Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-12-07


Nothing escaped Miss Lodemy, sewing
by the windows Of the little brown cot
tage over the way She watched Elinor
out OF sight with wise smile lowering
over her thin lips. "She' started to see
her aunt, III bet; and the minister went
the same way, full two hours ago. How
sarprised she'll be p But another sur
prise was in store for Elinor of which
Miss Lodemy little dreamed
Night came on-a raw, cherries night.
1t was too dark to sew longer by the win
dow, and Miss Lodemy prepared to light
the lamp and draw The curtains. The
sitting-room floor, like life, had its ups
and downs, -, Enough to make feller
sea-sick to walk round here" grumbled
the brisk little woman, as she creaked
about, stirring the fire and putting away
her scattered work. Suddenly her atten-
ton was arrested by the sound of wheels
lhey stopped at the house opposite, and.
by straining her eyes in the darkness, she
saw the figure of man alight from
close carriage, and, with hasty strides, go
up the graveled path to the house. Miss
Lodemy grew excited. She felt UNEQUAL
to observing this all alone. 1t was high
time to call in her sister, and the shril
The kitchen door opened. and tLroupb
il dritled an order of fruits and spices, and
freshly baked bread and pies. Loranv
appeared in the doorway, with her sleeves
rolled up, and II general Thanksgiving
doesn -come-but-once-a-year air about
her. These sisters were n curious pair.
One as sharp and slender as the needle.
the sign of her trade; the other, round.
smooth and heavy as one of her own ap-
ple-dumplngs.
Whats wanting, Lodemye Don't
hinder. I'm in a hurry to finish up the
work. Seems to me | shall never get
through. The pies are not more'n halt
baked; took Inc pretty much all the after
noon to pin-ieather them chickens
Somebody's Gomez breathlessly ex-
claimed Miss Lodemy.
''Here? Good land ~ said Loranv.
looking helplessly down at her half
mourning calico, rather the worse for its
kitchen experiences.
"No, no! At the Reds 4 man has
just gone in there. It's so dark that |!
can't tell who he is but s'pose'n it should
John Douglass broke in Lorany.
"Well, well !" and, unmindful of her half
finished baking, she placidly sank into the
low rocking chair, while her sister main
tanned her post by the window.
Tell you what! Mrs. Douglas will be
happy woman if John has come home"
said Miss Lodemy. Poor woman! she's
had sight of trouble. Wonder if John
ever got the news OF his fathers death ?"
You can't tell much by them Reids and
Douglasses," rejoined her sister, "thev
arn't very free to talk" She took up the
poker, and gave the fire stir. This al
tention was entirely unnecessary, but it
was absolutely impossible for Lorany to
sit with empty hands. She was one of
the worlds grown up babies, constantly
demanding plaything If she sat down
five minutes to wait, she must twirl the
scissors, or iidget with the fire, or bite a
piece of thread, or roll the spools over the
table.
= There! ! he's come out, and is going oil
again" suddenly announced the sentinel
at the window.
Lorany hurried to look, but her curiosi-
ty was doomed TO be unsatislied; the ear
riage with its occupant drove away as ran
idly and mysteriously as it came. we
may we'll give it up reluctantly admit
ted both sisters in one disappointed breath.
Mrs. Douglass had invited the minister
to tea, this afternoon Surely, this was
nothing UNUSUAL. He was frequent and
always welcome visitor at the woodside
farm. There was strange bond of SYM
pathy between Gilbert Palmer and Mrs.
Douglas. She knew his secret; she only
guessed Einor's. But mothers soul
has keen intutions, and she felt that Eli
nor was lost to John. Next to her son,
Elinor was her idol She could not bear
the thought of the girls unhappiness; and
though her heart pleaded powerfully for
her absent son, she resolved to try TO
smooth out the tangled skein of these two
lives. In asking Gilbert Palmer to come
10 the farm to-day, she had double mo-
tiye--a vague idea that in some way she
should prove a help and comfort. But 1t
is useless meddling with Fate. She has
CONCLUDED on FOURTH pAGE.I