St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-07-19

CHIllltH Ilti sunny content DrllnnIcu
over on all about her. PrissN freshemcd
up the whole house.
81 don't think much of these nick
sacks, and of rImmaging up old things
FOR curtains and cushions. though the
| paIior does look considerable as Ellen
used to have il before she got poorly
! But then pnl up with the fancy doingS
for calk late it shows. you see. what
| she would do in time if she was mis-
| trcSS, and had an interest ON the farm.
! | don't say Il great deal, never do.
amt going to act aS though ! WAS 50
drctiul pleased. if she does take pains.
| | never did 10y Ellen"
CHAPTER Ill
| Prissy came down stairs one bright.
royal morning. Dew lay on the clover
The birds were holding Il grand con
cert.
frissN opened doors and windows.
and let III floods of sunshine. Grandma
had had Il bad night, and Prissy had
c"aXed her to take an extra nap while
She took up the duties of the day.
Il calk'late its about time to make
my arrangements" soliloquiscd Ezekiel.
;tS he went towards the stables. The
weeks they are slipping away. and she
might aS well he taking an interest in
dead earnest"
old Mrs. Goodcnough would proha-
bile have confirmed Ezckiel's opinion. if
she had been privileged. 10y rcmarkimg
that this was literally the kind of in
tercSt' PrisSy's sister had taken.
"To-night. when the COWS are milk
ed, mentally continued Ezekiel. I'll
Il h., Il,
we'll talk the matter over
When the sun hung low III the west.
and brooding hush WAS upon every
thing. Ezekiel stood leaning. with folded
arms, against the fence. and looked
away over the hig meadow and the
wheat field
Il calk'latc she's been expecting it
before. But 'twa>n't best to he too
fast. Its we'll enough to have il under
stood that il woman can't step into such
il home as this every day" and he
walked slowly towards the house.
''llilloa who's that ,"
The ejaculation was forced from
Ezekiel by the unusual sight of II spirit
ed bay reincd up t" the gate. and Il
grntlrmanly looking person alighting
from il covered buggy.
lisnt the minister. and it don't
look like il chap To trade horses. Some
body on some other sort of business. !
calk late"
Ezekiel took the shorter route through
the south bars. reached the house and
entered 10y the side door.
No one met him and told him that Il
stranger awaited him. Ezekiel was
surprised at this. He made his way
through to the cool parlor. that Prissy
kept garni>hed with flowers and period
icals.
Pri>SlS hcaming face first attracted
his attention. Then tall handsome
man, with an expression of counttnance
at once intellectual and genial. rose.
and was presented as prisSl's friend
Mr.. Hastings
EZekiels deaf ear was turned towards
the speaker. aud the words "mN friend"
escaped him.
''lIc introduced himself To her while
he was waiting for me. s"liloqui~ed
Ezekiel. Like enough now he's IN the
railroad conpanN'> interest. and they
want some OF my land"
y few general remarks were made
and still Pri>~N remained III the room
and joined in the conversations and the.
stranger did not introduce his crr;lnd.
''lf Nou want to sec me on any hu>i
ness" linall\ remarked Ezekiel. when
a pau>'' occurred. Il suppose We can
step into The next room glauciug aS he
spoke. at PriSsl.
II am obliged t" YOU" replied Nh.
Hastings with drlib-rntiom. while i
mirthtul gleam shot int" his eye. "hut
! ann taking Vacation from business
now. called especially to SEE Miss
FELTON, this cNcniug. We are old ar-
quantanccs. MIR. Pratt. am fortunate
in finding her at home this evening.
after my long ride over Your beautiful
/ hills
Ezekiel presently found himself one
/ too many. The experience was u novel
one. He walked ont under the rIm>.
II caIk late he's principal of some
school or other. Perhaps he wants T."
engage irissN t0i Il teacher. IIrralkrd
about Vacations. ! ought Io have put
my claim III ahead maybe Int then.
'twom't he anything hndingii she should
talk about teaching. don't calk late
she will. she's got her calk 'latiuus
same lis / have She is sensible. and
her coming up here means something.
| might have told her my plans before.
| spns,., but it isn't the best way to he
i'll too much of a hurry"
| Meanwhile. PrissN was saving to Mr..
| Hastings: Il did not expect to stay
| here so long. My sister Ellen left me II
very solemn charge. | have told You
something of my sisters life She wish
ed me to take guardianship of her chill
dren. 50 far as circumstances would al
low. She wished me to take entire
charge of little Maggie. With one pro
/ viSo. however. If | should see that
after her death Il new bond WAS formed
/ between father and daughter: if should
/ find that the child's influence was max
| ing Mr.. Pratt IL gentler, larger-hearted
man, ! WAS to let her remain with him.
! ! have not felt able to decide hastily in
acting in accordance with the spirit of
EllenS request. | have studied the
children and their home since | have
been here. | am convinced that the
father is impcrvious to their sweet i'll
tluence. and that their Young lives are
imbittrred by remaining with him in Il
home so barren and unlOving. think
that | can win Mr.. Pratt's consent to
take Maggie away with me. have
plans for Sammy which hope will he
developed soon.
George Hastings declined Mr.. Pratt's
offer of hospitality. and Went out into
the moonlight that night. for his ride
over the hills.
Ezekiel helped him unhitch his horse
You were speaking about vacation"
he remarked land as you are leaving
| these parts for good, thought might
as well ask whether you was trying to
engage Priscilla to teach the coming