The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-10-28

IuOuSu Relationship Was uiSbduI ~
considerable business in corn had been done
from time to time between miller and farmer,
but the latter had seldom called at Pollin's
house. He was a bachelor, or he would
probably never have appeared in this his
tory, and he was mostly full of boyish mer-
riment rare in one of his years. To-day his
business with the miller had been so impera-
tive as to bring him in person, and it was
evident from their talk liz the mill that the
matter was payment. Perhaps ten minutes
had been spent in serious converse when
the old farmer turned away from the door,
and, without saying good-morning, went to-
ward the bridge. This was unusual for
man of his temperament
He was an old man-really and fairly old
sixty-five years of age at least. He was not
exactly feeble, but he found stick useful
when walking in high wind. His eyes
were not yet bleared, but in their corners was
occasionally a moisture like majolica glaze
entirely absent in youth. His face was not
shrveled, but there were unmistakable puck
ers in some places. And hence the old gen.
tleman, unmarried, substantial, and CHEEKY
as he was, was not dotted on by the young
girls of Cloton as he had been by their
mothers in former time. Each year his
breast impended a little further over his toes,
and his chin little further over his breast,
and in proportion as he turned down his
nose to earth did pretty females turn up
theirs at him. They might have liked him
as friend had he not shown the abnormal
wish to be regarded as lover. To Agatha
Pollin this aged youth was positively dis
tasteful. -...-.
1t happened that at the hour of Mr.. Lovill's
visit Agatha was bending over the pool at
the mill head, sousing some white fabric in
the water. She was quite unconscious of
the farmers presence near her, and contin-
ued dipping and rnsing in the idlest phase
possible to industry, until she remained quite
still, holding the article under the water,
and looking at her own reflection within it.
The river, though gliding slowly, was yet so
smooth that to the old man on the bridge
she existed in duplicate-the pouting mouth,
the little nose, the frizzed hair, the bit of
blue ribbon, as they existed over the surface,
being but degree more distinct than the
same features beneath.
"What pretty madr' said the old man
to himself He walked up the margin of the
stream, and stood beside her.
''Ohp' said Agatha, starting with surprise.
In her furry she relinquished the article she
had been rinsing, which slowly turned over
and sank deeper, and made toward the hatch
of the mill-wheel.
'sThere-it will get into the Wheel and be
torn to piecesp' she exclaimed.
''I'll fish it out with my stick, my DEAR"
said Farmer Lovill, and kneeling cautiously
down he began hooking and crookng with
all his might. 'What thing is it-of much
value2"
Eyes; it is my best onev' she said nyoun-
tarily.
"lt-what is the it?''
''Only something's piece of linen" Just
then this farmer hooked the endangered arti-
Gle, and dragging it out, held it high on his
Observation-Disclosures, but safe:
''Why, it is chemisep' he said.
The girl looked red, and instead of taking
it from the end of the stick, turned away.
"Hee-heeH' laughed the ancient man.
'sWell, my dear, there's nothing to be
ashamed of that can see in owning to such
a necessary and innocent article of clothing.
There, I'll put it on the grass for you, and
you shall take it when am gone"
Then Farmer Lovill retired, lifting his fin
gers privately, to express amaZement on a
small scale, and murmuring, ''What nice
young thing! Well, to be sure. Yes, nice
child-young woman rather; indeed, mar
riageab!e woman, come to that; of course
she is"
The doting old personItLought of the young
one all this day in way that the young one
did not think of him. He thought so much
about her, that in the evening, instead of 60
ing to bed, he hobbled privately out by the
back door, into the moonlight, crossed field
or two, and stood in the lane, looking at the
mill-not more in the hope of getting
vi Tie dttTdCtlFc luSlu0 budD IOr
the pleasure of realizing that she was fthere
The light moved within, came nearer, and
assembled. The staircase window was large,
and he saw his goddess going up with cam
die in her hand. This was indeed worth
coming for. He feared he was seen by her
as well, yet hoped otherwise in the interests
ofhis passion, for she came and drew down
the window blind, completely shutting out
his gaze. The light vanished from this part,
and reappeared in a window little further
The lover drew nearer; this, then, was her
bedroom. He rested vigorously upon his
stick, ami Strengthening his back nearly to a
perpendicular, turned up his amorous face.
She came to the window, paused, then
opened it.
"Bess its deary cary heart! it is going to
speak to mep' said the old man, moistening
his lips, resting still more desperately upon
his stick, and Strengthening himself yet an
inch taller. "She saw me thenv'
Agatha, however, made no sign; she was
bent on far different purpose. In box on
her window-sil was row of mignonette,
which had been sadly neglected since her
lovers departure, and she began to water it.
as if inspired by sudden recollection of its
condition. She poured from her watering
slowly along the plants, aud then, to her as
constituent, dscerned her elderly friend be-
low.
ga rude old thingv' she murmured
Directing the spout of the jug over the
edge of the box, and looking in another d.
rection that it might appear to be an accident
she allowed the stream to spatter down upon
her admirers face, neck, and shoulder, caus-
ing him to beat quick retreat. Then Aga
tina serenely closed the window, and drew
down that blind also.
sab she did not see me; it was evident
she did not, and was Mistaken said the
fpav, Is,,or 60 L.
hopping out the rius trickling down within
his6hirt-collar as far as he could get at them.
which was by no means to their termination.
"a pretty creature, and SO innocent, too!
Watering her flowers; how like girl who
Is fond OF flowers! wish she had spoken,
and wish twas younger. Yes, know
what I'd do with that little mousev' And
the old gentleman tapped emotionay upon
the ground with his stick.
Agatha, suppose you have heard the
news from somebody else by this time ?'' said
her Uncle Humphrey some two or tbroo
weeks later. 81 mean what Farmer T,ovi
has been talking to me about''
'sNo, indeed" said Agatha.
"He wants to marry We if you be willing.''
80, never!,' said Agatha with dismay.
"That old man."
"Old? He's hale and hearty; and, what's
more, man very well to do. He'll make
you comfortable home, and dress We ND like
doll, and Pm sure you'll like that, or YOU
haint woman of woman born"
but it can't be, uncle !-other reasons
What reasons?"
Why, I've promised Oswald Winwood-
years ago!'
have youm '""i' ago.
YES; surely you know it, Uncle Hum
VIC
arly." "no'ler iesu-
,''Well, can just call to mind that ve ara
always scribbling and getting letters from aro
I quite forget" '' III"
I'm India still. Is it possible that vo,,
don't know about him, and what a pp 1oa
man he is getting? There are paragranbS
about him in our paper very often. The last |
was about some translation from Hindostani |
that he'd been making. And he's coming |
home for me-"
81 very much question it. Lovill will mar |
ry you at once, he says"
Indeed, he will not.''
i da,tt