The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1880-08-28

the door to him, and welcomed him
after a CHEEKY, unconventional fashion.
Come in, stranger-come I'M" said
the old man. "Well, 1 declare, you hev
got wet, hain't ye? Step right up to
the fire. Here's seat! don't seem to
reckonise ye-not jist by sight-though
I've lived forty-odd years hereabout.
You arc"
81 am Mr.. Payson, Of the Mellendale
works." said our hero, with sigh of
satisfaction, as he expanded his chilled
hands to the delicious warmth of the
blaze, and felt the subtle influence of the
freight permeating his whole frame.
Do tellp' said the old man, who had
by this time swung huge iron tea-ket-
tie to crane over the fire. 1--we got a
granddaughter runs a machine there.
And you're the new foreman! Board
at Squire Amesas, don't YEP Well,
you re good two mile out of your way,
sir? You'd ought to took the fust
right-hand road by John Middlebrooks'
stone mill, and then the fust left-hand,
runnin' where the Widow Fitchs'
tavern is! But you're kindly welcome
to stay here all night, stranger; and
my little gal, she'll show you the way
in the morning. She was wondering
what the new foreman was like, and
now she'll get good long look at you.
jest sit down in the big chair, stranger,
and make yourself comfortable, while
60 down in the cellar after a pot of
apple-sass. My little gal, she comes
home pretty tired of night, and like to
save her all the steps I can. She's work
ing dretful hard for a new cashmere
gown for Thanksgiving and when the
taxes is paid, and tie inter est on the
mortgage, and"
At this stage of his remarks, the voice
of Mr.. Payson's host became inaudible,
by reason of his slow descent down the
cellar stairs, with the brass candlestick
still in his hand; and the new foreman
was alone with the purring gray cat,
and the red shine of the flames, and the
| deep shadows at every angle OF the
room.
"Well, grandfather, did you think I
was never eomingP"
The door had opened suddenly and
| admitted a gust of frozen air, a cloud of
flying snow-fakes and girl all muffled
up in hoods and shawls.
Il stopped at Mollie Deans for a pat.
term" said she; land of course we had
to talk little. Oh, grandfather!' with
q merry laugh, us she sat down on the
floor to pull off her rubber shoes, "I've
seen the new foreman, and he's as hand
some as picture, and as cross as two
sticks. Hateful fellow! Only think of
his refusing to change my machine for
me! But III be revenged on him, grand
papa. Mollie and / have concocted q
royal plan; I'm going to bewitch him,
and wind him around my finger, end
make him fall desperately in love with
me, and then shall refuse him haughti-
ly, and Why, who is that?"
She sprang to her feet with little cry
VI oCll VI lOl Will HIl d. SUI ud'3 Sd u
bewildered in the shadows by the fire.
side, and she had ratified on, old Moses
Resley had finished his GRAND in the
cellar, and now came slowly up the
stairway, the candle-light shining in
front of him like beacon.
"There she is now!" said he-"my
little Kitty. Well, my gal, supper's
most ready, and here's a good chance for
you to scrape acquaintance with the
new foreman. He's got lost in the
snow, and"
But Mr.. Payson rose, and laughingly
offered his hand to Kitty Kesley, who
stood as if paralyzed in the middle of the
floor.
pray forgive my backslidings, Miss
Kesley," said he. I'm very sorry if l
really was as cross as two sticks AS the
little children say, won't do it again.
And I'm quite ready for you and your
friend to commence the bewitching pro-
cess. dare say shall find it very
agreeable"
Kitty Kesley could not help laughing,
in spite of herself.
Well, l suppose it's just as well to
make the best of it, said she; "and
we'll proclaim an honorable truce, Mr..
Payson-for the present at least"
Kitty was charming all the evening,
full of vivacious spirits and arch chat
ter; but Mr.. Payson did not know that
she cried herself to sleep that nj ht with
the bitterest tears she ever had shed.
"What must he think of me?" said
the factory belle to herself. "How did
1 ever-ever come to make such dread
ful blunder?"
While Mr.. Payson was saying over
and over to himself, as he drifted off
into dreanland:
"She is the most charming girl I ever
saw in my life!"
And at the years end, Kitty Kesley
left the Mellendae works to marry its
foreman, and keep house in a pictur-