The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-22
For the REGISTER.
A Chapter or Two.
II Y J q .
CHAPTER 1.

Bertha and were to 60 blackberrying
You must know Bertha and | were tn,
most particular friends. She was tall
and when on hor dignity stately creature
enough. She would have been graceful
but for boyish swing she had when sht
walked, and a way of getting over The
ground like a race.horse. tried tc
break her of it. One day said
"Bert, | wish you wouldn't lopc so !!
We were going down street to the posi-
office, and were just leaving the common
to cross the street to the wooden sidewalk
Our country village, like all others,
boasted few rods of decent plank, which
shortly degenerated into the most awful
mixture Of broken boards and mud it
was ever my fate to behold She took
three strides.
"Bertha, do you hear SAID wish
you wouldn't lope so | have to run, al.
most, to keep up, and get so puffy by the
time get anywhere, that | have no
breath left to do my errand then see
people smile, as if vastly amused. 1t gives
me too much the appearance Of running
for wager !"
Bertha looked at me fu, "a moment ae
if surprised at my asperily.
80 fiddle iaddle, child | can't change
my ways, at my time of life, for you >
Bertha was just eighteen and |, well, |
won't state my precise age, but was not
many years younger) you can contrive to
take two steps to my one,' was short
land we'll jog alorg together as we always
have done"
But, Bertha, you know you might be
so graceful if you only would,-you are
just perfect except for that, and am so
proud Of you | want you to just try"
al don't want to be just perfect, Jose ~
but for all that she colored up to the very
roots Of her soft gold curls. | went on
"You know | couldn't be graceful if
tried; little women may be lovely, Gun.
ming, bewitching, and all that, but never
graceful.
That handsome cousin of mine said
the other day when | was bemoaning
what tiny bit Of humanity | was
Don't you fret Dolly, he always called
me Dolly, tall women may be stunning,
hand SOME, graceful, and all that sort oil
things, but pausing and looking me
over till became Indignantly red, com
mend me to Hnle lady for sweetness,
lie said this so softly, and there was such
queer admring smile in his great brown
eyes, that quaked inwardy, but said
with great assumption Of coolness.
"'Come now Hal don't be horrid, and
stand there staring like great owl =
The grea. fellow looked perfectly
abashed, and good dcai mad at first
lie blew low whistle mixture oi
comical amusement and surprise spread
over his face.
"'Dolly, you havn't the least spice oi
sentiment, have yon, now ?
"'l'm not disposed to communicate
whatever | may or may not have, to you
sir; but there one thing will say, you'll
get over your passion for little people
when | show you my tall white lily.''
There Bertha's pearl skin grew rosy
again, as she put in, "What did you say
that for ?"
"Because didn't we agree to show eacl
other all the incest people we knew 2"
IL saw had walked IIarry's curiosity
for he pumped me numerically all dal
long. He would follow me round ant
every time he came near whispered
Who is she and what is she like?' will
the variation of what is she like and VIII
is she p Even at the tea table when
CHANGED to look up, he made the motion
with his lips. till | didn't dare take m
eyes off my plate for fear Of laughing out
right"
Whoever reads this is wondering whcr
the blackberryng is gone, and probabl
feels like quoting at me a stanza of thu
Iudian poem,
y $50 on, go on, 20 on, go on,
90 on, go on, 60 on etc.
but that anon. Whom should we see o
the steps of the post. Office but my cousi
Harry. lie seemed to be waiting for ,
to come up, and no doubt had been ol
serving US some time. said in a sepu
t. chral whisper.
There he is. now be yourself and |
: shall he impressed by the calm stateline
+ of The white lily"
e Don't say that, or you'll spoil it all
4 Just before we came within earshot
IS inquired.
: "All serene p
Bertha nodded, smiling. | was glad 81
smiled. for | knew no was watching
: and wanted him to sec that love
change Of countenance. We went up Il
steps and I presented Harry.
h Bertha's face was very like that pictu
. Of Beatrice Cenci, the most beautif
8 woman Of her age. The head so sma
. and fair, and fine, with its wealth of shi
, ing hair, the exquisitely moulded fe
i tures. the wonderful blue eyes she W
indeed lovely! Harry saw it, too. lila
a ry's carriage stood near and he offered
= take us for ride behind his fast spa
}. When he found we wouldn't 60 he urg
it peremptorily. Then he waited to knC
?. "where the deuce" we were going. Th
7. I. | didn't dare tell him as knew he wou
RS insist on going too, and We didn't wa
a him. He was very curious to know VIII
.. .. VIC wero going to do with our baskets.
finally told him it would do no good
i'd ID tease because he couldn't 60. | am &C
Ms fident, however, he would have follow
or il it had not been for Bertha; she h
n treated him with the grand condescensi
Of an empress, and | could plainly see