Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-01-17
Polly's Mistake.
BY Z. A. MATTERS.

but not IN that way.
Not in that way, Polly? l know
only one way of being fond of people"
"0nly one way Why, there are
dozens of ways"
well. Polly, Just say you'll marry
me, and you may be fond of me in your
own way, or in dozen ways. I'm not
particular"
But that was just what Polly would
not do All Johns ,elosSsass could not
induce her to utter that simple little
word yes" At last Johns stock of
patience gave Ost, and he told Polly
that she was finty-hearted little firt,
to pretend to be fond of him in any way
when it was plain to be seen that she
did not care button for him. That
was too much, to be called firt and
finty-hearted firt, and by John, Pol
ly's eyes flashed, and sharp retort was
on the tip of her tongue, when the kitch-
en- door opened and Uncle Silas entered.
BE you two holdin' Quaker meetin' ?''
said he as he was going out after filling
and lighting his pipe at POlly's ironing
place, ''Or be you savin' up for the sing
in tonight ? Don't over-do it, tho,
Polly, or maybe your tOnguell get stiff
in the jints. Queer things is women's
tongues. And Uncle Silas went off
chuckling over his little joke.
Of course after that Polly was not CO.
ing to be in any hurry to speak. Per-
haps John thinks she can hold her
tongue, too She will show him And
Polly bites her lips very hard and tries
to look very resolute indeed. But John
had been busy repent1ng for ten min
utes he got up as his father shut the
door and said quite gently. "I'm sorry,
Polly, for what l said while ago. l
didn't mean it, dear" No answer--un-
less big tear that dropped on POlly's
iron just then might be taken for one.
''Well. Polly. never mind, I'll try to
get over being fond of you, if it makes
you so unhappy you need not cry about
it; hope it Is not so bad as that" And
with that John went out to his wood
chopping and Polly finished ironing and
nobody was any the wiser. That Is. no
body but Paul Pry, the parrot, who had
heard every word, and startled Polly
dreadfully that same evening by calling
out suddenly at the supper table. "Hil-
10. Polly, never mind never mind Poor
Polly Pretty Polly don't cry l''
However, neither Uncle Silas mol
Aunt Debby paid the least regard tC
Paul Pry's rather personal and slightly
impertinent remarks but they made
Polly so nervous with dread of what ht
might say next that she could not eat
and thereby attracted Aunt Debby's at
tentiOn to herself.
"Be you sick, child? You don't seen
to have no appetite and your face is al
red as q beet this minute do hope t.
goodness you amt going to be took dOwr
with fever. Simon Brown says it's dref
he bad over to RockaWay."
'.POlly's cheeks is allus like pink hol
lyhocks," said Uncle SiIas, with glanc,
of afectlonate admiration in Polly's di
rection.
"Some folks admire to see red cheeks
and then again some doesn't. There
Alice Brown, now; she amt got N
more color nor stattoo but most folk
: lows she's drefle hansum that younI
painter chap from York was allus
drawin' of her picter. For my part,
t think red cheeks is healthy" and Aun
: Debby stirred her tea meditatively.
'Alice Brown amt no more to b
compared to our Polly for looks no
B them bleached pOtato-sprOuts down cel
lar is fit to be put in pOsy-bed alOn
: with pinks and gillyhowers;" said Ur
Gle Silas Indignantly.
"Well, father, dunno last sabbat
e to church when l looked UP in the COZ
and see Alice in her white frock an
with all them yellow curls hangin' ronn
her face and singin' so sweet-like, VIII
: couldn't help thinkin' of the angels.
= Polly amt no angel. surely. Br
e don't you be downhearted, Polly; pre-
ty gals amt going out of fashion tn
!. year. No. nor next year nuther.
ia father, how you do talk As
is Polly didn't know better nor to set stol
It by her good looks. Why. there VI;
e Clarissy Hunter, when ! was girl /;
perfect wax doll. all pink and whit
and hair the color O. sunshine well, 81
d went down to FaIbridge to visit b
mothers relations, and took small-pO
g and that was the last of her good look
But that want the wust Of it; she W
: promised to Hiram Barber, and when
h see she want bit like herself he I
; and married Kitty Gibson. If It hi
~ a. been me I'd a. ruther had Clariss
if she was humbly. for she was swes
tempered critter, and mighty ne
er hOusekeeper but Kitty Barber-Kit
Gibson that was-was Tartar and
II sIattern to boot which amt commo
n For you'll mostly see slack. easy-gOi
~ woman amt got no more snap In