The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-10-14

huu yOu WOuiu actuully lOse tHt ucll-
cious voice Of Sebastian, just because
your dress isn't according to the latest
models = burst out the Major For
goodness sake why don't you put on a
shawl p
Could | wear n shawl over my head
Meg Merriles fashion, you unreasonable
Harold? q
oh, the bonnet is Behind the age too =
Yes, the bonnet is behind the age too.
sir,
Marcia, had better opinion of you,
said her brother.
Miss Arkwright glanced ,imidly at
Allonby. He smiled.
Indeed, indeed pleaded Marcia. Il
would rather stay at home all my days
than 60 abroad dowdyr
And who do you suppose will know
the difference p
Marcia shrugged her shoulders with
plying gracefulness.
Every woman, Harold, and probably
a good many gentlemen
Well quoth Major Arkwright,p pulling
vigorously at his whiskers. Pm thank
full | wasn't born woman
why p innocently demanded Marcia,
with mischievous curl of her lips.
Men are above such petty considera-
tions. Men don't stoop to consider wheth
er their coats or caps are cut according to
this seasons style or last. Men don't
Now Harold, do be little reasona.
ble,' interrupted his sister. Il suspect
you lords of creation are quite as partic.
uar in your way as we women about our
gear.
Nonsense =
'Brief-but not particularly polite,
laughed Marcia. Tomorrow evening
I'll go with you Harold, to hear Mir
lecture
Major Arkwright elevated his eye
brows.
I'D be willing to wager a new silk
dress, Marcia, that if that suit don't come
home from Madame What's Her Names,
you would even deny youself the intelec.
tual treat of hearing Mr.. -!
I'm not so certain about that, retort.
ed Marcia gravely. Sebastian l might
might sacrifice to the Moloch Of fashion,
but not Mr.. -'s eloquence.-Tow.
ever, let us hope the sacrifice may be re-
quired, she added, with laugh And
y, Harold, by the way, Uncle Eiab is
coming to town tomorrow to see about
renewing the mortgage on the old farm
| got letter from him today.
'Horrid old bore !! was the nephew's
undutiful comment. OF course we shall
have to ask him to dinner; but | don't
see that there's any help for it, Marcia.
Come, Allonby, we shall be late
And the friends departed
The next day, as Uncle Eiiab was
about taking leave, Marcia coaxed him
to let her have his overcoat.
But what on earth do you want Of it
Marshy? :? questioned Uncle Eliab
Never mind uncle dear; only leave it
here till you come to town next. You
shall wear Harold's handsomest supcrGne
broadcloth, just from Delislc's, in its
stead
And shall look like an old turkey in
peacock's fine feathers !. said Uncle
Eliab shrewdly. But you always was
great hand for mysteries and contrivances
Marshy, though what you can do with my
old coat that Betsey Miller made out OF
Huldah's cloak, ten years ago last Mach.
aelmas, | declare to gracious | don't
know. They don't make no such brass
buttons nowadays though, P'raps now,
shrewdly added Un,le Eliab, You is
goin' to masquerade party, or some O.
them things I've read of, or Harold is =
Now, Urclc, don't ask questions, but
leave the coat there's an old darling
She put up her rosy lips as she spoke
to brbe the old man with kiss, and I'm
Gle Eliab surrendered at discretion.
We'll, well, child have your own way
he said-and Marcia had it.
'No'c,' thought Marcia, with sparkling
eyes, when once the front door had safely
banged behind Uncle Eliab's departing
form, 'I'll settle up old scores with Mas.
ter Harold =
As the hour of eight approached, Ma
jor Arkwright burst into the room like a
good looking whirlwind.
Are you ready, Marcia? Allonby is
waiting in the hall, and We must hurry
if we expect to get anything in the like.
ness OF good seat
Ready? of course I'm ready Miss
Arkwright answered demnrely. i have
been sitting with my things on for the
last quaater of an honr'
Il ought to have been on hand little
sooner acknowledged Major Arkwright,
but had all those mortgage papers TO
look over and settle, and time slipped
away before | knew it. Howevcr-but
where's my overcoat?'
'On the hall rack, isn't it p Marcia
responded, with curious light shining
into her eyes,
There's something here muttered Har-
F old, in subdued tone, but it's an old
butternut. .colored thing, sprinkled all over
with brass buttons the size of Spanish
dollar, say, Marcia, do believe Un-
Gle Eiab has worn off my coat, and left
this relic of Noah's Ark, here in its
place :
And he held it out at arms length.
Il dare say said Marcia preserving her
gravity by an almost superhuman effort
but it seems to be very warm and sub
stantial, and you and Uncle Eliab are
very nearly of height and size. Put it
r on and come along we shall certainly be
too late.'
Put it on = echoed the Major, almost
in shout. Put this thing on me!
, well, why not ? It's little old style
to be sure
"A little Just look at that collar
, and those lappels-and those brass but
tons I"
, Harold ! said Marcia gravely, ,mimick'
ing to the best of her ability her brother,
tone and voice of the evening before, dc
unn acinallu mean To tell me that uor