Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-07


with him ?'' asked our Jane. Il wonder
what he sees in her?''
.sSolid charms saws Ben. Il heard
him tell John Piker that it was proyerbial
that beauty'd fade, but money'd hold its
own through fire and water"
Il see him kiss Sibyl one day." spoke
up little Tim Ladd. who was lame and
petted; Il see him kiss her twicet. If he
don't marry Sibyl, will And then We
all laughed and Hush, Tim," says
Lucy. for there was Sibyl at my elbow.
Jest taking off her shawl.
The next dav Ben and me was down to
the Witches Pool-for father didn't want
me to be keeping company with Ben. and
him and me didn't agree on that subject
and while we was talking together there,
hid away by the barberry bushes and the
alders and sumacs, who should come
lettering by hut Sibyl and Jack Rhett !!
and they stopped close BY while he threw
a pebble into the pool. and it went down
and down, and is going down now for all
| know, for there amt no bottom to the
pool. folks think.
There. Sibyl.' | heerd him say. my
love for YOU is as deep As that pool
Aren't YOU satisfied? What does it signi-
fly if do stay at home and amuse Bertha.
If I'm thinking of YOU all the time and
wishing was herea You don't want me
to be rude to "A curl who's visiting my
mother, if she has got mouth like a
shark. and she kind of cousin too.
I'm sure you needn't be jealous of her.
Sbyl she cant hold candle 10 youi"
II am jealous of your good name.
Jack" says Sibyl. 1T hurts me as if
they had run Knife through me when
hear folks talk of you as they do"
What do they say about me ?''
They say you mean to marry her, and
you don't love her. | could bear it, you
know-at least | would bear tiff YOU
loved her dearly; but it hurts me like a
wound to hear them talk as if YOU had no
honor and no love for anything but
money!
Il shall set it all right some day.
sweetheart" said he. 1.-The fact is. Sbyl.
my father and mother fret me to death. :"
They want you to marry Bertha ?''
That's it. and you and must wait till
their within wears itself out. | have to
humor them "A little
.'Oh, then YOU deceive them Jack"
And is that So terrible? must either
deceive them or you, sweetheart" said
Jack. kissing her: but Sibyl only sighed.
and then they passed on.
You see, was forced to play at caves
dropping. because didn't want folks to
know how was discbeying father and 90
ing ON with Ben.
Well, Bertha she went home, and pref
I ty soon Jack went too, to study something
or other at the same place, and folks left
of talking about EN-, and Jack would
send Sibyl Il necklace or some trile now
and then 10 please; and since Sibyl
couldn't get the district school any longer,
cause woman did not know enough to
teach in the fall, she went out sewing for
she had to help herself in those days :;
and one day Jacks mother sent for her
to make "A gown ut the Hail. and she liked
that 81 well she had her to make another
Tor Mrs. Rhctt was 4 master-hand for
gowns. 1t was getting on into November :;
the trees had turned 10 flames and burned
themselves away, and the barberrics were
ripe and red, and Mrs. Rhctt had her there
to make silk perlisse, and they got talk
ing about Thanksgiving beggers, for
Thanksgiving he'd been appointed.
Il always give 'em something" said
Mrs. Rheti, whoever they are. \ pie
won't hurt anybody. Miss Henshaw al
ways turns 'em away empty handed, for
you never can tell, says she, whether its
one ot the neighbours girls or a needy
creature; but | tell her the ncghborS
girls couldn't deceive me, nor any Girl
that ever was born"
ooh, Mrs. Rhett." laughed Sibyl, Il
mean To send someone here. and see if YOU
find ont who she is
so do" says Mrs. Rhett; land if
don't find you out, I'll give you rs hand
some Il wedding gown as Il girl need to
put on her back when You want one"
Though it was not particular pleasant
on Thanksgiving eve. but he'd showed.
and lhrcated to snow more. and not star
was out, yet a parcel OF us hair Drained
girls got together. and thought it rare
sport 10 dress up in all the old duds we
could find. and 60 out begging. and some
Of us was first-ratc at imposing on kindly
spinstcrs. who he'd nobody but n cat TO
care for And then somebody said. Lets
90 and get Sibyl."
II was some time afOre we could per-
suade her to Join us. for she wa mt none of
the toolng kind but finally she got her
self up so you'd died a-laughing. She
BACKED her eyebrows with burnt o )rk, ,
and clappcd on u false front of inky-curl
her aunt Libby wore on SUNDAYS which
she combed out in tag-locks. and covered
her head with an old moth-eaten wooden
hood. and put on an old torn shawl over
lnsey gown and a calico apron, and
made Il mole out of putty on one side of
her nose, and altogether you'd never hcv
guessed it wa' Sibyl to your dying day
Her own ma didn't know her when she
went into the kitchen, but slammed the
door in her face.
II mean TO go up to Mrs. Rhett's.' said
Sibyl; for she'd got into the spirit of it by
the time she was on the road. Il want to
see il she'll know me. She thinks nobody
can deceive her" So we separated: and
this is what happened. though | never
heard the particulars till years after You
see she rung the bell at the Hall. and the
man showed her into room where fire
was burning low on the hearth and while
he went to call the mistress. Mrs. Rhett
she sat there awaiting by the dim fire light
and watching the shadders. for the servant
hedn't thought it worth while to light the
lamp for begsar-cirl. And presently
the door opened. and in strobe Jack HIM
self a-whisling of The girl lett behind
me-" lie hedn't wrote Sibyi he was
coming home for Thanksgiving and Just
as she was about tn cry out for Joy, for
srettinp all her rapS somebody. in the no Y I