The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-12-16


oase enough, seth, 70 slop speaking 4
Colonel Issvoll 10 met
Fhcss last words rang oai IN such wall
Of anguish. ,ha, seshs eyes hlied With
tears Miss Caroline gase him no time %
reply, ior she took up hor reius, and Nero
and his rider wero oa like tho wind. IA
wasn't but few minutes before she came
galloping back over the meadows. and
through the orchard. and 30 mp 10 The
kithen door
Where's Seth? she asked Of HuldAh.
refining Nero 10 with great difficulty.
He didn't come in again after be took
the horse round. Huldah replied, and be-
fore she could say any more. Nero was
wheeled around and bounded of IN the
direction Of seths cottage quarter Of a
mile up the hill.
All that day Miss Caroline was restless
and nervous She WAS obliged to return
without finding Seth. and so she wandered
up aud down the great house without any
apparent motive except 10 kill time aud
when Huldah asked her il she wouldn't
help her with the cake, she replied that
there was cake enought in the house, and
half an hour afterwards entered the kitch-
en-, with her white cooking apron on. to
try new rule
That evening when Seth came round,
Miss Caroline sent for him TO come to the
library
l never though this morning Seth, to tell
you, she began, with averted face, that
what / said at that time was in the strict
est confidence, ! rode back to find
yon, for began to be worried five min
utes after left You.
hope you don't think would ever do
anything to hurt you, Miss Caroline? Seth
replied, deprecatingly.
didn't think you would inteud to Seth,
the lady explained, but | didn't know but
your desire to do me a service might rem
der you indiscreet You understand now,
Seth, that your lips are always 10 be sealed
in regard to that foolishness?
Yes, Miss Caroline, Seth responded. I'll
never speak another word about it as long
as live, unless you give me leave, and
here the interview ended.
Seth made desperate love to Huldah the
remainder of the evening, every once in a
while bursting ont into the most unexpect'
ed fits of laughter, and these spasms were
so contagious that Huldah found herself
joining IN, without an idea OF what she
was laughing about.
Say, Huldah, Seth remarked, just as he
was leaving. Iwant you to promise me
one thing. Hf
I'll see, said Huldah.
/ want you to give mo your sacred word
of honor that il Colonel Lowell aud Miss
Caroline ever get married, you'll marry
me the same day.
Lor, yesl Huldah laughed. aud I'll do
better than that Seth. I'll promise 10 be
your wife the day Colonel Lowell steps
foot into this house. or the day Miss Caro-
line steps foot into his.
All right said Seth, but suppose he is
brought in, instead of stepping in?
don't care hang how he comes, HUI
dab replied, but that day be shall see you
and me one, and Tn safe enough in prom
Using it, too, Seth Smith.
Seth walked off still laughing, and Miss
Caroline, as she sat before the library fire,
felt more alone than ever. Within the
past five years her father, mother and sis.
ter had been taken away By death, and to-
night Of all nights since these terrible
events, she seemed to herself most lonely
aud wretched.
The next day but one was Thanksgiy-
ing, and Miss Caroline nei we'd herself to
meet this holiday with all tile courage and
philosophy she could bring to her aid
There used to be great feasting and merri
ment in the Wyndham mansion on such
occasions, but the mistress of this beauti-
full home could not bring herself yet to
open its doors to the old fashioned hospi-
talities.
| was in hopes you wouldn't cry to-day,
said Huldah, Thanksgiving morning, as
her mistress entered the dining room.
Goodness mel my mullins are as light as
feathers, and the coffee is unusually good,
aud seems to me that this last ham we cut
beats the others all holler Nov, I'm go.
ing TO broil nice bit Of tenderloin. Say,
don't cry--there's deariel and Hnldah
patted Miss Caroline's shoulder aud wept
herself, as she tried to comfort her mis-
.ress. You've got heap to be thankful
for, Miss Caroline, after all, Hnldah added,
with little protest in her voice
Yes. know it, replied Miss Caroline,
siping her eyes. have mullins and ham
o be thankful for, and a little more money
md land than my neighbors, she added
bitterly, Sand then 4 don't mean that
haven't anything Huldah, for as long as !
nave you, can't be quite dessolate.
Good gracious exclaimed Huldah I've
got lump in my throat as big as a loaf OF
bread and ms she left the diaing room,
You know, Miss Caroline, that when ] get
o shifting there ain't no stopping me.
Miss Caroline went to church that morn
ng, and ss she walked up the aisle TO the
Wyndham pew. there were no traces Of
ears on her face. and her bearing was a.
proud and queenly as il, as many thought,
ler wealth and position entirely satisfied
ler After the service was over she greet
u hor friends aud acquaintAnees kindly.
md then got into her carriage and was
driven quickly home