Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-04-01
AUGUST MORNING. ATTn1r 1850 No.
NO. 70.
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE MOCK MARRIAGE.
ny MAY MAPLE.


lone, two. three" counted Grace Lew
is. AS she went on narrowing the toe of
gray woolen sock, she was knitting for
her father. So busy was she with her
work, she did not heed the warning from
the old-tashioned brass knocker. hut she
was soon made aware Of the presence OF
stranger by loud knocking she immc-
diately dropped her. work to obey its
summons.
Can YOU inform me where Isaac Ster-
ling resides P'' was the inquiry Of dark
eyed. distinguishing stranger.
''llis house is on that rise of ground, 4
few rods Distant" was the reply, while
the pretty hand of Grace pointed out the
direction.
with thank you," the gentleman
took his departure. while Grace very gen.
tly closed the door. and went to her
work.
''One. two. three" again counted Grace
and then she soliloquized:
What splendid black eyes he had. l
wonder il he is a relative Of the sterlings
he is certainly very fine looking; his hair.
and whiskers were SO nicely trimmed
that any one would know. almost to
certainty that he was just from the city.
There I've forgotten TO narrow. Won
der what l was thinking about" muir
INJURED the maiden, Is she raveled out the
work the nimblc fingers had wrought
while the thoughts had been reaching out
after the stranger she had seen scarcely
moment. The stitches were soon taken
up and the work arranged. and again she
resumed her soliloquy, for the fair. young
girl was much in the habit of talking to
herself when left alone, as was the case
this afternoon. her parents having gone 10
town to do their annual trading.
I'm sure that fine, open countcnancc
is the index of a well-balanced mind. and
that he is to he trusted and honorcd. lie
would command il necessary, but he would
sooner rule by love"
Then she began TO compare the faces,
forms and manners of her country associ-
ates with this elegant stranger.
All Grace, do not forget that beneath
those rough exteriors beat warm. tr,istfnl
hearts those oil-hardcned hands are quite
as capable of supporting pleasant homes
as the smooth, white ones of the city gen.
try. The eyes beneath the bronzed fore
head can express the tenderest affection
as well as though The burning sun and
DitiIlR Ditst Hsti HeNcT btutcu upOu uuc
stalwart forms of their possessors. Yet
you have a perfect right to admire the
manly form and cultivated face Of the
new arrival.
Country customs made it an easy mat
ter for Albert Sterling to visit his pretty
neighbor in company with his city cousin.
James Bronson. And thus Grace Lewis
was introduced to the strange gentleman,
whom she had that day directed on his
way.
Two weeks later, the roses on Grace's
cheeks grew broader and her violet eyes
brighter. when Mr.. Bronson asked for
the honor of her company to attend very
select party to be held about ten miles
from Greenville.
Never before had she been so fastidious
about party dress. There was positively
nothing in all the village stores that she
would wear. Father must go with her to
the next town, where there was choice
stock of goods to pick from. And MS Mr..
Lewis was very indulgent father, and
loved his only child with more than ordi-
nary affection, her caprices were indulged
on this occasion to the full extent OF her
desires.