The Van Buren press., 1873-04-15

the garden patn leauiDS W Tue nousc al
m est before he could realize what had
happened.
Far one moment David, who stood
gazing ruefully after her, thought ofpur-
suit aud recapture. But bcfsre he had
time 80 put hs plan into execution his
tormentress. after stopping to give one
nocking farewell wave OF her hand from
the from porch, vanished inside the hall
door SO there was nothing to be done
but 80 turn reluctantly from the gate and
and take the road homsward.
Ifvou could have looked into the fam
lily sitting room at Squire Moore's short
lv before eight O'Clock on that same eve
ming, vou would have hal a CHEEKY pic
turs before YOU The AT supper clear
ing away was over, for tie sitting room
was also the room where the daily meals
Of the family were eaten. The leaves or
the old fashioned dinner table weie let
down. and the table itself had been COW
cred with q bright oiled cloth and was
sc, back against the wall The crumbs
had been eareflll, brushed with turkey
wing from the neat homemade carpet,
and Annie's workstand was drawn up in
front of the ample and blazing fire of
hiekorj logs which srackled chesrlly in
the old fashioned fire place.
A bounlifully piled tray ofred checked
apples and plate full Of cracked wal
nuts were on it, in close proximity to
Anne's coque,tish work basket made OF
pine cones br her own deft little hands,
and daintiy lined with blue silk.
On one side of the fireplace sat Mrs
Moore. fat fair, more than forty, and at
peace with all the world She sat sway
ing backward and forwards at intervals
in her low rocking chair, knitting as she
rocked and refreshed herself now and
then with a mouthtul from a half eaten
apple which lay within easy reach, just
upon the corner of the table; or touch
ing in caressing manner with the tp OF
her foot II sleek, lazy-looking gray cat
that lay purring and blinking on the
hearth rug before her.
Annie sat on the other side of the ia
bic quietly drawing hsr needle out OF
long piece Of white camprlc, and with
her head as kusv AS her hands with try
ing to cuntrive some clever way of incl.
dsntally mentioning the visit. which was
now momcntsrily expected, to her moth
er. without exciting suspicion OF it, he
iag a prc-arranged Affair. She would
have given good deal to he able 30 say
in an off hand manner that she wouldn't
wonder if Mr.. Winthrop were to drop IN,
as he was in tie habit of calling scea.
sionally on Saturday evening about this
I me. But she resolected with a twlnge
II conscience how hard she had tried to
persuade the lady to accompany her hus
band on the promised visit to Aunt kuths
in spite OF the rorcwarnings of coming
spell of neurslgy." which had intiml-
dated her from vsnturing out into q
damp night air, and also she had plead
headache as an excuse for not going her.
self She knew her mother was sharp
enough to draw her own differences from
these two facts. and tho addi'onsl one
of her being dressed with more than usu
al care to spend an evening at home
IL shall not dare TO tell her now,
she said to herself: " she'd be sure to
think that wanted to get her out of the
wa,, so that l might have David oil to
myself > SO, like = wise little puss, she
was silent
Ill venture my word on it you would
not have wondered at our bashful young
farmers desperate enthraliment II you
could have sven Annie Moore as she sat
4, E,.t thnt frnstN piuIt
November She had inst before supper,
INDUCED in what a Western girl would
call fixing up A neat fitting dark
ahiniz dress, looking as fresh as when 1t
had first come out OF tho village store, o.
dainty white linen collar and cuffs, and
coquetish frilled apron Of white muslin,
and blue neck ribbon tied in a cunning
bow. were the chief items OF Annies toll
ettc But she looked as pretty as If
hours had been spent in donning satin,
lace and jewels, Her rich wavy gold
brown hair WAS iried in shining rolls
away in shining rolls away from her warm
red checks and caught up in the meshes
Of Il slken not at the back.
Eight clock aud past! Worthy Mrs
Moore was doing over her knitting
Her shadow on the opposite wall bob
bed about in grotesqus mimiery as she
nodded to and fro-now crushing the
white satin bows on her
spruce cap against the back Of her chair
how almost falling forward, while her
fat hands at length dropped listIsssly in
her lap, and her ball of yarn rolled down
upon ,he hearth Pussy espying 1t, was
soon busy in unwinding and converting
it into all sorts OF Gordian knots
All at once came double rap at the
door-an audaclous double rap-which
laid Let me ino so loudly and impa.
tantly. and in such self assured man
ner, thai Annie, rendered nervous with
suspense, started up with little scream
and set her foot on Madame Puss tail,
who in turn gave vent still NOR loudly to
her amazemcnt and dsplcasurc.
All these three combined or rather rap
idly successive noises aroused Mrs.
Moore, and she started wildly into an
erect position, rubbing hcr eyes, setting
her cap border, and exclaiming
Bless my soul, Annie! What WAS all
that? Somebody at the door, What
time is it. ANYHOW, aud who can it be
So late as this. too
1T is not late. mother Ohly little
after eight. I'll go and see who it is. y
said Annie, demurely, at the same time
taking the one candle from the table
No. Here. Annie. you wind up my