Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-04-08
MISS CRIMME's ROMANCE.

At the extreme end of the main street
in quiet New England town, ther'
was a low, rambling stone house. 4
portion of it was overrun 80 with vine
that some of the windows were quit,
hidden. There was allaround it a small
space of ground thickly planted will
trees. Miss Jane Crimme lived in th,
house, and had lived there for many
years. Before, her mother had livec
there also long time, and when the ole
lady became an invalid and bed ridden
her daughter took her place at the heat
of the house, and so strongly did Mis-
jaime resemble her mother, that whe1
the latter passed away, things wen
on exactly as sver, and it seemed as il
the old lady and her daughter had beer
merged into one person, SO that people
called her Mrs. Jane or Mrs. Crimme.
Miss Jane was far from being home.
ly person through the traces of time
and suffering might easily be seen the
remains OF past beauty, but hardened
and SO sorrow stricken, that great fear
fell on the little maid, Elizabeth, when
ever she appeared.
Elizabeth was the maid -of-all work,
and living defiance to those rules
which arrange a certain harmony be-
tween people and their names. Having
been taken from some asylum or charity
school, and being much astonished at
everything differing from her past asso-
Citations, her face had acquired chronic
look of utter amazement, somewhat
lghtened by pair of perfectly round,
large black eyes. Her general appear
ance was rather remarkable. too, on ac-
count of the evident unrestrained exer-
cise of her own taste in matters of drees,
which was not altogether above criti-
cism. Her favorite post was at win
dow commanding something of view
of the main street, at which, at short
intervals, during the entire day, she
was to be seen leaning her chin on her
two hands, and her elbows on the win
dow ledge, with tho prominent portions
of her face pressed fiat against the
glass, which practice had not improved
the regularity or form of her features.
At the least noise she vanished as though
the earth had swallowed her, the fact be-
ing that she dropped herself on the
floor and crawled to the scene of her
duties, as though the window alone was
to be feared by allowing her to be seen.
Miss Crimme was really kind and gen.
tie, but Elizabeth could never quite
herself to the tall figure, and
severe, sad face of her mistress.
Miss Crimme's mother had first come
to the town many years before, quite
alone. Her peculiarity of attending ex-
to her own affairs, and leaving
those of her nei3hbors alone, had at
first, naturally, of course, excited curl
osity and suspicion, but az years passed
On, and nothing occurred to feed the one
or keep alive the other, they died out,
and the old lady was spoken of with re-
spect and left entirely to herself. Even
The arrival of her daughter, of whose
existence many were ignorant, some
years after her removal to the town,
,aused but little remark.
Miss Jane was then handsome woman
If about twenty three. 1t was said she
,ame from abroad indeed, several
stories we're set adoat, but soon were
orgotten for some more interesting
'ubject of gossip. She was quiet in her
and very retiring and reticent,
Is If under a restraint, at first, but this
'oon grew to habit. Shortly after her
,oming, her mother was taken i'll, and
rom that time never left her room ex-
,ept to be carried to her last resting
,lace.
From the time of her mothers illness
Miss Crimme assumed the head of the
house, and, as I once before said, seem
ID so like her mother in her ways and
appearance, that she was called Mrs
Jrimme, and the old lady herself was
orgotten some time before she passed
way.
Elizabeth was seated, one afternoon,
N the back of chair at tho kitchen
greatly absorbed in the occa-
ional passing by of q pedestrian, when
violent knock at the door caused her
o drop instantly on the floor. She re-
named there some moments, entirely |
orgetful of her duty to open the door.
1t q second knock she tremblingly went |
o the door. This she carefully secured |
Nth chain, to prevent its being open
d more than about four inches, and |
pening it, and placing as much of her
elf as was possible in the opening, she
aid "Please come in, ma'am |" utter |
? unconscious of the impossibility of |
ny compliance with her request.
It was the postman.
Elizabeth never remembered having
cen the postman at the house before.
nd was consequently greatly alarmed
s we'll as amazed.
"a letter for Mrs. Crimme."
And he left in the hands of the
and still terrified maid
mall note with the postmark of the city
n it, and sealed with black.
It was some minutes before she suffi-
iently recovered to close the door.
hen she carefully wiped off the letter
n both sides with her apron, and fold
,g it up in that article of dress, went
, Miss Orimme's room.
She knocked timidly.
The clear, even voice of Mics Crimme
anne in reply:
"Come in
Elizabeth opened the door carefully,
nd squeezing herself in, shut it to
astily, as though she were afraid the
ccupant might escape.
"Please, ma am, it was the postman,
nd he's been and gone and left letter,
Ia am y with two quick courtesies, and