Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-11-30

ANSfONLuGiSsS AlCTC WAS LQdI sponge cdhG
to cut, and the best doliers to get out,
and the ivory-handled knives to be taken
down from the top shelf of the closet.
She had to calculate how much of the
!, strawberry preserves it would take to 90
, round and not look skinny, and who should
, sit by the glass dish, and how many custard
cups would be required to fill the middle
of the table. All these things Hannah
performed with as much accuracy as if
her heart had not been smarting with
disappointment and vexation.
Mrs. Ashley was never more in her ele-
ment than when she presided at fem
mime tea-party.
We won't have any of the men folks
round to bother, girls said she, as they
4 settled like a flock of doves about the
table, which Hannah had so temptingIy
spread. It's busy times on the farm now,
and the Deacon likes bite of something
hearty for his tea, and so | told him he
and the boys might wait Ahem, Salina
do you take sugsr in your tea as sae
poured out cup of the delicate, gree1.
favored beverage that ditfuscd an appetite
ing fragrance through the room.
Oh, Miss Ashley cried Nancy Duffy.
you'll tell our fortunes, won't you 2 There
isn't 4 soul here to know about it and
we will keep as still as mice
Now girls, don't make me appear sim
pie, said Mrs Ashley, leaning back and
wiping her red and smiling face free
from the steam Of the teapot If Miss
Whtcomb should get hold Of it she'd say
it didn't become dcacon's wife
Never mind Miss Whitcomb,' broke in
Susan Drake She thinks she arrived at
perfection, ard such folks are always disa-
greeable Here, do look at Salina Tread
wells cup. If I'm not mistaken there's
offer In it,
'Of course there is said Mrs Ashley,
taking up the cup with professional inter
est. Don't you see that ring almost clos
ed, with a heart inside And she's going
to accept. It's coming from a light-com.
plected man. Looks like Sile Winthrop,
down at the Corners,
Oh, Miss Ashley, how you do talk =
cried Salina, mincing her biscuit aud blush /
ing up on her cheek bones.
He amt going to live long, whoever .
1t Is the Deacon's wife went on, twirling
the cup with the girls hanging over her
shoulder, and her eyes dancing with fun
: Yes, Salina, you will be left a wilder
What a sad thing it must be to lose
companion, pat in sentimental Ann Davis
| should hate to lie left reict
Never mind, Salina, the Deacons wife
continued with wink If I'm not mis-
taken you'll console yourself with number
two. Look there, girls, at the true lovers
knot and the bow aud arrers.'
Miss Treadwell held up her hands in
mock horror, aud affirmed that she didn't
believe a word Of it but it was noticea-
bic, as Mrs. Ashley said, that she was
I chipperer all the rest Of the evening.
Come, now tell Hanuah's, cried Hetty
Sprague 80 Hannah passed along her
cup.
Why, child, you're going to she'd tsars;
ret your wish in spite of everything
Don't you see saddle-bags and pill
boxes there 2 inquired Nancy Duffy.
Go along with your stuff aud nonsense,
girls " exclaimed the Deacon's wife, wav-
in away the cup. If husband should
get hold OF it, he'd say [ was trifing
That evening after Dr. Bingham had
fooled a good deal with Humankind press
ed her hand at parting, and whispered ne
should hope to see her next evening at the
singing class-she remembered her fortune,
and did let some bitter tears soak into her
pillow She was not wise enough in
worldly ways TO suspect that the Doctor, a
town bred man, had set Hetty Sprague's
silly little heart a futtering while he
walked home with her under the warm
starlight, although, in very truth, he did
not care a ftp for either Of them Hannah
was content to play him of against Aleck,
let the consequences be what they might,
and more and more as she thought the mat
ter over, she blamed that designing girl
from Hllisdale.
The next night set in with mild driz-
zle and in spite Of Mrs Ashley's pro-
testations, Hannah was off for the singing
class. The class had been established to
improve the church music, which, as the
deacon said sadly needed tinkerlng, !
and gradually it become a resort for the
young people Of the village, while its iunc-
tons were stretched to include good deal
of mild Irritation Hannah on entering
looked anxiously around to discover the
doctor but strange to say he had not en-
tered Aleck, who belonged to the choir
sat in his usual place alone Neither Jane
nor her youngI ady friend had accompanied
him These facts Hannah accertained be-
fore she let her eyes drop on her note book.
She watched the door keenly during the
hour of practice; but the doctor did not
make his appearance, and her indignation
grew apace. She hoped to slip away a
| little in advance of the crowd before the
exercises were quiet finished, and the cor
don of young men had formed about
entrance. But just as she was stepping
/ off into the darkness, with the warm sum-
mer rain falling steadily, a hand touched
her arm.
Let me walk hime with you, Hannah,
have an umbrella, and you are unpro-
yided.' 1t was Alexis voice, and Han
nah was netted to remark not even
touch of penitence in his tone.
No, | thank you she returned stiffiy,
l prefer to go alone
But you cannot refuse my company
for few steps, at least said he pushing
up his umbrella and shielding her whether
or no for | have brought an apology from
Bingham / am going to tell you as
great secret Aleck went on conhdentially
while Hannah kept still from sheer aston
ishment, that the doctor and that forty
leventh cousin of ours, from Hillsdale were
engaged once. The Doctors a capital
fellow, but there is jealous streak in him.
He wants to keep loose foot, and wasn't
, willing that Mary should do the same.
| She's an uncommonly pretty, lively girl
, "a sharp twinge in Hannah's side and
! of course she wasn't going to be cooped up,
f aud the result was, they quarreled. But
! they did really care for each other, and