Middletown transcript., 1881-04-08
INTPOUNDED.

eastern slope lay in the hamlet OF lev
erton. Hamlet, l call it, but il
called itself a town, even as a dwarf
may call himself an old man by virtue
of the years he has seen but for all itS
century of experience, Teverton was
for size and Importance, hamlet STILL
Standing on Sunset Rock and looking
westward, the first thing that met the
eye was a low stone wall, pierced with
iron doors, above which rose the head
stones and long uncut grasses Of ne
elected graveyard. Beyond Jay track
of meadow-land, on whose surface
granite powders were more cOnspicu-
GUS than was the crisp stout herbage
that imbedded them. Further still,
the land dipped into an Orchard-hung
valley, beyond which rose a group of
nobly formed hills, belted by forests,
and raising sharply defined pointed
crests to the sky. To north, to south,
stretched a far blue expanse of distance,
clothed with villages, with here and
there tracks of dark woodland, and in
one or two places the silver gleam of
distant ponds. 1t was beautiful land
scape, especially in the afternoon light
of golden September, and the wonder
was that only two persons had cared
to take the easy walk for the purpose
of enjoying it. These persons were
girls, of about the same 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 could be more dissimilar than
the types to which Judith Adams and
Kitty Roach respectively belonged-a
dissimilarity which, however, rather
helped than hindered their friendship,
as differences in type often do. Judith
was strong and fair, with honest blue
eyes, and a steady, sensible face, which,
without beauty, had the attraction of
thorough womanlinesS in its every line
and curve. Kitty, vivid, impulsive,
quick-tongued, with the dew of feeling
and the CLEAN of fun always ready to
leap to her brown eyes and mobile
mouth, possessed alike something Of
the charm and of the defect which is
attributed to the artistic tenn
Without claim to absolute
genius, she had undisputed talent, and
of very versatile character. Attempt
ing many things, she, up to certain
point, succeeded in all. Her quick,
deft, nervous fingers found nothing diff
ficult but this very facility was a dis
and danger, and held her
back from real proficiency. To Judith,
whose mind and body were Of slower
habit, Kitty appeared miracle of clev-
erness. Kitty herself knew better, and
had moments in which she despised her
own shortcomings most heartily. This
afternoon she was in especially dispirit-
ed mood.
$50, as am sure to make mistake
either way, and to do something
ought not, and which I shall repent af-
I have decided togo, /" she was
saying to Judith.
g But why, if you feel SO badly about |
it ?'' persisted her friend. .t&f i
GIVE told you already. l go because
I am afraid to stay. If do, 1 shall get |
into some sort of awful scrape, | am con-
vinced. Either 1 shall say yes and |
be sorry, or else 1 shall say no, and be
sorry still. The only safe way is to say
nothing till my mind is made up, and 1 |
can't do that without going away but,
Oh dear it's great bother, when we
are so comfortable here, and l do so
hate the idea Of joining Susan, and |
getting in with the Rippons and all that |
set r.
Well, 1 must say again that 1 do
not understand it, /" persisted the prac-
teal Judith. "You don't want to say
yes and you don't want to say no,
md all the time you like Benz am
sure you do. If 1 was in your place, 1
think l should know my own mind bet
Ter, and what wanted to say, Kitty"
"Of course you would, you wise old
Ditha. If it was your Ben instead Of
my Ben, don't 1 know exactly how
5hings would be? You would weigh
The matter duly, taking the afternoons
for it, so as not to interfere with your
nights rest ; you would take it to
church with you, and pray over it, or
perhaps open the Bible at random, and
read a passage for direction, as Aunt
Persis used to recommend then, hav-
ing made up your mind, you would
bring your Benjamin up here some fine
lay, sit down on that rock there (tak-
ing the precautiOn to spread blanket
shawl first, for fear of dampness), drew
1ff your glove, fix your eyes on Middle
Mountain, and utter a pensive yes.
And you would come down the hill on
Ben's arm, and be happy ever after,
Ind what is more, deserve it. But, oh
lear me and my Ben
Kitty, for shame Well, what about
you and your Ben ?''
Nothing. Only am L, and he is
he, so we can't ana we won't settle it
N that fashion. wish l could be you,
Ditha, and do as you would do; it
would doubtless be great deal better
'or me. But what's the use of wish
ng Ican't be; it isn't possible.
I'm, ard must continue to be, my bad,
5oolish, contradictory self (; and you are
IN angel" Here swift embrace. II
lon't know how I feel, or what want
ind shan't know till 1 can get off some
where to diseance, and put that boy
n proper perspective. He is too near