The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-26

She was very thankful when Mrs;
Scudder took her leave, and she could
run upstairs to her room and sew the
pink bows on to her white muslin over
dress, and the dainty little white slippers
which Arthur Lawton said made HIM
think Of Cinderella's. .i"
( For she had not much doubt about go
ing to the, dance. The good deacon
had very hard work to, deny his pretty,
motherless daughter anything; ana
beside he had had good times in his
youth, and the sound of a fiddle stirred
his blood even now. And he never
could believe that it was an invention OF
the gentleman in black, if Deacon
Scudder did.
AS for Miss Keziah, she set to work
upon muller for the Rev. Mr.. Leach
at once. Of course there WASH a
word of truth in the story OF MS
engagement, but then she couldn't begin
too soon to show her devotion to him.
And then she had heard him cough last
Sunday night. His precious health
must be taken care of. t.tff.. -.. Il.
Kizzy wanted to laugh when she saw
Miss Keziah's knitting needles flying as
they never did fly except under some
ministerial inspiration, and muller OF
drab and purple (colors suited to
ministerial gravity and dignity growing
with wonderful swiftness under her
hands. S4i,leh.. I'D. 74
How can she want to marry that
horrid, owlish old thing, with his
dreadful, snub-nosed, red-haired chill
dren!" said Kitty to herself irreverent-
ly. altJ l5 ~
But then Miss Keziah would often say
to herself:
elbow can KizZy want to marry that
ungodly Arthur Lawton, who goes to
dances, and wears blue necktie, and
would study law, when his father and
mother wanted him to be a Minister"
or she would have said that to herself
if she had cared enough about Kizzy's
affairs to say anything. The truth
was that she was so bound up in her
own matrimonial plans and prospects,
just now, that she had almost entirely
forgotten her niece; for which Kizzy
was truly thankful. Sym oi a-.,i....
As for Kizzy and Mr.. Arthur Lawton,
she was not sure that she did not wish
to marry him, but she was quite sure,
that, if he asked her, she should find it
rather hard to say no; and she did rath-
er wish he would ask her, too.
If that is rather an illogical statement,
altogether, it is Kizzy's fault, and not
mine. That is precisely the way in
which she thought of the matter. &c..
no lao1-aJ foruyarJ fo +la IoDoo l.
considerable duttering of the heart. For
there was the five-mile drive to Rockville,
and back. that she and Arthur were to
take alone together. A good deal may
be said in that time. ''.' ''''
The next day was st. Valentines Day,
she remembered. Would Arthur send
her anything? Probably he would not
think of it, St, Valentine was SO out of
fashion. Nobody at Glover's Corner
thought of doing him any honor.
Of course it did not even occur to
Miss Kezah that it was St. Valentines
Day, until, as she was polishing
the fashioned brass knocker of
the door next morning Ga du-
ty in which she delighted, as presenting
an edifying example of housewifely in
dustry to all passers), a small boy
alighted from horse, at the door, and
presented her with dainty little box.
1t was directed to sfMiss Keziah
Knowlton."
Miss Keziah, not Miss Kizzy. No
doubt that it was intended for her crossed
Miss Keziah's mind, for everybody called
her niece Kizzy. s.7a-' ..s
With a sudden remembrance that this
was St. Valentines Day, and a thought
of the new minister, Miss Keziah ran up
to her room, with the agility and hopes
of sixteen, carefully concealing her treas
ure in her apron.
Once securely fastened into her room,
she opened the box with trembling fin
gers. ....ti-io gI4.-g. ot t.....t.. 49,.
A beautiful bunch of violets lay within
it, and q little note. The light of six
teen had come back to Miss Keziah's
eyes! 1t was pitiful to see the eager
ness with which she unfolded the note.
MY DEAREST KIzzY-I send these flowers
as st. Valentines Offering, hoping they will
say for me what have not dared to saw for
myself; though think my manner must have
told you already, what is the dearest wish of
my heart II you will wear them to morrow
y L.
whose every thread seems twined around nv
heart-I shall know that may hope. If you
do not, shall try to bear my fate like a man,
and trouble you no more. But [ can not be,
lieve shall have so hard fate as that to bear.
that have been utterly deluded in what |
have dared to fancy could read in your dear
eyes! Hope tells Inc l shall see my Violets
where wish to to night. Yours ever,
f'"t A. L. Absalom Leachi'', a,o.
Miss Keziah actually uttered a shrek
of JOY, and would have tainted, if only
GA. L.'' had been there that she might
have sunk into his arms. iva .arMfN'.t
Her mind was so full of the minister
that it did not occur to her that those
were the initials of any other name.
Not a shade of doubt marred her
felicity. ""'"'Hi'") t9ia4la aet BI
Her hopes had reached their full
fruition, the dreams of her lifetime had
come true, at last! She had lover, a
bona .fde lover, and he was minister!
Oh that dear, sweet letter! Miss Ke-
ziah read it over and over again. Her
lovely golden hair!" Yes, it was
golden, though it was little scanty,
and slightly mingled with silver threads,
and the curls that she wore on each side
of her face were "lovely," though
that envious niece-Kizzy-of hers,
had said thew looked like corkscreWs.