Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-02-06

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land as the distance is not far, be-
lieve III run over for few moments,
anyhow" And with this he started off.
and having allayed his thirst at the
spring which bubbled out below the or
chard, he mounted the fence and betook
himself ofthe favorite family tree, whose
huge gnarled trunk supported leafy
caronet of interlacing limbs and
branches, so dense as to preclude all
possibility of the SUMS rays penetrat-
ing through them.
Into this delightful shade Jake threw
himself, and for a moment forgot his
tolls and troubles. The sky was so
light, the grass so green, the luscious
fruit and gay flowers so fragrant that he
could not helP hut feel their benipnarfJ
! inapence. The dull droanirg of a bee te
and the hoarse cawing oa some crows In
distant cornfeld, mingled with the
ripple of the water over the stones by the
roadside, lent enchantment to the scene !;
and poor Jake could not help but think
how sweet life must be to those who
have nothing to do but while away their
time in pleasant places, in the shadow
of green trees and overhanging houghs.
Thus he mused, helping himself to the
fruit in the meantime, until, before he
was conscious of the fact, he had fallen
off into light doze from which he was
suddenly awakened by hearing voices
approaching from the direction of the
house. In an instant he was on his feet,
and peering through between the trees
who should he see but Jenny and Mr..
Eldridge, the dandified city cousin,
leisurely approaching the tree under
which he stood.
Here was dilemma, indeed, to be
caught trespassing would be disgrace
full in the extreme, and besides Jake
could not bear the thought of facing
his lady-love in his old, faded, home
spun frock, especially before the critical
eyes of Mr.. Eldridge.
What was to be donep For moment
a wild thought of fight took possession
of him, but he Immediately realized
that should he adopt thai mode of escape
his discovery would be certain, mas
much as they were already nearly upon
him. Poor Jake was all in a tremble.
What could be doneP If he could only
find safe place in which to hide until
they should pass by He glanced
around, nervously, but nothing presented
itself that could afford him a secreting
place. The voices approached nearer;
something must be done, quick! He
cast his eye UP into the tree, and won
dered if it's thick branches and dense
foliage would not protect him from the
eyes of a casual observer. Yes, he would
try it at any rate; better avail himself
of their profered covert than be found
standing there like trembling culprit.
And without taking a second thought
Jake scrambled up the tree, and slowed
| himselfaway in the remotest part, amid
II thick cluster of green boughs.
A moment after he regretted the act
for he realized that should he be discov-
cred in his present position, his situation
would be even more ridiculous than be-
fore.
But it was now too late to indulge in
vain regrets-or, rather, in any hope of
altering his situation, for Jenny and her
escort now advarced to the tree. and to
Jake's intense chagrin and modification,
seated themselves directly under The
spot where he was concealed.
"A pretty pickle you're into, Jak e
Muggins," muttered Jacob, as with
flushed face he viewed the couple be-
low, and wondered if they couldn't
hear his heart beat; for it was hounc-
ing SO convulsively that he was fearful
lest it should knock all the apples from
off the limb upon which he sat.
And then he thought what beauty
Jenny was as she sat there with her
dark hair gathered into graceful coil,
| her sweet, expressive eyes containing
such depth of tenderness, and cheeks
like pink rose buds, and wondered if it
were possible for such fairy creature
TO ever think of loving a great, ungainly,
awkward chap like himself.
In the meantime Jenny and Mr.. FL
bridge were enjoying themselves be-
meath, little dreaming of the close prox,
unity of a third party. Mr.. Eldridge
had opened and. commenced reading
from q small volume of Tennyson,
which Jacob recognized from the bind
ing. .s
After some time had been consumed
in this way the two proceeded to par
take of the fruit with which the ground
was strewn, conversing meanwhile and
amusing themselves by spelling out
the supposed name of each ones lover
upon the seeds of the respective apples
of EACH I|raE. .EkIt
BY some strange perchance, MI. El-
bridge caused the seeds from Jenny's
apple to spell the name of Jacob Mug
gins himself, almost every time. This
seemed to afford the city cousin great
pleasure. for he laughed incessantly, and
asked Jenny if she ever hoped to be
able to capture such shy creature as
Jacob Muggins.
Although Mr.. Eldridge was very
much amused over the coincidence of
the seeds, Jenny seemed to look upon
tile matter quite seriously, and when her
cousin jokingly inquired if she did
really love this faint-hearted country
man, she replied with defiant toss of
the head and a perceptible deepening of
the rose-tint on her cheeks, that she
liked him quite as well as any of her
other acquaintances!
And poor Jake, who can describe his
feelings upon hearing this frank avowal ?
For if his face had been red before, ii
was now almost purple in hue, while
his heart beat ten times faster than be-
fore. Yet ne managed to hold on to his
seat, and watch the progress of events
down below, for Mr.. Eldridge, who had
J listened to Jenny's declaration quite
seriously, had seated himself By her
side. and was apparently about to pro-
pose on the spot. But just at that mo-
ment Bounce, the big watchdog, came
! running down from the house and with
hoarse growls commenced smelling sus-
, piciously around the base of the tree, all
/ the while casting furtive glances into
, the branches where Jacob was seated in
/ mortal dread lest the dog should dis
, close his position to the couple be-
low.
| The strange actions of the dog could
3 not help but attract the attention ot
j Emmy and her cousin, who were at first
Q unable to assign any reason as to the
cause of it. Presently Mr.. Eldridgt
] suggested that there was a squirrel in
g the tree, and to investigate the matter