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

3
tearing np process Of lAst spring.
Mrs. Benedict slowly dropped four
lamps OF sugar into Der coffee, then haBd-
ed Il 10 him, utterly regardless OF the
misery 10 bic face.
Drcadful tearing upl- that. perfect
nonsense, Mr.. Ammldon. A. II you
were very mach lncohvenieneed last May
while The carpets we're up aud the cur
isIns down aud the paintings going on.
or course shall eIsAn; is's my hapit,
and has been for twenty odd years.
Mr.. AmmIdoa gave = little groan At
the sad fate that awaited him that
awaits all bachelors In boarding houses
Ia the shape Of several consecutive days
OF bare floors aud the odor of soap; OF
cold dinners esisn wherever Il was coa-
venIent to set the dining table; Of Mrs.
Benedict 10 = chronic state OF hustle and
orossness, and the servants impndent,
Tired and sulky; Of wide doors aud wln-
dows where the drafts tore through.
lie was a gentleman, however, Mr.
Amnidon was, and 90 repressed bis III
temper and mental maledictions that
that house cleaning was purely mali
cious instiga,ion OF his Satanic majesty
for the torment OF mankind.
Wen be 30 nice and sweet and clean,
Mrs. Benedict went on, with horrible
chez rfulness, and I've been thinking thst
IN have your rooms newly papered, Mr..
Ammidon. I'm sure you'll like that.
Very much, when It's done, madam.
And he cut his meal short and rushed
out Of doors into the ceOl, October even-
ing air.
| All, bah! | can already experience
the sgonies Of last spring. Good heay-
ems the woman must be made Of cast
iron 10 attempt such q siege again. 1t ID
no wonder her husband died II be suffer
ed two attacks Of house cleaning year
aud shall die or 20 crazy unless leave
her but suppose oil women are equal.
ly idiotic.
A groan OF genuine misery broke from
bis lips as be strode along, his hat jam
med over his eyes--very unlike the
handsome gentleman be really was, with
bis frank, CHEEKY face and pleasant
mouth, with the white, even teeth, and
the halt curling, thick dark hair, and the
i grave, intelligent eyes, that nothing
could rufiie as the idea OF Mrs. Benedict''
semi-annual tearing up-a courteous, re-
fined, genial gentleman, whom society
found 3 puzzle because of his persistent
bachelorhood, when 1t knew ofst least
hAlEdozen women who would have
jumped at the fainlest chance Of an offer
OF marriage from him who himself won
dered why be never had fallen 10 love-
and whom pretty little Mrs. Baldwin,
the blue-eyed, bIonde-haired widow,
With no incumbrance, house OF her
own, and an income OF three thousand 9
year, often felt quite piqued with that he
was SO very unimpressionable.
So Mr.. Ammidon strobe along, almost
mechanically turning corners, bis pace
gradually growing slower, and then, all
at once, he heard the brilliant tones OF 9
piano IS some skilled hands played, aud,
looking up, found himself 10 froBt Of q
warmly lighted, CHEEKY, hespltable house
the very house where Nrs, Bessie Bald.
win lived.
| The contrast was se startlingy vivid
between The pictures In his imagination
that be Involuntarily paused lone, the
picture o: the way Mrs. Benedicts board
ing house would look next day, The other
Of The way Mrs. Baldwin's elegant little
home always appeared when he called
there and as |. appeared now through
the lacs curtains quiet, warm, hospita-
BILE, inviting.
And like revelation from heaven u
came TO him-an idea, determination
that was 40 rasistless that be walked
forthwith up Mrs. Bsldwin's trout steps
and rang the bell, wondering a. he did
why the music bad ceased and where the
player had gone.
III marry her II shall have me, aud
then we'll see how many times year
the boHse is cleaned; that 10, IL
Then the door opened and the maid in
vited him into the parlor, with the infor-
nation that Mrs. Baldwin bad just run
into 9 neIgbbors by the side gate, but
would be back directly IL the sick child
she had gone 10 SEQ was better.
Mr.. Ammldon ensconced himself In
the easiest chair 10 the rooms great,
wide, cushioned affair that vas drawn
up by the little Low table snder The chan.
delier.
Bless her pretty blue eyesl Gone to
zee q siek child; like thAt--I like that,
What Ablesslng that 1, occurred 10 me
to offer myself le such geod hsArssdr
cheerful, tender. foHd little woman a.
she is; and what kmirsculoas tool
have been not TO have dons II long ago
Why, honestly, ! feel as II bed beea Ia
love With her all along; and believe
have been and never kaeH Il.
His hsndsoEge head leaned comforts
bly, against she eushIons. snd ais vel
shaped, veil booted feet we're crossed on
low ottoman near the fire thai burned
costly and brightly.
! lie waited ten, twenty, thirty minutes
and wben sbe did not come 81 the expira
ilou Of three quarters ofau hour Mr.
AmmIdon wss conscious vi keen die
appoin,mept lhrs astonished himself.
AT all events, my object sbAll be sc
eompilshed, 20 fer - can accomplish Il
be thought.
And Ia taok his srola ana txnrw r,a.,