Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-22
Confined from frst psge.)

tue hostess, poor little lnleTIopeE snip
ped in among the guests more favored by
fortune, Mrs. Wilbur's superabundance
more than covered the deficiencies of any
such. and, for that occasion at least, ill.,
sured welcome 1t was well understood
that this lady believed in the proverb
about ones self and ones dog.
Armslev was at that time IA small coun-
try town where farming was still the prin-
cipal occupation, although, on account OF
the excellent water-power, two small
wooden mills had been built. 1t promised
to become, some day, a busy manuiactur-
ing place; but that day was lar off.
One oi the mills was carried on and par
TALLY owned by Mr.. Talbot. while Mr..
Leslie was agent OF the o;her and larger
one. Ii was some business Interference
through different modes of management
that had caused the difficulty between the
two men. Temper had turned very
slight affair into serious one. Mr.. Tai
bot was a tire-brand with whom the ice of
Mr.. lie sizes dignity resolved to have moth
ing whatever to do. The quarrel had
lasted more than year. James IabOts
wrath, like that of most has tempered
people. might have burned itself out long
before had he not nursed ii t. keep it
warm. In this state daily occurrences
made ii flame up holly even Leslle's very
irigid bow when they Glanced tn meet
seemed studied insult.
Aud now Mrs Wilbur. ignoring any
quarrel, had invited them together in Il
social evening at her house. Deep inter
est was elt as to this bold taking of the
bull by the horns.
Would they both go?
Beyond question. Mr. Leslie affirmed
that he should not renounce the society OF
his friends on Mr. Tal0ot's account The
latter was "hy no means to be kept away
from good Mrs. Wilbur's house by that
stick OF an agent" He would have liked
it better, indeed, had Mrs. Wilbur consid-
cred him sufficiently to leave out the Les
lies altogether; but, to be sure, the iami-
lies were Old acquaintance, and such Il
concession was not to have been expected.
His own unaided dignity was quite equal
to the occasion.
1t was week since Mr.. Talbot's keen
eyes had been so near detecting WIll Leslie
and his daughter at his own door. Since
that time the lovers had been exceedingly
cautious, not having been able TO do more
than exchange passing nod or word in
the village. No hearts beat 50 anxiously
as theirs in prospect OF the approaching
trial.
The eventful day dawned on as brilliant
an October morning as ever broke over the
sky. Mrs Wilbur was simply glad it was
iair." The gold OF her custards and her
cake, the red OF her jeles, was more to
her at the moment than the scarlet and
gold OF the dying leaves; the flakes OF
her pastry occupied her more than the few
fieecy clouds that sailed about the sky with
ir nj bup hean no On I,4I he.
warmth and gorgeousness INTO believing
it summer, and trying to iurl themselves
now, and scud back 10 their homes, being
chilled at their cold reception. What u
busy house 1t was until the guests began
to arrive
They came very nearly together, be-
cause, after being quite ready, every body
had waited a little through rear OF being
first. So it happened that upon no one
person devolved the solemn duty OF usher
ing in the occasion.
There were the Pinkneys, quite aristo-
Gratis, from the corner brick house, their
daughter, and the tall sou, who consider
ed Nettie Talbot IAN awful pretty girl
stunning" and Jolly" were not yet in
vogue in Armsley. Then the Hardings
appeared. They were nlimates OF the
Leslies, and naturally not quite gracious
in feeling to the Taools. "Suli, at "A
friends house, they argued-and besides,
the Talbots were not people to be cut.
After these came othel guests. 1t was
beginning to be late, however, when Mr..
Leslie and his son entered the pretty par
lor, with its bright carpet and It's blazing
wood fire. Greetings were exchanged
with unusual eagerness. Then there Tell
upon the guests lull OF expectancy, per-
ceptible under their attempts at ease 1t
was astonishingly late tor any one to come
to an Armsley tea-party-and still no Tai
bots. Were they going to leave the field
10 triumph to Mr.. LeslleP Had this been
company OF English people, bets would
have passed round with bated breath.
All at last here they were.
Mrs. Talbot was doing hohor to the oc-
casion in a new black silk trimmed with
deep lace. There was no doubt now
about that last lot of goods having been
an excellent thing for the Talbot mill.
Nettie followed her parents. Her pale
blue dress with lace at the throat aad
wrists, gave a soitless and delicacy to her
complexion. She won admirng glances
from others besides Will Leslie.
Mr.. Talbot's hair is rather more ram.
bunctious than usual" whispered Mrs
White TO her Deighbor, indicating with
her eyes that gentleman's massive gray
locks, which seemed to bristle "a he
crossed the room to greet his hostess. en-
countering on the way the naughty stare
of the elder Leslie. Then there was
general handwriting, for in Armsley not
70 snake hands with everybody in such
gathering would have been considered
uniriendiy in the extreme, even unclvil.
ii gave Neltie and Win an opportunity for
word.
Looks bad - whispered the latter.
MATTERS will come to crisis, answered
the gil 10 the same tone "but don't
know that it will be the worst thing.
Why shouldn't al angry fever get well as
any other kind ?"
1T will, if one doesn't die in the midst
of it,"
10 moment everybody, breathless with
excitement, was endeavOrng to appear
perfectly unconscious Of anything notcea-
bic in the situation, for the two men were
now standing face to face.
CONTINUED tomorrow