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


The landlord had evidently dropped q
80 contiuac Tie conversation begun "a
his baT.room before the eall to supper
l2r be said as be sai down,
I've bad offers before Cor that old fcl
low; but ! never had the mind yc, to lei
him.
You1l think better oft this time, ru
sure, said Lewis, helping himself with .
liberal hand to two or three dishes ia
succession
( don't know. It's The only tree on
The corner, you see, and you'd be amazed
to know how Il breaks the heat Of sum
mcr, and the cast winds In winter: We
couldn't well get on without 1t.
7 Maybe the squirrels have inquired
within; It's an old tree, said Lewis with
Indifference.
/ Sound as roach, sirl You don't see
no woodpeckers on them limbs, and
there are enough Of the little rascals pry-
ing around here, assure you.
/ II you conclude TO sell, said Tiffany,
/ youll give US the refusal3
/ WclI--well--yes-yos-l give YOU
the refusal. wouldn't take anything
short Of lfty dollars, though, under
stand. As he spoke, the inn.keeper
brought his hand down on The table with
an emphasis that made the dishes rattle,
Just twenty-five more than We have
paid yet, said Tiffany, looking at Lewis.
It's capital knee, returned Lewis.
never saw a better. It's worth full TWEEN
ty-iive dollars, and you viii have az least
three cords Of wood from it after we've
taken what we want.
Wood isn't that high with us, answer
ed Bishop dryly, with wise smile that
assured Lewis that he must try again.
Let US 90 out, and take another look at
il before dark, he said, swallowing his
hot tea without wincing. We must be
of early in the morning, Tiffany.
Tiffany, instead of responding, sat still
and ate his supper, evidently intent on
taking his ease at his inn.
I've tramped as long as can afford to
on an empty stomach, he said; and then
he looked toward the innkeeper's daugh.
ter, and saw that she still stood ready to
wait on him.
Delphy will attend to you, said Bishop,
and he went out with Lewis.
They had hardly gone from the room
when the pent-up painful apprehension
of the girl in waiting betrayed itself.
As she placed another cup of tea beside
Tiilanys plate, she asked, and great was
his satisfaction that her interrogation had
taken this form, instead Of another
which he had almost apprehended-
What is it you talk of buying offath-
er?
The question seemed to demand that
the young man should look straight at
Delphy, and continue to look at her while
he answered; accordingly he did so.
The oak tree on the corner opposite, he
said and but for the mustache and whis-
kers, which nearly covered the lower
half Of his face, he might not have looked
so much like model Of Indifference as
he then did; for he became suddenly
aware that she had reeollections, and that
because Of them, the tree was dear to
her. .ar ..
You do not mean to cut it down. she
exclaimed. You might as well ask father
for his eyes.
Oh, | don't know about that, said he, /
hope he won't be unreasonable. We are
buying for ship-builders, and | never saw
better knee than can be got out the
tree. Within year, perhaps, your old
oak may be launched on the ocean. That's
something 10 think of. The girl seemed
to refect-then she said with decision,
but with the plaintive tone of one upon
whom too weighty burdens have been
laid-burdens of sorrow, and of response
bility--
DON'T offer father fifty dollars, please.
Itis worth more than that 1t IL worth
more than you can payl No amount Of
money ought to be able to buy it.
Why, said Tiffany, if you feel that way
] had no idea that you would.
It has been the most beautiful thing TO
me all my life, said Dclphy, 1t is the on
ly thing left here, almost.
Tiffany looked at her, and said to him
self, hope yon won't cry; and she said
to herself, as il answering the wish,
wont.
There are natures which, it is evident,
are made solely for the comfort and we'll
being Of others; they are never thought
of-only their resources, In the distribu-
tion OF the prizes Of life they are always
forgotten. Was Delphy one Of these? 1t
almost seemed so. But, upon these pa
tiont prayers Of eyerybody's taxes, there
Is usually at last a duty imposed aud it
Is as if the earth were rent, and the heav-
ems rolled together. Then what amaze
ment all around.
When Tiffany answered Delphy, who
had now evidently passed through some
such experience, there was little trcmor
10 his voice.
II that is true, he said, yon need not
feel disturbed. ! wouldn't consent to
take the oak at any price. Iudecd, you
need not think ! would.
Oh, thank YOU said Delphy. And
now, what an amount Of table serving, in
this gcntleinau's behlaE was she not ca-
pable OIL But Tiffany had made an end
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