is shortly
to convene at Nashville, will not ratify
the Fifteenth Amendment. There il
no longer room to doubt what will be
their course in this mattcr--no room tC
hope by those who are friends to tn,
amendment, no reason to fear by it
enemies. Senter is still for it, but tn,