The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-05-24

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the folded and addressed note eonspicn.
oasly on The top of pile Of newspaper
and sheet muslc on the plAao, and took
bis leave, 10 . strange whiri Of excite
Iseut aud expectation.
Half 40 honr later Mrs. BAldwia came
lie, stopping AZ she passed the dining
room door TO speak 10 the girl.
You carried All those papers aud the
music up stairs, Annle, as told you!
The very minute the gentlemea went
away, MFs. Baldwin--it was Mr.. Amml-
don, and be came juss as you went out.
Oh, ,has's too bed that | was not lbi
Mrs. Mays Edith 10 very, very sick, AB-
ME.
And 90 Mrs. Baldwin never knew OF
the precious letter, as she sat there alone
by tho firs, thinking Of the caller she had
missed with genuine sorrow aud paiiiag
checks aud eyes full of disappointment
For pretty Mrs. Bessie, with her soft
blue eyes aud rebslllousiy curly halr, and
small, perfect lgure, was more interest.
ed in the handsome bachelor than she
cared TO admit even to herself.
The next day she dressed with nuusual
care for her afternoon visit TO Mrs. Bene-
dict, wondering, as she bRsied the soft
little Fucbing in the neck OF her sleeveless
velvet jacket, and adjusted the pogfS Of
her black silk overskirt, whether or not
Mr.. Ammidon would think she looked
well, aud whether, possibly, he might
not escort her home.
So her eyes were dancing with radiant
blue sunshine, aud her cheeks were
flushing most delicious rose pink hue,
and her lovely mouth dlmpling in be-
wiiching smiles, wheu Mr.. Ammidon
came into the sitting room, several min
uies before the time for the dinner-belI
TO ring Mr.. Ammidon handsomer than
she had ever seen him, ia dark blue
cloth suit, with white tie, and bis face so
grandIy intelligent and animated as he
went up to her aud offered ber bis hand,
looking straight 10 her face as be spoke,
very quietly, but with all bis fate In his
words--and she So smilingly, 80 uncon-
scious.
| sm very glad to see you, Mrs. Bald
win. Didn't you find il very cool this
Afternoon2
Then she met bis gaze, aud hating her.
self because her heart was throbbing SO
gladly at sight Of him aud despising her
telf because he had thrilled her from
bead TO foot.
Then, never knowing her fate was in
ii, she turned her beautiful face careless.
ly away and withdrew her hand, and
answered him;
Nc; | thought II was charmingly pleas
ant.
Aud MIR. Ammidon rocoiled ~ II he
bad been struck dreadful blow, and
could not, for the life of him, console
himself with the conviction that women
were fools and men were we'll rid OF
them.
The uext day he told Mrs. Benedict he
would not want bis apartments any
longer, and had his trunks packed aud
sent 10 . hotel.
Mr.. Ammidon determined 10 kill two
birds with one stone-to get out of the
possibility of having TO meet often Mrs.
Benedict's friend, the pretty, merciless
little woman, like whom he had never
loved another, and to make his home
whers houss cleaniniBg was unknown,
and Bessie cried till her eyes we're red
aud swollen 10 think how entirely indiff-
erent Mr.. Ammidon was to her.
And the winter crept softly along In
soft, white, snowy robes, and several
times Mrs. Baldwin saw Mr.. Ammidon
driving past, although he didn't do more
as be passed than glance carelessly at the
window aud bow.
Aud the sweet, warm spring days
came, and with perfnmy hints OF roses
and woodbine, aud fresh emerald leaves,
aud climbing vines, aud bursting bios
SONS, came Bessie Baldwiu's fate, in the
shape OF the Euromanlic, the inevitable
spriog cleaning that Iaust be undertaken
and accomplished, no matter how tempt
ingly bslmy sunshine aud fragrant bree
Ess aud cl0udless skies cIamor for prom
enAdes aud drives la order To welcome
them.
Thus IL happened thai Mrs. Baldwin
was ensconced Ia one of her chambers
with blue veil tied tightly over her
golden hair, aud her muslin dress pinned
up 10 front, disclosing ravishlngly lovely
feet despite the haIf-worn boots, with a
basket lying 10 readiness beside her, and
her faithful ally, Annie, waiting to con-
aigu pilea Of waste TO desthly ignominy,
and The paper aud rag man.
0nly one pile more, Annie, aud aren't
yon glad we're so nearly done? Here,
yon sort the papers, and III see that
nothing worth saving has been put with
this music.
And = minute After, the soft, rustliug
stiffness was broken by sudden eIacu-
lation from Mrs. Baldwin,, and Annie
looked up, wide-eyed, TO see her readiHg z
= penciled note, with paling face aud
trembling lips.
It's & letter lost, thafs ell, Annie.
Go on with The papers. There is man
h the door. I'll 90 down. You can
finish.
And with 6allerlng heart aud eyes that
were suspiciOusly bright Mrs. Bessie
went down stairs glad Of 80 opportunity
10 get away by herseif few minutes TO