The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-08-18
MISS PAMtLA's COUKTSHIP.


splendor over the pine thickets and snow
crusted wildernesses Of the 'Gray
Gorge solitary valley amid the
wooded heights of Vermont. The little
brook was cased in steel-blue armor of
ice: the frozen mountain crests lifted
their bald and rocky peaks against the
deep. dazzling blue Of the winter sky;
and the wind, as it rushed bowling down
the glen, shook the very foundations OF
the farmhouse in it's mad glee.
Eyes, there they go!' said Miss
Pamela, lifting the corner of the window
curtain to look down the long perspec-
tive of the winding road. -Four OF 'em.
In two cutters, with two wolf robes, and
two sets of sleigh bells. And its the
third time that Ruth and Bessie have
been asked out sleigh riding within the
m ,nth, and nobody ever thinks OF me"
And it was little strange, too, when
one came to think of it. Miss Pamela
| Pipely was q plump young woman OF
three. and thirty, with rosy cheeks, snap
ping black eyes, and figure as straight
and trim as 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 Swinburne or Jean
Incelow. but she managed her widowed
brothers household with firm. gentle
hand, and had a chestful of patchworks
and bed quilts and crocheted tides, in
the big old garnet up stairs.
In fact, Miss Pamela Pipely would
have made first-class wife to any man
living-if only the bachelors around
Gray Gorge could have been brought to
perceive fact which was so manlfestly
to their advantage.
So Miss Pipely sat before the fire Of
blazing logs, all messed 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 if she
were on wager against old Time, and
was resolved to conquer at all hazards.
And the dragons head that was
carved on the old mahogany chair
opposite, and the 'claw-legs and the
queer little brass knobs scattered all
over it, seemed to wink soberly at her,
in the pleasant light, as she worked. 1t
was an heirloom in the family. that old
clair, and the Pipelys were proud OF it.
Just then there came 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.
But, to her infinite amazement, the
tiny peals ceased to chime; the sleigh
had stopped.
, GOOD graciousI" said Miss Pamela,
taking hurried observation from be-
hind the netted fringe of the curtain
J sits Mr.. Hedger. And he's coming
, Mr.. Hedger came ln-a stout, middle
aged man, with light blue eyes shining
behind his spectacles, brown hair just
sprlnkled with gray. and seal muller
} buttoned up to his very nose.
! "Good-morning. Miss Pamela" said
he, pleasantly.
"Good-morning?" said Miss Pamela.
"I've called on business" said Mr..
Hedger, who was one of those uncan-
onized social martyrs-a basbful old
bachelor.
Miss Pamela, to be sure, was an old
maid, but she wasn't in the least degree
bashful, SO that perhaps the two were
not evenly matched.
"On business?' repeated the lady.
III call my brother at once"
ooh, don't do that, Miss PAMELA"
said Mr.. Hedger, lifting his hand depre-
catingly.
"No?"
Miss Pamela raised her jet-black eye
brows in some surprise.
because my business was with you
especially he explained.
"Ohw
Miss Pamela sat down again, mechan-
ically crimping the borders of her
apron with the thumb and finger Of her
lett hand, while a very pretty blush
crept over her face.
tive been thinking it over for some
time" said Mr.. Hedger, rather alb
ruptly.
"Have you?" said Miss Pamela.
And the crimping operation went on
faster than ever.
"Of course know it's taking q great
liberty" said the gentleman APOLOGIZE
cally.
ooh, don't speak of it" said the lady.
'And then, you know, we are almost
strangers" he added.
"Oh, that makes no difference said
Miss Pamela, hurriedly.
II can hardly muster courage enough
to ask" said he.
Don't he afraidi" sveetlv amilod the