Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-01-02
The Marriage Portion.

The Marriage Portion.
There lived about five or six miles from
Easton, Penn. few years since, an honest
farmer named Henderson, who had two very
pretty daughters, Ellen aud Maude. The first
was about twentv-three years of ago. while
the latter was nineteen. The father s,as
thrifty, well-to-do farmer, tLough by no
means rich but the family lived in ex-
cellent style, and the daughters had received
good educations.
Both of these girls were pretty, but
Maude was perhaps the handsomer. There
was no lack of attentive young gentlemen
at the farm, though the neighborhood was
not yet thckly settled. But beauty draws
us with a single hair" and the young ladies
were the center of gay little circle of
friends, mostly young gentlemen, farmers
sons in the immediate neighborhood, and
some from Easton.
BY and-by il came about that an earnest
handsome and sturdy young farmer fell des-
perately in love with Maude and proposed
to her. On her part, she loved Harry Mas
ters above all the young fellows she knew
and told him frankly he must speak to her
father In the meantime she confided the
matter to her mother, kind-hearted, sym
pathetic parent, who saw no objection to the
choice of her daughter, but all was left to
the father to decide.
Farmer Henderson was a ightforward
and open-mouthed man. That is he said
exactly what he meant, no more or less, and
that he uttered freely. When Harry Mas
ters called him one side and told him his
special errand as to Maude, the farmer said,
"Well, Mr.. Masters, Maude is young.
wanted Ellen to be married first she's the
eldest and I've got marriage portion of
twelve hundred to give her, but haven't
laid by anything yet for Maude."
81 have got pretty well beforehand, Mr.
Henderson, for a man twenty-four years old
and we shall be able to do very well, have
10 doubt"
You mean you'll take Maude without
any marriage portion ?" said the father.
Yes, sir, very gladly"
"Well, it's pleasant to hear you say So
because it shows your honest affection, Mr.
Masters but I am too proud, though a
simple farmer, to let Maude marry till
give her a thousand or two towards house
keeping"
at is not worth waiting for, sir, as long
as we don't really need it, and both are
content"
"Then, again, I'd rather Maude wouldn't
marty lllll LbT SlNUtI ~ IdTGltl, DtctuSt
she's so much older, do you see it will ac-
tually make her an old maid. 1t isn't fair,
Mr.. Masters"
ELLEN is very popular with the gentlemen,
and will soon be married." said the other.
"That's Just what have said to myself,
and then | shall begin to pick up a marriage
portion for Maude"
81 trust that is the only objection, Mr..
| Henderson 2" said Harry Masters
"Why, yes you are a promising and re-
| spectacle young man, and come of a good
| family" said the farmer But | can't let
Maude go until get together respectable.
marriage portion to give with her hand"
Perhaps you will think more favorably
about it," said the lover. III speak with
you again"
"All right, Mr.. Masters
Harry and Maude were very fond of each
other, and now talked over the matter very
seriously. Maude could not blame her
father and did not like the idea of going to
Harry without proper marriage portion to
contribute to their joint partnership in do
nestle life.
Never mind, Harry" said the handsome
Young girl Ellen will soon be married. |
have pretty good reasons for knowing"
"Ah, ther your father says he wants to
pick up a marriage portion for you, and that
will take three or four years, perhaps"
That's a good while, is it not, Harry 2
said Maude Just blushing little, for fear it
sounded forward and bold.
It's ages - said the young fellow
Think of waiting three years-why We
shall be old folks by that time -
"Not quite so bad as that" said Maude.
al am sure my hair will be gray by thai
time
Nonsense, Harry Now you are joking.
" | was never more in earnest in my life,
said he, as he stole kiss from her pretty
lips and ran away, so as not to hear hel
chde him for his boldness.
"Maude," said her father, coming into tn,
house from the barn, al wish YOU woulC
ride the sorrel mare into Easton, and get thu
hundred dollar bill changed at the bank
The workmen have got done with the roof
ing of the barn, and | want to pay them of
tonight"
"Very well, father. LetJohn put the sad
die on, aud III be ready in five minutes"
The sorrel mare was brought up to th'
door, and Maude was soon on her way at al
easy hand gallop towards Easton. She has
an excellent seat, and was good horse
woman. As she knew this very well, sh
would not have objected to have Harry SCI
AR just now but he had gone few min
utes before in an opposite direction.
When Maude got into Easton she rode di
recty to the bank, but was unfortunate
enough TO fnd it closed. After few min
utes' thought she resolved TO try to get tn
note changed at a grocer's, or at some of tn
other stores, and went Immediately to do sc
Fate seemed against her, for no Que ha'
small change enough to accommodate Mis-
Henderson.
At one of the stores where she stoppe
a very geutlemanly- person took on
his pocket-book and said he thought h
could change it for her, and she handed hin
the bill, but he returned it saying that atte
all he had not so much small money. ii
seemed to regret this, however, and eve
followed Maude to the door aud assisted he
to reInount her horse.
She was forced to give up her errand a
she did not like TO run about among stranl
, ers asking to change her bill, especially a
, no one seemed able To do SO. She therefor
turned her horses head towards hom'
Scarcely had she passed the outskirts OF tn
/ town when she was overtaken by tn
stranger who had spoken with her at the la
, store, and who at first thought he coul
i change her bill. He was mounted upon
ID hue looking pdy morse, anu sdluleu uel u
/. specially as he came alongside.
/ Did you get your bill changed :"
e asked.
4 mo; small bills seemed scarce she r
piled.
DO you live near here p
About five miles off,
"Quite a ride"
u "Oh, we don't mind five miles in Il
> country
n "You are an excellent rider"
d 81 have ridden since was six years old
d she said "but my sister Ellen is bett
& rider than am."
8 "You are generous to admit it" said Il
i stranger.
II "Why, it's only the truth, she answer'
- frankly.
D. After they had passed over about tV
miles, they came 10 a very lonely piece
e road, quite removed from any dwellin
house. Still as the stranger appeared
d gentlemany, and had addressed her so |
II ltely, she had not the least suspicion OF al
u evil intention on his part.
n Presently he said suddenly, >" will thai
d you for that BILL
rs What " said she half smiling