The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-04-21

tie long hill an uhose eastern slope Jay
the hamlet Of Tesertob Hamlet, ] call A.
bot II called itseii iovn, esen Is dwarf
may call himself an old man NY virtue ~
the years be has seen, bat for all It's ceaia'
~ ~ experience, ToSerton was, for size and
importance, hamle, still. Standing on
sansei Rock aud looking westward, the
first thing that met the eye was low stone
wall. pierced With iron doors, above which
rose the healstones aud long uncut grass
es Of neglected graveyard Beyond Lay
tractl Of a meadow land, on whose sur
face granite bowlders were more conspieu-
Gus than were the crisp, stout heritage
that imbedded them Further still the
land dipped iato an orchard d.hung valley,
beyond which rose group OF nobly form
ei bills, belted by forests, aud raising
sharply defined pointed crests TO the SKY.
To north, to south stretched a far blue ex-
panse Of distance, clothed with villages,
with here and there tracts OF dark wood
land. and ii one or two places the SILVER
CLEAN OF distant ponds 1t was beauu-
ful landscape. especially IN the afternoon
ligh. OF golden September, and the Won
der was that only two persons had cared 10
take the easy walk for the purpose oil en-
loying it, The persons were girls oil about
the ,ame height and age, who, as they
climbed the long hill side by side, Kept
close together, AS though contact was dear
and desirable TO them both.
OF the same age and height, yet nothing
conld be more dissimilar than the types to
which Judith Adams aud Kitty Roach re-
spectively belonged dissimilarity which
however rather helped than hindered their
friendship, as differences in type often do,
Jnlith was strong and fair, with honest
blue eyes, and q steady, sensible lace
which, without beauty, had the attraction
of thorough womanliness in ITS every iine
and curve. Kitty, vivid. impulsiye, quick
tongued, with the dew Of feeling and the
CLEAN of fun always ready t. leap TO her
brown ewes and mobile mouth, possessed
alike something Of the charm and OF the
defect which ispopularly attributed TO fhe
artistic temperament Without claim 10
absolute genius, she had uudisputed talent
and Of very versatile character. Attempt
ing many things, she up to Gel tain point
succeeded in all. Her quick deit, nervous
fingers found nothing difficult; but this
very facility was disadvantage and dan
ger, and held her back from re al proii-
cheney. To Judith, whose mind and body
were Of slower habit, Kitty appe ared a
miracle OF cleyerness. Kitty herself,
had moments in which she despise her
own shortcomings most heartily. rms
afternoon she was in an especially dispr-
tied mood.
SO as am sure to make q mistake efti-
er way, aud 10 do something ougl't not,
and which / shall repent OF afterward, !
have decided TO go, she was saying to Ju-
dith.
But why, if you feel so badly about 1T,
persisted her friend,
I've told you already. | go becau sc
afraid to stay. II do, | shall get int o
some sort OF awful scrape, am convinced
Either shall say yes and be sorry, or else
shall say no and be sorry still. The on
ly safe way is to say nothing till my mind
is made up, and | can't do that without
going away; but, oh dear lisa great both
er, when we are so comfortable here, and
/ do so hate the idea Of joining Susan, and
getting in with the Rippons and all that
set
Well, | must say again that ! do not nm
derstand it, persisted the practical Judith.
You don't want to say yes aud you don't
want to say no, and all the time you like
Benz am sure you do, If was in your
place. | think should know my own mind
better, and what wantel to say, Kitty.
OF course you would, You wise old
Ditha. If it was your Ben instead OF my
Ben, don't | know exactly how things
would be? Yon would weigh the matter
duly taking the afternoons for it, sol as not
to interfere with your nights rest; you
would take it to church with you and pray
over it, or perh APPS open the bible at ran
dom and read passage 'for direction, as
Aunt persis used to recommend; then,
having made up your mind, you would
bring your Benjamin up here some fine
day. sit down there taking the precaution
to spread blanket shawl FIRST for fear OF
dampnessl, draw of your glove, fix your
eve on Middle Mountain, and utter pen
siye yes. And you would come down the
hill on Ben's arm, and be happy ever after
and what is more, deserve 1t. But, oh
dear me and my Ben
Kitty, for shamel Well, what about you
aud your Benz
Nothing. Only am /, and he is he. so
We won't settle it in that fashion. ! wish
| could be you, Ditha, and do as you
would do; il would doubtless be a great
deal better for me. But what's the use OF
wishing? | can't be; it is impossible /
am. aad must continue to he, my bad
foolish, contradictory self; and you are an
angel. Here swift embrace.) don't
know how feel, or what | want. and shall
no, know till can get of some where at q
distance, aud put that boy in proper per-
speetiye. He is too near by half as it u
now, he blinds and bcwilders me. cant
see elearl, OF determine; 50 discretion be
ing the better part Of yalor. ! shall flee.
Kitty spoke merrily; bat Judith, without
turning her head. felt sure that the tears
were not far from her eyes.