Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-05-31

Golden October was past, and her regal
banners no longer waved from the hill tops
Drear November winds tossed the naked
branches of the cteaking old trees, which
complained at the rough usage as though they
had not experienced the same every year oil
their long lives.
Every few days Robert May had called at
the Allen farm house, meeting always pleas
ant welcome and making himself as cordial
aud agreeable as ever. They all priced hi
friendship highly, and Margaret had taken
to scheming in her wise old head to secure
him as a husband for her treasured Marion.
The role of matchmaking was a new one for
this innocent old maid, but She was as amb-
tious as any maneuyering mamma could have
been, always finding excuses for leaving the
two to quiet tete-a-tetes, and iondly sure IN
her simple old heart, that even Robert could
not fail to be struck with admiration of the
gifts and graoes of her all-but perfect sister
As to securing him for herself it never occur.
red to her at all. To be sure, young girl
answering to her name, had once been loved
by, and had loved young man answering 10
his, but that was such long long time ago
and the years which had made him more noble
and worthy Of love and admiration than ever
had faded and spoiled her till now she was
too old and wriukled to even dream of love
and lovers for herself, even if they had one,
been hers
One hazy morning in Indian summer 10,
. and Marion returned from the village. wher,
they had been on shopping tour and, whil'
; the former uuloaded the various bundles from
the wagon, the busy tongue Of the latter un
loaded her mind Of sundry items Of news col
/ ected in her absence.
" Mrs. Goulds baby has canker.rash, an,
they think it cant live TIL night, and Isabe
r Hanson down here has O new piano, and the
were just moving it ia as | came by; pre-
, sumo we shall hear her drumming on it befor
, night For my part, don't see how Nj
f.. Hanson can afford it, And oh don't yo
I think Robert May has bought back his oil
G home from MIR. Smith and is going to repai
v it all over aud settle down there
Now, how nice that will be, said MAJ
o garet, thinking of Marion as possible neigt
u bor to herself, only half mile away, and IN
s house in plain sight now that the leav'
It were off the trees
h Mr. Crump told me all about it as | W;
n doing my trading He's going to put in bo
h windows, and have an ornamental iron ienc
e aud a circular carriage drive, and he has sei
away already for plate glass, and nice ourta
y knobs, and door trimmings, and the workmC
p are to 90 right about it at once" Marie
y paused for breath.
n " How nice it will be said Margnr
At again
ID &" Mrs. Smith and Araminta appered TO
10 clearing out the parlor when we came by, +
70 the carpet hung out on the fence and d
r. curtains were all taken down. | shouldI
,r wonder at all if Araminta was scheming
10 be mistress of the new house She had h
it hair all in curl papers, this morning, and
wonderfully gay wrapper on oh ther'
ie my new dress
y II was the much talked OF garnet meriu
= and enveoping Marion in its soft folds, Tia
$, they might try the effect upon her eomplexic
10 the two resolved themselves in very VOL
le anly committee Of ways and means ways
D. make up the dress, and means by which
d should be made to look the most elegai
N Then Margaret suddenly remembered /
lie bread, baking in the back oven aud went
Is look after its welfare Her thoughts
,r yerted to what Marion said concerning Al
Of minta Smith could It be that Robert wor
s. once seriously think Of marrying such lit
IS silly chit not yet out Of her teens9 We
r stranger things had happened, but it wol
be very provoking, and Margaret felt as mu
Of indignation at the very idea as her gen
ii soul was capable Of and made savage iuny
re with the long iron poker at the iunoc,
y Oaves of bread, as though they were III leae
a with Miss Araminta.
Of When she returned to the committee me
= ing Marion had opened another large bund
= There, you dear old girl" She cried, thrc
Id ing over Margaret's shoulders beauti
We grey thibet, there's your new dress. Y
n needn't say one word, for you needed n
IL dress more than did, aud I'm so sick Of 5
tn ing you in those everlasting browns
h. +" But this is too gay and light-colorod
d, an old woman like me, expostulated the 5
h, prised Margaret.
30, "Too gay for an old woman like you
i'll astonishing how aged you're getting. lshol
ot- imagine Methusaeh was an infant Of d
ed compared to you sputtered the yexed M
he ion. "lt's Just as becoming TO you as