Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-04-26
Hester's Husband.

A dreamy. radiant afternoon, in
mid July; the clock pointing to the
hour of four; the scent of the
newly mown hay filling the air,
and the crimson pillows of the clo-
ver- meadows, :i>ing and falling
softly at tho touch of the summer
wind; and one brown winged robin
warhling his roundelay III the up.
per houghs that brushed the din-
ing room windows at Battle Farm
ibis was the scene aud season.
Miss Prudence Brat,le old not
take boarders. She was a great
deal too genteel for that ; hut du-
ring the months of July and Au
gust she received few friends,
who were allowed to share the ex-
penses of the household. And
somehow, Miss Battle continued
to subslst very comfortably for the
rest of the year on the July and
August contributions of her
friends.
Upon this glowing summer af-
ternoon, wnen the cherries w.nked
at you f,om behind their leafy
yellS,and the currants hung like ru-
by trlnges on the bushes hat lined
the garden fence. Miss BratIie was
makIuS GUSTAV DIS in her kitchen.
Hester / said Miss Brattle.
Yes aunt, said Hester with q
nervous jump.
Get me tho nutmeg, said Miss
Brat le, and don't stare about you
so
Yes, aunt said Hester, present
ing herself. with the nutmeg gra-
ter in hanl. and u fac pink color
on her cheek.
How old are you 2 demanded
aunt Prudence. tlan>fxiag her
9 CO. So TO speak with the twin
moons of her speclacles.
Sixteen, aunt Erudence.'
Then, retor,ed uuut Prudence,
you are a g"eat deal too old to go
trailing about the woods with Mr..
Leland.
Hester grew pinker than ever.
Il didn't trail about, aunt Pru.
dence. | only walked as far as the
This Teton Rocks, to see the view
which he said wns as fine as any
thing ou the Rhine
'r'Idd.esticks, said aunt Pru
lence. Look here, Iletty-you
mind your business, and let him
mi.d his
Yes, aunt, said frightened Hes
ter.
Nov mind what I say J. persist
ed Miss BrattIe. grating savayeIv
away ut the brown uu,meg balls.
Yes, aunt, tlnttered Hester
and she went back to the table
cloth she WAS menGin5 and cried
quietly over it, she didn't quite
Know why.
Aud all his time NJ. Harry Ln
land, the gentleman in question
WAS strolllug homeward, through
the woods, with Miss Leonora
Baltimore leaning ON his arm
while MIS-. Baltimore, IL pDrtiy ma
troE, in black greuadine and Il
Spanish scarf, was making believe
iead uovei o1 the veraudah, and
III reality watching restiessIy for
Leonora to make her tatdy appear
hnce.
''IL's too ridiculous for any
thing + said Mrs Baltimore to her
SELF, inpatientiy brushing fv of
! her book Il believe Nora woul,i
Hlc: with plow boy, if she could
hnd no one else and first thing
she knows she'll be committing
herself in some way or other
And Doctor Thorne's nephew com
lug here in August, too It's out
rageous-th IT'S what it is 7
| When Mss Leouora at l4st
emerged from the shadow of the
woods, her broad Gipsy hat trim
med with ferns a2d wild roses, hsr
lips all wreathed With smiles, and
Harry Leland walking by her side
her lazy mother received her with
no particular graciousness of wei
come.
L thought you were never com
ing ! snapped Mrs. Baltimors.
I'VE haven't been gone long, Tn
sure. said L9ouura. lnnoceutly.
NOT two hours. said MI Leland
1 should think, went on Mrs
Baltimore, politely iguorIng the
young mau's Interpolation, that
you would know better than to 90
out on snch u hroiling day as this
and get burned as red as AN Iu.
dian /
Leouora laughed, she knew thai
Ia high color was becoming to her
Il shall cocl off directly. said
she, sinking gracefully upon 4
bamboo set;ee.
Aud in the meantime, said liar
ry Leland, who was one of those
clear, .daik brunettes, whom nc
rIse OF temperature ever seems tt
effect. L will go aud get tha
volume OF poems that We were
talking about
Mrs. Baltimore scarcely paused