The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-10-03


visaged women; women who had seen
better DAYS and women Who evidently
I hadn l.
Ms. llawkhurst looked around some
what discouraged Al Che formidable ARA,
/ Of rivals,
There's uo hope for me, she thought,
despalfingly and was Just about 10 turn
away viii iho lmid Juliet cliuglng to
her hand, whcn Harry Avcncl advanced
/ 10 yon wish 20 see my uncle, mA'Amg
be asked courieously.
II called about the housckeelcrs
situation, meekly murmured the widow
/ Aud Harry showed her h AZ once,
/ The lai and the tall, The German and
Scotch, the sour and tho sweet went
Ayencl decided 10 engage Mrs Hawk.
hurst as his housekecpcr, with pormis.
sion to keep Juliet with her
She Is an have sir, said the house
keeper, apologetieally, aud She win try
TO be useful about tho house
I How old Is she 2 asked Mr. Ayenel.
Fifteen, sir.
Wen, let her stay, said lhe wldowcr,
good d-humoredly. She'll eat no more
than a chicken, and dare say she can do
a great many odd things about the place.
Mrs. Hawkhurst proved herself an ex-
eeutiye otlieefess Of the greatest ability,
Gradually the "chaos aud old night Of
the Ayeuei place was reduced to sys-
tenn and order. The wheels Of house
keeping revolvod so softly that no one
knew they moved, yet these were the
results. You scarcely ever saw the
housekeeper glide about the halls, yet
the servants declared her omnipreseut,
Mr., Ayenel found himself actually the in
habitant Of home once more as the years
slowly passed away.
lie was sitting on piazza one day
smoking his cigar, and watching the
graceful movements of Juliet Ilawkhurst
as she was planting trailing vines in y
marble vase that occupied the centre OF
the lawn, when Mrs. Marley came out.
A nice evening sir, said Mrs. Marley.
Oh, there she is
Who2 Mr.. Avenel asked.
Why, that foolish child, Juliet, answer
cd the old lady sharply. hain't no pa
tience with her, that haint.
What has she been doing nowp asked
the widowcr with an amused face.
Why, she has refused Ben. Nichols
eldest son, as likely aud forehanded a
young feller as there is in the country.
Mr.. Avenel started.
Ben Nicholsl Why Mrs. Marley, she
is only child.
She's seventeen next week, nodded
Mrs. Marley, and high time she thought
OF settling,
Mr. Avenel looked across TO where
Juliet stood in her pink gingham dress,
the soft summer wind stirring her eurls,
and her checks as softly tinted as tho
standard rose on the lawn. Seventeen
Was II possible that little Juliet Hawk.
lurst had grown to be seventeen years
old? Oh, relentless Time, that would
not stand still Oh, cruel years, that
went by and stole the fair brightness Of
childhood awayl So Ben Nichols bad
actually asked Juliet Ilawkhurst TO be
his wife
| wish you and Harry'd talk serious TO
her about it, went on Mrs. Marley. II
amt likely she'll have any more such
chances as that.
No, to be sure not, said Ayenel abb
straetedly.
And of course she'd oughter think IL
over well, added Mrs. Marley.
o, certainly-to be sure.
When Harry Ayenel came home from
the city that evening he found his uncle
in brown study.
Harry, quoth the widower.
Yes, uncle.
I've been thinking
So / should conclude, sir, from the II.
shaped wrinkle between your brows, said
the young merchant. Well, and what
has been the topic Of your meditations,
Uncle Joel
Why, | was thinking what would be-
come Of ns If Mrs. Ilawkhurst should
take Il into her head 10 leave us.
Harry opened wide his merry hazel
eyes at the idea.
What made you think Of such thing,
sir he asked.
Oh, ! don't know She has good
place here but one couldn't expect her
to be contented with housekecper's
situation always, Harry.
No, to be sure not
She has become very essential 10 our
domestic happiness, Harry, went ON Mr..
Ayenel
Yes, grant you that, Uncle Joe.
And / really don't know how we
could manage to exist without her.
Raise her salary, said Harry.
No, hardly think that would answer
my purpose but Harry
Wen, uncle.
Mr.. Avenel looked slightly shoepish.
Can't you imagine some other way Of
! keeping her here? he asked
Harry stared al his uncle. Mr. Ayen.
: Ell felt disposed 70 shake him for stupidity.
. Oh! cried the young man, with sud-
I den dawning Of lucidity over BIS brhlb.
! You don't mean matrimoby, unrlef
Yes, DO, quoih hr. Ayenel stoatiy
: Would you object, Harry
!, uncicl