Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-06-11

I've got such good character"
Here, with shy politeness, the keeper
rose up and went out, feeling be had no bust.
ness to listen to Willie's concerns. Half
way to the gate he turned aud glanced back
to see If Nellie would steal after him for a
farewell, but Nellie only smiled and nod
ded TO the look, and Mark Wilton passed
through the gate alone, changing IL after
him.
The snow, which had fallen lightly all
the past night, and left its thin white coat
ing on field and highway, began drifting
again as Mark Wilton crossed the coppce'
meadows on his way to the keepers lodge,
dropping down at first softly and slowly.
but changing as the short day closed in, to
swift short fakes which went on falling all
the night through, aud when Christmas morn
ing broke, a thick white sheet Of snow lay
over the earth, on which the sun shone with
cold, frosty glitter.
In the Oak-iarm kitchen, a strong wood.
Ere blazed upon the hearth, where Jessie
Drayton stood with her dress pinned up,
frying slices Of bacon, while Willie came
down in search Of breakfast. She looked
up from her work as he came in, with
laughing face, to which the fire had brought
bright hot flush, and wished him merry
Christmas.
"a merry Christmas to you, jess. aud a
happy new year" Willie answered in re-
sponse, and going over to where she stood,
he stopped downward and kissed her 81
have brought my aunt gown. aud Christ
mas box for you aud Nellie, jess, he said,
standing by her on the hearth.
Then, as Nelles iootstep sounded along
the passage, be took parcel wrapped 10
silver paper from his pocket, and drawing
out of it a glittering pair Of bracelets,
held them up before Jessie's surprised eyes,
who, snatchiug up the Kissing pan from the
fire, reached out her hand for the young
mans showy gift
at was good of you to think upon us,
Willie" she said with grateful smile on
her full ripe lips, while she turned the brace
lets round and round in her hand, without
attempting to draw them on her wrist.
"Only I'm thinking they are too fine for
working girls like me or Nellie. So if the
man you got them from would take them
back, and give us a nice dress or the like
~
But Willie interrupted her with laugh
"Jess girl" he said, Jewellers don't sell
dresses"
They do down this way" Jessie persist
ed, still with an admiring eye on the brace
lets, despite their uselessness. There's
a man goes through here once fortnight
with rings, brooches, dresses, too, of all
sorts"
"Ay, Brummagen jewelryw Willie said
contemptuously, a trile nettled at bis
cousins questioning acceptance Of his gift,
"Wel," she said with a smile on her
bonnie honest face, III no scorn your pres
cut, Willie, but I'll lock it up, aud keep it
to wear at Nellies wedding
Drayton laughed, but though he laughed,
he felt his face fame hotly, as he followed
the girls smiling glance to where Nellie
stood in the open doorway, watching the
little scene between tie cousins
"You had best keep them for your own
wedding" Nellie retorted, as she passed
through the door, with pout on her scar
let lips.
But Jessie only laughed, and said she
had no chance of wedding yet-while
Nellie, with the pout upon her lip changing
into smiles, held out her hand for Willies
offered present.
Willie and the two girls walked to-
gether that day to Calthorpe church by the
road, as the snow lay too thckly on the
meadow-path to allow Of their taking the
shorter route.
Coming out after service, they found
stalwart Mark Wilton waiting for them in
the churchyard, dressed in his homely Sun
day best. He was to dine that day at the
Oak farm by special invitation, and having
joined the Draytons in the churchyard, he
walked back to the farm with Nellie, taking
his place at her side with silent assump-
tion of ownership which made Will Dray-
ton feel triHe sulky--not that it had
aught to do with him, as he told himself
while he went with Jessie down the path
leading to the church gates, only the girl
was too dainty and pretty for such a rough
giant as my lords head keeper.
In honor of Christmas, dinner was served
that day in the farm paror, in place of the
kitchen, where the family dined on ordina-
ry occasions; and at dinner Wilton took
his place by Nellie again. with tho same
ownership as had offended Willie on their
way home from church.
suppose it's settled Wilton is to have
Nellie for wife, aunt 7" Willie hazarded,
when he and Jessie and Mrs Drayton had
come out after dinner into the kitchen,
leaving Nellie and her lover sitting by the
parlor fire.
Yes, suppose be is. They've settled
it between them, and l'n content" Mrs.
Drayton said quietly.
Something in Wilie's voice when he
asked the question made Jessie look sharp
ly up at him, and then glance away again
into the fire F; but nothing more was said
on either side, and the talk 6rifted away to
other things.
Late in the afternoon, when the Draytons
were sitting down TO tea, Tom Churton, an
old Cathorpe friend of Willie's, dropped in
to have chat with him and when Chur-
ton rose to leave, Willie volunteered to
walk back with him to the village, whis- |
pering Jessie, as he followed Churton out,
that he would be back to say good night
to Mark before he left the farm. But
when they reached Calthorpe, instead of
letting him return as he meant to do when
be started, Willie was induced by his COM
panion to come into the bar Of Cathorpe
Inu and have something hot before walking
back to the farm through the darkness and
the driving snow, which had begun to fall
again. Talking in the lighted bar, md
drinking his brandy aud water, so beguied
Will Drayton into forgetfuness, that IL
O'Clock had struck before he entered the
yard gate Of the 0ak-iarm again, and saw
to his dismay that all the lights in the
house were out, and only aglimmering blaze
from the kitchen fire gave hope that any
Of the family were astir.
He knocked softly at the door, which
was unbolted and opened as softly By Nellie
Drayton, who crcpt back instantly within
the warm circle OF the fire
Willie fastened the door behind him, and
then taking of his hat, shook the white
snow from it AS he neared the hearth, where
Nellie stood, looking silently down upon
Al 4 L A L Al.