The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-22

utT, IfC luu iudub u NOW tnub uC WOulN
break her heart and | would live to Sc,
it; both Of which gave him to under
stand would be impossible. OF course
knew it was more than half bravado, so
assured him solemnly that she was hard
hearted, impenetrabc and as for mo he
needn't try any of his gas on me, for
aattered myself | was more than that,
was finty And when he asked me if ]
didn't concur with him, that she would
think him very handsome and fascinating
fellow, l gave him a decided negative
added that she didn't care especially fol
anybody but me that never would suf
fer rival in her affections any more thar
she would in mine we were engaged tC
each other for life 4; were both to teach
for awhile, that ultimately she was to be
a great actress and singer; and had moi
decided yet between authoress or artist
Perhaps might combine the twoif found
it practicable; at all hazards we were
inseparablc. She was never TO marry
and l was mover to marry and we were tC
live together always. l never saw any
body so inexpressibly ticked as Harry
was when told him that. He chuckled
to himself long time after, and took
every occasion to ask after the health OF
my sweetheart. Finally he was so pro-
voking and l got so angry that wouldn't
speak to him. lie saw he had gone toe
far, and begged my pardon handsomely
forgavc him on condition he should
never mention it to me again.
Bert and |, after some scramblcs over
fences, and not a little travel, found our.
selves at the blackberry patches. And
o! the glorious sight which delighted our
girlish souls! the luscious loads of rich fruit
that shown out from among the glossy
leaves. Blackberrics were very large and
plentiful that year, and the wrath of our
master when he should discover our alb.
sence was forgotten for we had left our
duties, when we should have been con.
jugating verbs, and were enjoying the ease
with which we had made good our escape.
If have neglected to mention it, will say
now that Bertha and l were room. mates
at the S-town Academy, and had
absented ourselves without permission,
but as the discipline was lax, escaped the
punishment we nn'lnubuedly deserved.
OF course, for tho first half hour, We put
two in the mouth for one in the basket !;
but an hour aud half saw our baskets
heaped to the brim. BY that time we were
tired and warm, and had selected cool,
ierny place to rest Bertha had thrown
herself back on a messy mound a few
yards away. had just settled myself too,
with sigh Of relief, when the ground
began to move under me- a wriggling,
squirming it was. | screamed and sprang
to my feet. Bertha screamed. 1 fed
precipitately, never stopping to look be.
hind, stumbling over something, l know
not what in my haste. Bertha had stood
spellbound near the spot l had left.
She now began backing off in most un.
accountable manner; she screamed
several times in a quick terrified way,
then ran. In fact, we both took to our
heels and ran for dear life in our head.
long rush we came plump into somebody.
The dell end all his apes What's
to pay now? Why, Dolly! what's the
matter? what's after you?'
"O-O-O-dear ~ there was such an
expression of horror in Bertha's eyes as
she .clutched Harry's arm frantically.
For it was Harry.
"Good God what have you seen ~
Well. as | hadn't seen anything, be.
gan TO be ashamed Of running away from
the unknown terror, so for answer | look
ed vaguely to Bertha. She only covered
her pale face with her hands and shud.
dered
"Oh, don't know, | sat down on
some horrid thing that squirmed very
like snake but didn't stop to see what
I ran."
"Come and show me the place, Mis-:
Bertha, you saw it,"
"Oh | can't, Don't 90 near it ~
she begged. at was a serpent, fear
full monster shudder to think. 10, how
it might have crushed you with its dread
full black folds. l never saw one like i
before it's my belief it is rattlcsnakc.
Harry never stopped to hear moro
than two words, but sprang on toward
the place We left. | followed.
80, don't 60, 10, don't 60" but Har
ry shouted. ''here he is, girls, here he is
Get stick, Dolly, and come and help me!
found one and ran, never thought o
doing otherwise, for hadn't many tim
in my childhood helped him chase wood
chucks and murder poor innocent littl
striped snakes Not in those old day
without conjunction, either; had a
that green time of life occasionally dis
puted with Harry about the needles
slaughter Of those poor creatures, bu
that magnanimous juvenile pooh.poohcd
and in the end silenced my arguments b
saying scornfully, "Ho that was alway
the way with girls they dasn't kill
fly I! and q snake makes 'em scream !
That, my sensitive soul could not bea
, and from my cherished Harry too. So
never after flinched or dared to let hiI
know what throes of conscience, whit
blood.curdling | endured, ,at every wriggl
Of snaky's little body, but manfully hel
q it down with a crotched stick, while ii
! destructive boy with many warliE
whoops and gestures, and the create
:, zest, pounded it fiat, until its cunnin
7 tiny red tongue | no much admired, pr
truded from the distorted mouth SO pit
ful and ghastiy, but l kept my qualu
q to myself and thereby earned the admir-
tion of my beloved Harry. And so wht
y he called out to come and help him
: = never thought of doing otherwise.
Harry was laying about him wi
Q energy. | saw the snake leap into Il
/ air, its mouth open and head throw
|. back but blow from his club fellt
/. it. In fact, came in at the death. al
!. saw its great dark body writhing in 4
IS agonies Of death.
r. "A black snake" Harry said, "and
o monster; rather an unpleasant seat.mat
d. Dolly" turning it over with the toe
A his hoot