Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-04-28
Il wouldn't if were in your place, .

pftGGy neaQ. ''lJ UreduIu1 ndru UlmeS
in the city. Everybody is groaning
about them which makes it dismal
enough. And as to working hard, I'd
like to know who works harder that pa
does. It's ever so much nicer here"
The honest young fellow, whose heart
was in his eyes, inwardly hoped she
would always think SO.
"There is where l live," he said,
aloud, pointing to a house with wide
piazza around two sides, and which
looked very plasant amid the green ver-
dure that surrounded it.
Young Manning drew the reins at the
gate, inside of which pleasant faced,
silver. haired woman was standing.
"Here is the mail, mother" he said,
tossing down to her some papers and
pamphlets. "Been lonely, any? Pm
going to take this young lady to Mr..
Crofton's. My mother, Miss Wilson.
The young man took leave of Josie,
with feeling at his heart such as he
had never experienced before.
"How pretty she is" he thought, "and
as good as pretty. | am sure"
"What an honest and pleasant face |!
l wonder if l shall ever see him again 2"
This was what she thought.
Josie did see him again and quite
often. The Mannings and Croftons were
not only neighbors, but we're intimate.
Mary Crofton had been strangely at.
tached to Mrs. Manning's only daughter,
who died the preceding winter. She
spent good deal of time at her house,
and Josie frequently went with her.
Mary was never weary of praising John !;
he was such good son, and SO intelIi-
gent steady and industrious
John soon got over his shyness with
the city girl, who took so kindly to
country ways that it seemed as if she
had always lived in the country. He
used to walk home with her, Mary con-
siderately lingering by the gate to talk
with his mother. well pleased with the
turn affairs were taking.
Then there were rides and walks, pic
mics and social gatherings, at all of
which John and Josie had fashion of
getting off by themselves-a fashion
that every one seemed to honor and un-
derstand.
And so the happy days went on, each
day binding those young loving hearts
more closely together.
When Josie returned to the city,
which was two weeks later than she in
tended, she had a pleasant story to whis-
per in her fathers ear.
"If you love him and he Is worthy of
you," he said, in reply to the query with
which it ended.
Josie's quick ear detected the sadness
that under-ran these words.
"You know you promised to live with
me when was married, papa" she
whispered, laying her cheek closely to
his. ..And on farm, too Won't 1t be
delightful ?"
Belle and Lucy returned home with
that conscious air of subdued triumph
and Importance peculiar to engaged
young ladies'"
Having attained the end and aim of
their existence, there was nothing fur
ther for them to hope or expect. From
henceforth they were to repose upon
their laurels, floating down the stream
of life with no thought or care for any
thing but the present enjoyment.
Bellies captive was a Wall street
broker, owning fabulous amount-on
paper. Lucy's was the son of million
aire, whose ambition seemed to be to
spend as quickly as possible the money
that his father had labored hard to ac-
quire.
They made no attempt to disguise
their surprise and disdain when they
heard of Josies modest conquest.
"Only farmer'' shifted Mrs. Will
son. "Never did l dream that one of
my daughters would stoop to that I! But
suppose if you have your fathers ap-
proval you don't care for mine"
"Of course you can't expect US to
visit you," said Belle, loftily. 1.-The
connections of Charles Augustus are all
of the highest and most aristocratic char
acter, and it couldn't be thought Of"
Certainly not" echoed Lucy. "a
wife has to take the position of her hus-
band, which is something you had bet.
ter think Of
Josie had thought of it, and very hap.
Ply thoughts they were. too.
The financial disasters of the three
years that followed made quite change
in the surroundings of all the above
with the exception of Josie and her hus'
band
Out of the wreck of Mr.. Wilson's bus
mess nothing was left but the honor and
integrity, which shone all the more
brightly from the temporary gloom tha
shrouded him. His wife took their al
tered fortunes very hard, fairly fretting
and worrvinp herself into the grave