The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-11-07
lii"
BY ELEANOR KIRK =.


yarn mittens, and proceeded to warm hi'
fire that sputtered and cracked under
Liz'S large boiler of clothes.
"I'm up to my eyes in the wash-tub,
replied the individual thus addressed, no
over politely.
That's what was u thinking" said he
The boiler holds out good, don't it now
The last time it sot to leaking I though
1t was all day with the patriarch-butter
ed il ! didn't. No wonder that folks blow
on my ware ~
II was telling Miss Avery the othe1
day" interrupted Liz, ''that when sh'
wanted any more tin things hoped she'C
send to town after 'em. Your stuff has
listened to your CAB and brag so long
that somehow its got 4 bad eddication
Now them pans never behaved like the
pans Tim Buck used to bring round
They're always a bending and springing I;
leak. To speak a little palmer, | am al
ways ateared to trust 'em, especially wheI
it's unusually important that they should
hold in.'
"What in nature are your driving at
l4iz?" inquired poor Dick, u genuine look
of wonder overspreading his face. But
before his companion could have time tc
reply. the door of the sitting room softly
opened, and q young lady apparently very
deep in thought, and very much troubled
in spirit, for her eyes were red, and heavy
with weeping, appeared on the threshold
"What is it, Flory ?" said Liz, scoopine
the white suds from her strong, red arms
and with such little thrill Of tenderness
in her voice that the peddler involuntarily
turned TO see what it could mean, and
then remembering his manners. said hasti-
ly:
Good morning, Miss Avery Hope
you're we'll"
The young lady gave little start OF
surprise, and then recovering herself. said
with considerable annoyance in her tone
Pm quite well, thank you, Dick.
thought you We're alone, Liz" and imme-
dlately left the kitchen
Now, what's the matter with her ?" in
quired the tin merchant ''Golly amt
she been bawling though! tell ye what
It's, Liz, if Il teller wants to know the
secrets of families, all he's got to do is to
turn tin peddler."
"And lie" added Liz, punching the
clothes in the boiler with such force us to
send the scalding Suds in Dicks immedi-
ate nei@hborhood, causing said gentleman
to change his quarters without loss of
time.
Say. now, what is it that ais the gal,
Liz? | won't say word about it to no.
body. If / do, shoot metz
GLOW long did you say you'd been
travelling round this country ?" asked Liz,
t,ui II IL, Of t,, \
eyes.
Nigh about twelve years Why9"
Because it seems to me, pretty near
time that you should learnt that VIM
men folks is wimmen folks; and when
you'll find me 4 woman that don't have
her crying spells, I'll find you tin ped
dler that minds his own business''
''Thanks, marm," replied Dick, dryly
'Ilave a queer sort OF IN idee, somehow
that last remark is intended for me. All
day, Liz! Hope the next time round
you'll be better-natured."
Not q word answered Liz The peddler
jumped into his cart and drove away and
in and ont of the suds went those stalwart
arms, the muscular and unganly form
keeping time to the quick and defiant
music of the rubbing board
con- he's gone, | am so glad !" And
now the graceful figure came softly out
again and crcpt close to the side of the
busy woman.
Il want you to read my letter, Liz
the one have just written to him"
''Well, who's him ? There are two on
'em, you know" replied Liz quietly, and
with great self-possession.
" Yes, liz" and now the beautiful
brown eyes again cverllowed, and the
sobbing child drew still nearer rs she
whispered:
''But there is only one could write to,
of course, even il | knew where he was" I"
with an accent on the personal pronoun
which told lis own story.
Then what you mean to tell me is that
YOU have just written Il letter to Hiram
Scoville?"
eyes. Liz"
"Wal, 90 on"
''Don't look at me, Liz, while read it /!
| Just said this. You know how father
and mother have been taking on lately
calling me undutiful and headstrong, and
obstinate, and saying that l meant to
break heir hearts,"
els this in the letter." queried Liz
mo; | am saying this to you You
know dearv, how hard my life has been
for the last six months-well, ever since"
'sYes, Flory, | know all about it, Now
read the letter before anybody comes in :"
s'Dear Friend Hiram came tremulous-
ly from the sweet lips
''Humph" grunted Liz.
'What else could | say?" said poor
Flory, despairingly. "He is my friend,
isn't he ?"
THAT depends pretty much on your
idea OF a friend. Ny friend don't torment
me. He saves me from suffering if he
can; and if he can't, bears it with me,
carrying as much of the burden as God
will let him. No friend will ever ask q
woman to marry him the second time af-
ter he has been once refused"
''But Liz"
''There are no butts in the case"
Glove makes men bold, and sometimes
reckless. You must think of that"
s.Love never does no such thing" said
Llz, who was never known to be gram
matical. save in the moments of excite
ment.
The trembling girl commenced again.
Friend Hiram Now, don't speak
plcdoC, LIZ, I'LL l. "9 UiiC
strange woman gave unmistakable indi
cations of inward rebellion. cit is the
wish of my parents that write you, and
say that it is their desire l should accept
you as my future husband. l don't love
you one single bit, and l am as sure l
never shall; but if you want me under
these circumstances, have nothing more
to say, save that utterly refuse to receive
any especial attention from you preced
ing our marriage"
"Wal, now, l vow, Flory Avery, /
should laugh if anybody in the house was
q laying dead. Tell a man you've made
up your mind to marry him, and at the
same time inform him that all the courting
has got to be postponed until after the
wedding. Do you suppose because min
lister has mumbled over few words
nothing in the least disrespectful to the
minister intended-that on this account