Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-27
TCoutinued from first page. !

at work in the house-place, with the door
to the shop open, when one Of these gen.
try came in for spur to be mended, or a
new bit, or even girth or saddle Gath
er's trade embraced all } or to betake
myself to my piano-it might be uncon-
sciously--to show that some one in the
old-fashioned house had a modern accom-
plishmentp
One day-a black one in my LIES car
endar--I had been sent by Leah 10 cream
the house place window, task most re-
pugnant to nv pride, so unwilling was
TO flourish nv new domestic accomplish
ments in the sight of the town. was
mounted on wooden chair, polishing the
middle panes, when the Knutsford coach
came rafting on over the rough stones.
Down went the washleather, and down
| jumped. secretly hoping had not been
recognized by the smart Young beau who
occupied that post of honor. the box-seat.
| had no idea who he was, but so ire
ouently had he met the Misses Delamere's
train of young ladias in their walks in and
around the town, and so obviously had his
eyes singled me out from the rest, that
had become target for schoolgirl banter
on his account, and had begun to blush
under his admiring gaze when suddenly
recalled home from the roman e to the
reality OF life.
threw down the reality along with the
window leather, and again took up the
romance, little dreaming how dreary
reality lay behind it,
ran into the parlor, and from behind
the screen of plants saw the carriage
drive off southwark, leaving The hero of
my romance behind shaking hands with
neIghboring squire upon the steps of the
George" The two went into the inn
together; Nat. the ostler, followed with
valise.
.What have you left this window half
cleaned forp Come and finish it directly
called Leah to me from the house-place in
premptory tones.
l did not answer. was at loss what
to say.
Through the open door she could see me
at the parlor window peering out; and
raising her voice, called to me again.
I'm not going to finish cleaning it !" /
answered decisively, coming out OF the
parlor. and turning to 60 up stairs.
This comes of sending you to that fine
boarding school, filling you with pack O
foolish notions. / wonder what sort o.
wife you think to make If you're afraid to
soil your fingers? Go, and take the pie
out o. the oven. and then lay tn cloth for
dinner, whilst finish tho window. I'm
not ashamed of work if thou art"
Leah had already taken up the leather
had thrown down; and, glad to be let off
so easily. l did what she indicated; and by
the time dinner was on the table, the win
dow was cleaned, the big cactus and the
two myrtles were put on the broad win
dow-ledge,, and father came in from the
shop to dinner, with Amos at his heels.
Leah had not let me off as supposed.
She spoiled our dinner, by asking father
what he meant to make Of me. l was far
too fine for q country shop-keeper's wife.
Perhaps I'd notion some gentleman's
son would make fool of himself and a
lady of me; and more in the same strain.
As had got some such notion into my
foolish head, was not so apt at defence
as might have been, but sat with burn
ing cheeks, trifling with the beefsteak-pi
which l had no appetite TO eat My dear,
good, kind father took my conscious 81
lence for patient amiability.
''Look, thee, Leah,n said he, laying
down his knife and fork, "get that wench
O. Wrights to help thee VII tn rough
work. I'll pay for a servant, lass, but I'll
not have Mary made into a slave for any
of you"
And so it fell out that, dressed with
more than ordinary smartness, made an
errand in the afternoon TO bespeak the SER
vices Of Nathan Wright's niece. with a
sort of undefiled hope to meet the new ar
rival from Knutsford by the way.
Wright lived in cottage on the COM
mon; and sure enough, as turned the
corner from the market-place to come
home. after engaging Matty, l saw him
talking to Nat himself in the open en-
trance to the stable-yard.
He recognized me with start; and
am sure blushed. 1t does not take much
10 make q. girl of seventeen blush pain
fully. i suppose he took my change OF
color for recognition, and lifted his hat to
me as / passed down the street, and went
into our house, through the shop, with my
heart all in futter.
Leah was puzzled what to make of me
all that day. and, indeed, for several days
after: was SO restless and excitable, had
30 little appetite, and was so ready to do
any errand which should take me up the
town.
Not an hour after had seen him with
Nat, the young fellow-who wore shoot
ng-jacket-after scanning the front Of the
long promises attentively, and perhaps
catching glimpse of my head as l sat on
the window-seat, behind the scarlet flow
ers of the cactus, stroled across the wide
street, and into my fathers shop.
As was generally the case, whilst
breath of warm air could watt through,
the door between the shop and the house.
place stood wide open, and heard him
ask for q powder-fiask and some gun-flints,
and after some talk with Amos on the
shooting in the neighborhood, pay for his
purchases. and order them to be sent over
TO the George" for MI Marbury of Knuts-
ford.
He spoke very distinctly, and did not
lose word. think he intended me to
hear. After that he was in and out of the
shop repeatedly. until he had established
quite gossipping acquaintance with
Amos who was in the habit of retailing to
Leah all he picked up respecting the new
customer. He had neither father nor
mother, was master OF himself and mis-
own property, and lived in a house of his
own, overlooking the Knutsford race
course.
If happened to meet him in the street