Middletown transcript., 1874-09-19

IT.
"Oh dear, no, gigglod Amand
j aShe'S going to be the band herself
Mandy's laughing at me- explai
ed Nell. because I'm going to buy
piano with my earnings
Il s'Let those laugh who win. cri'
TOM, lightly well play duets I
gether, Nell.'
well, Tn no company for sus
famous musicians said Amanda. .
guess TIL be going home.
I'm going your way. said Ton
rising
.Oh, so soon7' pleaded Nellie.
Il didn't think OF stopping-I hear
the music of your voices as ! cam
By
/ 1T. don't compare with the musi
Nell will make on her piano.
..Well, good-by. Nell. Let me kno,
/ when you're ready to begin that duet
By-the-way, what shall it be-.Th
rose that all are praising r" and then b
went Of laughing with Amanda. ant
left Nell looking after them with hun
cry eyes, and heart heavy with IN
spoken wishes What happiness woult
there be in the possession Of . piano
or world, if Tom preferred Amanda
And yet. who wss she to dream Of taking
the fancy Of d young fellow like Ton
Brierly-she with her pale face and
serious eyes and plain ways ? The wo'
Linen Of his family bad been used to rus.
tie in stiff silks. and shine in shoen ol
lace, with sunshine and powder tangled
10 their curls, and rouge and smiles on
|their diqplcd checks at least that was
lths story their patriots told, hanging
and growing dusty in the great hall
year after year. Il was hardly likely
Tint de heir Of such traditions would
think Of her; and yet it was her day
dream her aspiration, that some day
be migbt-a presumptuous dream /; but
be was alwayssso kind. and might not
kipdpess crystalise into love any day !?
Amanda with her vivid colors and
'pretays con6dsnce and dashing ways,
might beguile the heart out Of . seraph.
she faneied |; and. after all. Tom was
only ! young man, with 4 mans relish
for warmth and.vitalitg and beauty
And what If It should come TO pass,
and she should have to live her life next
door TO Tom and his wife, md watch
their shadows upon the curtains, and
see their children go in and out! After
an, perhaps she needed the piauo, in
order that she might confde the secret
that sometimes seemed too Big for her
heart to hold.
"Nell is SO oddv said Amanda, as
she and Tom loitsred home. What
% you suppose she wants..of . piano
] giriSwho spends half her time ID the
dairy and kitchen 2
IA piano isn't 10 bad investment
answered Tom ], ..apd Deacon Small
says Nell's got q talent that 6dghth't to
bo bid 10 napkin laughingly.
"Oh. that's it! he's been turning her
head With his batteries. ] wonder shy
be dossp' marry her. and be done with
ifl' s sEsz sssz@
Il :; Marry Nelly Deacon Small!' cried
Tom. with ! start and 4 laugh. ibid
as ever dare propose. such a.thing n
They say shsyhas had thunder con-
'ideration. Folks think she couldn't doI
bsttor.'
.s0suIdn't she Z said Tom. uneasily. |
Hes got means, you know said]
Amanda. seriously. and Nslps got
lmbitioa.
.sAnd he's old enough to be her
yrandfather.'
8. 49, -
Some folks, you know, would soon-
i be an old mans darling than young
mans slave .i.ias
!. You, wouldn't7'
"I'll wait till the young man asks
ne,' ansvered Amanda, suggestively
8 well as wisely, and tossing her head
8 she bade him good-by.
1T can't be that Nell would marry
be Deacon for his means, mused
'om; "Amanda's such little apple
lossom that it's hard for fellow to
make up his mind. Jehu! what con-
cited ass l am !! Perhaps Nell wouldn't 4
harry me any way. There's look in
er eyes. though, that makes me feel
ometimes as if there wasn't any body
lse in the vide Woodland then Aman-
. II throw one of her sauoy glanees
ais way and raise the deuce 10 me !,
|
"fm going to make soms-of those
Used doughnuts that father likes
lid Amanda that evening I'm going
surprise him with 'em.'
"Wa'al, there's nothin' ter hinder
'turned her mother, .only the empt-
p is out
.'That's always the way. if take 6
'tion to do any thing \
"Wa'al, you don'ttake notion often i
'ough to hurt; but if you're sot on d
you might toss up roly poly /; be Il
res that siCht better onlv IFS at