The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-02
BIDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 2, 1870.

deacon, who was glad to SEQ him, but
could not forbear expressing hope that
be would "shave that hair of his upper
lip" Then John greeted his sister cor
daily, and was presented TO Miss Dun
ton. Instead Of sitting down, he pushed
right on into tho kitchen, where Hu!dah.
In calico frock and clean white apron.
was baking biscuit for tea. She had been
n schoolmate Of his, and he took her hand
cordially rs she stood there, with the bright
western sun half-glorifying her head and
face.
why. Huldsh. how you've grown!' was
his first word OF greeting. He meant
more than he said. for though she was not
handsome, she had grown exceedingly
comely rs she developed into woman.
'Undignifed As everr said Amanda, as
she returned to the sitting-room.
.How?' said John. He looked how'll
dered. What had he done that was un-
dignifed? And Amanda Holmes saw
well enough that II would not do to tell
him that speaking to Huldah Manners was
not consistent with dignity. She saw
that her remark had been u mistake. and
she got out Of It the best way she could
by turning tho conversation. Several
times during the supper John addressed
his conversation to Huldah, who sat ut
the table with the family. for In the coun-
try In those days Il would have been con.
sidered great outrage to make y "helP"
wait for the second table. John would
turn from the literary conversation to in
quire of Huldah about his old playmates,
some of whom had gone to the west, some
had died, and some were settling into the
same fixed adherence to their native rocks
that had characterized their ancestors.
The nextday the ladies could get no good
out of John Harlow. He got up carly
and MIXED the cow. He cut wood and
carried 1t in for Huldah. He rode old
Bob to the brook for water. He did every
thing that he had been accustomed to do
when boy, finding as much pleasure in
forgetting that he was man rs he had
once found in hoping to be u man. The
two boys enjoyed his society greatly, and
his father was delighted TO see that he had
retained his interest In the farm life.
though the deacon evidently felt an un-
conquerable hostility to what he called
"that scrub-brush on the uppcr-lip." l
think If John had known how strong his
feeling was against this most cherished
product he would have moved the crop
and grazed the field closely until he got
back to the city.
John was not inscnsible to Janet Dun
s..n. L.,
about all the authors most in vogue, and
the effect of her fluency was really daz-
zing To man not ret cultivated enough
himself to see how superficial her culture
was. For all her learning floated on top.
None Of II had influenced her own culture,
She was brimming full of that which she
had acquired. but II had not been incOr-
porated into her own nature. John did
not see this, and he was infatuated with
the idea Of marrying wife of such at
tainmeuts. How she would dazzle his
friends How tho Governor would like
To talk TO her! How she would shine In
his parlors How she would delight peo-
ple rs she gave them tea and talk Mt the
same time. John was in love with her
rs he would have been in love with new
tea-urn or rare book. She was nice
thing to show. Other people than John
have married on the strength Of such n
feeling, and called It love. And during
that week he talked and walked and rude
in the sleigh with Miss Dunton. and had
made up his mind that he would carry
this brilliant prize to New York. But,
with lawyer-like caution, he thought he
would put off the committal rs long rs
possible. If his heart had been in his at
tentions the caution would not have been
worth much. Caution is good break.
water against vanity; but 1t Is not worth
much against the spring-tidc Of love, as
John Harlow soon found.
For toward the end of tho week he be-
gan to have u warmer feeling for Miss
Janet. 1t was not in the nature of things
that John should walk and talk with u
pleasant girl week and not feel some
thing more than his first interested desire
to marry n snowy wife. His heart began
to be touched. aud he resolved to bring
things to a crisis as soon rs possible. He
therefore sought an opportunity to pro-
pose. But 1t was hard tn find. For
though Mrs. Holmes was tolcrably inge-
nious, she could not get the boys or the
deacon TO pay any regard to her hints.
Boys arc totally dcpraycd on such ques-
tions, anyhow, and always manage to
stumble in where any privacy Is sought.
And rs for the deacon. 1t really seemedas
though he had some design in intruding
ut the critical moment.
I do not think that John was seriously
In love with Miss Dunton. If he had
been, no would have found some means Of
communicating with her. A thousand
spies with slccpless eyes all around their
heads cannot keep man from telling his
love somehow. If he really have love TO
tell.
There l. another fact which convinces
me that John Harlow WAS not yet very
deeply in love with Janet. He was fond
of talking with her Of Byron and Milton.
of Lord Bacon and Emerson, :. c., rs /
have already said, he WAS fond Of putting
his own knowledge on dress parade in the
presence Of one who could appreciate the
display. But whenever any little thing
released him for the time from converse
ton In the sitting-room. he was given to
slipping out into the old kitchen, where,
sitting on q chair that had no back, and
leaning against the chimney side, he de-
lighted to talk to Huldah. She could not
talk much of books, but she could talk
most charmingly Of everything that relat-
ed TO the country life, and she could ask
John many questions about the great city.
In fact, John found that Huldah had como
into possession Of only such facts and
truths as could be reached In her narrow