The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-11-04
BEFORE A FALL.

On Saturday evening l sat upon the
doorstep, waiting for John and Jennie
We had been to choir meetings together
oil summer long-Jonnie was such good
friends with me, and John was such
good friends with Jennie. She lived
Just over the hill from our house, and
John lived just beyond that. She
waited till he came for her, and I wait.
ed for them both. should not have
thought OF starting without them, and
1 sat quietly, not noticing the flight of
time. / was thinking what lovely
evening it was, and that mothers china
asters were coming into bloom, and the
crab-apples were ripening, and that
always thought crab.apple jelly the
prettiest mother ever mede. I was as
peaceful as the old cat that came and
curled up beside me, and had no more
thought than she of its being late.
But suddenly 1 heard Jennie's voice
calling me it sounded so sharp, out of
the quiet. that I was really startled. She
had paused at the gate and was saying,
"Come, Phoebe |" ] knew in a minute
from her tone that something had wor-
ried her. I was wondering what it
might be as I rose and went down the
path, and I suppose I went little
slowly.
"Hurry, Phebel" she cried "don't
you know We are late ?"
But, instead of hurrying, l stopped
short, for suddenly saw that John
was not with her.
where's John ?" 1 asked.
81 don't know" she answered, G,.c.t.
ly. "Don't stand staring, Ph0bol l
tell you we're late"
Now some people arc afraid of Jennie
when she speaks that way, with her
cheeks red and her eyes swapping. But
l am not; it only makes mo little
cooler than was before. just stood
STILL She shan't drive me, if do love
her.
"Suppose we are latef" l said. 81
think We might wait a little for him,
just for once"
"You can do it, then" said she, and
walked straight on.
l looked up the road and reflected.
John was not in sight. If anything had
happened to detain him, it was Jennie's
company he would be sorry to miss, SO
my waiting couldn't do him no good.
[ might as well go with Jennie. ran
and caught her before she had gone far.
I suppose it Modified her to have made
me run, for she laughed little as |
came up. "You didn't wait as long as
didp she said.
"Then you did wait while"
"Wby, of course. Didn't tell you
it was late ?"
"Well, you needn't have got mad
about it, Jennie !"
"I didn't" said she, cor at least
was only mad at myself for waiting
There is no reason why We should evel
wait for John. or expect him to come
with us every night, just because he
lives next door. He never said word
about always escorting us. He's just
let it be matter Of course, and I'm moi
going to have it so any longer. He
might want to go with some of the
other girls some time, and then just
think how ridiculous we should DO, sit
ting waiting for him. I'll never do i
again. Next week l mean to start rea
early, and you may wait for him if yor
like. I'll not expose myself to being
sighted again. don't doubt he's gont
the other way, by East side, tonight.
Now Jessie Sears lived On East side
John was the only fellow in the villag,
whom she could not possibly induce K
hirt with her, and it seemed as il 70,
that reason he was the one she mos
wanted to mako an impression upon
He said nothing about il, and kept ou
of her way, but everybody knew ex
eept Jennie, who might have known j
, she pleased--that he disliked her. 81
when Jennie made that insinuation
thought it was my turn to be angry.
, faced about upon her with the facts.
"Jennie Norris" said /, "you knoy
, Just as we'll as / do that you're tho onl,
girl in this town John ever cares to &,
anywhere with. / don't see how yol
can be so mean as to talk about him il
that wayp
Jennie's face got crimson, and sh
. hung her head and looked quite cowed
!, l was glad of it.
at don't SEQ where he can be, then,
she murmured after q while. "He migt
have sent us word If he was not going
You'll acknowledge it was humiliatin
for us to sit and wait for him."
81 don't see why"
"You're such q child" she said, pc
tishly.
"If it is childish to be unreasonable
!. but there ] stopped. saw Jennie
!" face was twitching, and her color can
: and went. She was always high-strunl
. swift and spirited, and tonight 81
1 seemed touohy and unnelved, 1 fe
: sorry for her, and thought We would to-
n about something else.
g Iwill expla now what had detaine
John. We learned about it in goo
- time. There was an Irish family livir