The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-09-26

HAihA NsAaHAtA aAaH = ~ = WI hftHAfsah -
said 10 himself, / will promise at least a
much as Chat; bat dear me- am sorrl
I came herc--I wish had net seen her
what 0 wreck the whole concern Isl Pres
entity, in spite of these somewhat gloom,
words, bright smile oyerspread his fac
but not such smile rs ever breaks 10
to laughter; and then be arose, aud al
but expressed Aloud bis satisfaction tina
be was the master Of his own secret, an,
would continue 10 be SO. Whether b,
smiled, thinking that poor Dolpha was /
perfect beauty, or because she loved th,
Old oak so yalianlly, o. for some reasor
less praiseworthy, is just now no concern
Of ours. Let him smile.
While hc walked and smiled, his cigar
between bis fingers, the inukeeper came
IN, aud the three sat down In the bar.
room, and smoked, aud talked Bishop
telling tales about old times, and the
days when he first camo into this country
long before the railroads, in the prosper
Gus days Of the stage-coach when it was
worth live mans while to keep public
house. All this had interest for Tiffany,
and he encouraged the tale-telling though
he hearkened as IL in spite Of himself un-
I'll Lewis asked, almost angrily, whether
they were to be paid for the beds they
were kept out of by this talk.
You don't mean to give fifty dollars for
that OAK said Tiffany to Lewis, the
minute they closed the door of their
chamber behind them.
| do, and expect to get an honor for
my decision when we 90 back with our
trophy. When you hear what's said
about my knee you'll see your owns out
of joint.
You may find You have been too free
with another mans money,
There's not another oak like that,
though, within hundred miles.
Nor another tough customer.
Ha, Tiff! Is he your old ebay? for
get all about that.
Yes. Not another word on that point,
though, till we are twenty-four hours out
of this. The next minute Lewis was
asleep.
BY daybreak Tiffany was out surveying
the oak. About sunrise Lewis joined
him. Tiffany had gathered handker-
chief full of acron cups, aud taken the
OF the oak.
Isn't it a prize? asked Lewis.
Most too big one, like the elephant,
| should feel like a hangman, if | could
bring my mind to take off the head of a
tree like that just as | said before, il
can't be done.
Wait till you've had your breakfast !
got scent ofa brook trout as | came
round the house. Upon my WORD, Tlf,
I'd be ashamed to give twenty-five for
that oak, when | remember what trees
we have paid the same amount of money
for.
I'd be ashamed to take the tree at any
price. See how it fits into that corner of
the field, and how dreadfully the house
and stables would look without it, They
say we are on the edge of a splendid for
est land. III do all my sentimentalizing
over this oak, and You may have your
way with the rest, sure as my name is
Ben Tiffany.
AT that, both laughed, and Lewis un-
derstood that 1t would be better now for
him TO yield. ....
We can come back this way, he said, if
we find that we've gone farther only to
fare worse. ..... .
So the fifty dollars, which the innkeep-
or had felt snugly deposited in the bottom
Of his pocket, were not deposited there,
and the tree waved in the wind as uncon-
scious that henceforth there was price
set upon its head, as the best among
us.
| don't think we have done our duty by
the oak, though, said Tiffany to Delphy,
who was drawing water from the well.
II was after breakfast, and the young
men were about to SET off. The tree
might have had a longer life on the sea
than on the land 1t would have had an
career opened to it on tho
ocean, and there isn't anybody to war
rant You against flash Of tightening,
Any day it may be torn into splinters,
and, if it is, it will be good for nothing
except kindling wood.
We must all take our chances, said
Delphy; and It was clear that on most
occasions she would know precisely her
own value
have said to Mr.. Lewis, though, con-
tinued Mr.. Tiffany, hesitating, perhaps
doubling the wisdom of prolonging the
.alk, If we don't succeed in the forest, we
will come back this way, aud talk about
The tree again.
Oh, isn't that all oycry
hope 50 truly. Tiffany could not,
try though he might, avoid seeing aud
meeting the painful look with which this
exclamation Of Delply's was accompani-
I'd. am sure shall bc glad If we find
what we want further in. Is there plenty
Of trout ia your brooksy / haven't seen
any place half 80 pleasant a. this seems
% me. IN fact Tiffany had many times
said the same thing 10 himself that morn
Ing, and now like simplelon, be repeat
ID II, as If for her cdication.
Gentlemen say II is the best place 10
.he country for fishing. II ought TO be
good for something, now we have 4 stage