Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-12-01
The Old Armchair.

"Yes, there they gol" said Miss
Pamela, lifting the corner of the win
dow curtain to look down the long per-
spective Of the winding road. -Four of
'em. In two cutters, with two wolf
robes and two sets OF sleigh bells. And
it's the third time that Ruth and Bessie
have been asked out sleigh.riding
within the month, and nobody ever
thinks Of mel"
And it was little strange, too, when
one came to think of it. Miss Pamela
Pipely was a plump young woman of
three-and-thirty, with rosy cheeks,
swapping black eyes, and a figure as
trim and straight as a sapling pine.
She had not Ruth's melting, almond
shaped eyes perhaps, nor the peachy
pink of Bessie's radiant complexion,
but she was universally acknowledged
to be the best hand at picking and
preserving in all the country around.
She couldn't quote = ~inburne or Jean
Ingelow, but she managed her widowed
brothers household with a firm yet
gentle hand, and had chestful of
patchwork, bedquilts and crocheted
tides, in the big old garret upstairs.
In facs, Miss Pamela Pipely would
have made frst-class wife to any man
lving-if only the bachelors around
Gray George could have been brought
to perceive fact which was so mani.
festly to their advantage.
So Miss Pipely sat before the FIRE of
blazing logs, all mossed over with silver
gray fringe, and bubbling out their
resinous hearts beneath the fiery ordeal
OF the flames, and knitted away at
Squire Sans gray-mixed stockings, as
II she were on q wager against old Time
and was resolved 10 conquer ut all haz-
ards. And the dragons head that was
carved on the old mahogany chair OPP
posite, and the clawlegs and the queer
little brass knobs scattered all over it.
seemed to wink soberly at her, in th Q
pleasant light as she worked. It was
an heirloom in the family, that old chair,
and the Pipelys were proud of il.
Just then there came the merry jingle
Of sleigh-bells up the road, like peal
Of miniature laughter.
"Some one else out for . sleigh-ride,"
thought Miss Pamela, without turning
her head.
lBut to her infinite amazement the
tiny pearls ceased to chime; the sleigh
had stopped.
"Good gracious r. said Miss Pamela,
taking hurried observation from be-
hind the netted fringe of the curtains,
"irs Mr.. Hedger. And he's coming
here, too r.
Dir. Hedger came ina stout, middle
aged msn, with light blue eyes shining
behind his speetacles, brown hair Just
sprinkled with gray AMI seal muffIer
buttoned up to his very nose.
GOOD morning, Miss Pamela I" said
he, pleasantly.
"Good morning I" said Miss Pamela.
"Tve called on business" said Mr..
Hedger who was one Of those uncanon-
lied social martyrs, bashful old bach
eIor.
1fiss Pamela, to be sure. was an old
maid, but she wasn't in the least degree
bashful, 30, perhaps, the two were not
evenly mated.
son business r. repeated the lady.
"T'll call my brother at once.r
"Gh, don't do that. Miss Pamela |"
aaid Mr.. Hedger, deprecatingIy.
"Eo?g Miss Pamela raised her let
black eyes in some surprise.
I" Because my business vas with ron
especially" be explained.
aOhp
Miss Pamela sat down again, mechan-
ally crimping the borders Of her apron
with the finger and thumb Of her left
hand. while very pretty blush crept
over her face.
+" I've been thinking i over for some
sime,T sid Mr.H Hedger. rather ab.
rnp,iy.