The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-12-23

g iaEe q ny bat Nnd have TkanksFtFln
dinner ~ItA you Coas AZ. But arsi /,
iroluce ne 70 this eentiemas to whoi
= zen we're 70 bitterly soandalining ny sen.
IN have nothing 10 Dc With zoe. 80 Tae
yourself 81 ADD oblise "a Ashley and
= proPase 10 have a.qaies dinner, aad slons
Net to-day my dear. cross old uuei.
Add = 10 ihis gentienaAa, Jon have "a
. told rae his name, aud il Is bat fair b
shoald know mine i ElAe yieiori
: Yasbursh, Al ron services. sir
As she spoke she dropped pretty eour
.esy and her bright sancy eyes vsiIs,
themselves in blushing eonfnsion as sh,
caught the ardent admiration. as well a
amusement in the hAndaons ones Of ihi
stranger
Elsie, this is perfectly ridiculous, and /
your mother sent you var over here upog
any Of her FOOLS errAnds make Il knowr
and pack yourself bach Asain. DO yov
bear2 exclaimed the annoyed old gentle.
man.
Well, il you viii be so gracious Aa TO al.
low me to be seated. ] will explain, and
she selected low chair snd took possesa.
ion Of it, continuing; Ny very amiAhls
and sweet t-lempered ancient relative, my
mamma was unkind enough 10 accept an
invitation for herself and me 10 dine with
prosy, old fosy family to-day. 10 dayour
real old-fashioned New England dinner,
and "a most emphaticaIly hate these
family affairs ] hAtly declined. MY moth.
er questioned what would do with my.
self, and ] answered that I would post
over and torment Unclo Miles. And here
/ am.
Indeed And ron are bound 10 keep
your word with yengenoe.
Yes, dear and win play for yea or
beat you at game Of cards.
Neither you wenchl But here comes
James to announce dinner Ashley. see
no way but to put up with this madeap,
so give me your arm. The devil take
sprained ankles aud provoking girlsl
The dinner was good one. beftting the
occasion; all the appointments rich and
in keeping with the house. After il had
been dispatched, under running fire OF
rainery and growles between unoIe and
neice, they returned 10 the parlor, whore
Mics Elsie played TO the delight OF Ashley
while Mr. Waterbury dozed by the fire.
But at length the short afternoon came TO |
an end. James had been dispatched home
with the young girl, and the pleased but
halt dazed young gentleman had taken his
leave and gone back TO his prosy life--that
Of poor clerk on very limited salary.
A week later he was surprised BY sum-
mons to the residence Of Mr.. Miles Water.
bury, and when he was admitted il was 10
learn that the old gentleman had been
stricken with paralysis. He ley in one OK
the great chambers Of his loase . wr.oh
OF bis former self, HI meek and quiet o.
little child, attended by the gentle, levins
hands OF his neico Elsie. And she. too.
had changed from her old rollickine,
childish manner 10 quiet, thoughtful.
nursS.
Uncle Miles has been sick and has taken
strange fancy to you. Mr.. Ashley, she
aid, meeting him in the ball with her
yes flooded with tears OF genuine sorrow.
You must remain with me, said Mr..
Waterbury in thick and broken accents
ew moments later. rs Clarence Ashley
TODD by his bed side, and as the young
lan hesitated he continued: Give up =
our position, know all about you and !,
our condition, and want you, not as a :,
erVant but as companion. Poor dear :,
tile Elsie cannot care for me alone. !,
/ am grateful for your confidence in me, o
r, and will do as you desire, replied "
larenco. much moved. o
For weeks and months Elsie and Clar. a.
ace shared the vigils OF the sick room, a,
I'd then relieved by the mother Of the sc
ri, but who, as she always brought back ci
me OF the old gentlemans crustiness ~
as at length fairly bsuished. ~
And at last the year had rolled lie weary 1t
myth round, nndlMr, Waterbury was car. an
ID down and placed IN an easy chair in m
c chimney corner Clarence and Elsie
IRE at the piano niaging their voices to- di
ther in soft strsins Of music, whispering a
'eet nonsense in the pauses or looking he
We nom loys-lightod eyes. op
Children called the old man, and in .
oment they we're by his side. see how III
viii end, and desire nothing better. rai
Arence she shall be yours on one condi tn,
N. 10
Elsie dropped her head in pretty con-
sion, while Clarence signifed his graft. No
de and willingness to assent to any con. ma
ions. pa
Tomorrow will be Thanksgiving. You wo
ist be married in the morning. Your Pa
nnksgining dinner shall bO your wed. an,
II one. and /,
Uncle protested Elsie. oal
Not word, Miss. Don't you renem. nv
that last year you we're begging 10 deG
'e With me. Now the tables are tsrned. vii
ara entreating you 10 dine with me.
that you will make with this dear see
ing fellow pleasant home for poor it,
hulk like myself the
%. after all, a woman in the house Is a /
'essary evil, rnurmured Elsie demureIy nos
Shsti Turning the tables on me again of l
you, ron little piece Of selfshnessy yiti
u 4 please you, yes. When a felIov wit
$ hslpless as am and the men servants of
V a. useless as James and the rest Of my
~ ra.. h.s - - -. s.t Ie1