The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-05-12


h,r nephcp. you are going 70 marry
seuihg girl
Tcln Rockingham smiled
am going TO marty syouug lady. Aunt
Debby, said be, who has been sensible
enough occasionally 10 eke out the insult
fleient means Of her family by a little hon
ssi and honorable work
Aun. Deborah shrugged her shoulders.
She was tall, high featured old woman
nth Scotch.red hair, prominent cheek
bones. and eyes that gliitered like cells oi
je,;y light in their csvernous sockets
And a, she sat there beside her big work
basket, with piece Of uncompromising
knitting work in her hands, Felix felt the
old sensation which SO often came over
him as child. Of being summoned before
some stern Judicial tribunal.
Aunt Deborah WAS the moneyed Nom ber
Of the family. 1t was Aunt Deborah whose
tastes were courted, Aunt Deborah whose
advice was solicited in every important
crisis in the Rockingham family, and the
old lady could hardly believe her senses
when she heard that her nephew, Feiix'
had actually dared to select wife accord
ing to his own taste and fancy.
Uumphl commented Aunt Deborah
And suppose you will expect me to give
you wedding present.
That is just as your own judgment and
liberality may dictate, said Felix, with
hidden sparkle OF mischief under his eye
lashes.
Humph again uttered Aunt Deborah
Bring her to see me tonight
Amy Falkland was half frightened out
of her pretty little wits whom her lover
told her that Aunt Deborah had desired
her presence. ;,
Oh Felix, said she, coloring pink and
white, I'm afraid
When the queen issues her commands,
said Felix laughing, all the liege subjects
must obey. And Aunt Debhy is queen IN
our family.
Is she very terrible? said Amy.
As hard as rock and as cold as an icicie
replied Felix, grayely
Does she hate me?
By no means, laughed Felix. She only
called you sewing girl
Well, but that is exactly what am, said
ANY, lifting her pretty eyebrows. If that
| is the worst she has to say about me- l
think / can endure 1t.
So the bride elect presented herself 10
Aunt Deborah, blushing, pretty, ana con
fused, that selfsame evening
So YOU are going to marry my nephew,
| said Aunt Deborah, almost in the words
wberewith she had catechised Felix IN the
morning
Yos, confessed the pretty little culprit
scarcely daring to lift her eyes from 1ho
ground
And / suppose you expect to be very
happy2
| Yes.
What fools people are! said Aunt Debo.
rah. in general way. Well, my dear :
have no pearls and diamonds to give away
and il / had you wouldn't know what to
do with them. Here's an old seal skin
Jacket that have worn few times. Take
that You're handy with the needle, and
you can easily fit it up to do great many
winters service.
Thank YOU, Aunt Deborah, said Amy
with pretty little courtesy.
You may kiss me, my dear, said the old
lady. relenting some under the sunshine OF
the soft blue eyes and timid voice.
And Amy put up her cherry lips to the
old spinster's thin and wrinkle scanned
face.
I've given your brother Halbert's bride
elect lust such another sacque, said Miss
deborah to her nephew. l dare soy she
expects set of jewels, or thousand dol
: lar necklace, or some such piece OF frIvoi
ity and nonsense-but she'll find herself
mistaken. / intend to show no partiality
to my nephews.
Amy Falkland took home the venerable
old fur garment, which gave signs OF hard
and long service, and viewed it with earn
est eyes.
It is old, said she, but there is deal o
wear in it yet.
should say, hazarded Felix, that 1t wa
only fit for the rag bag.
But YOU are not judge Of fur, said
Amy. Now when | have ripped it up
sewed it up again, and refined it, you vii
see what a pretty and substantial wintel
garment shall have.
Felix looked admiringly at her.
| haven't the least doubt, said he. tina
YOU will look pretty in anything yo'
choose to wear.
Don't be goose, said Amy And sh'
sat down at once, with her scissors ans
; work. basket, for Miss Falkland's trous
seau was by no means so extensive bu
that she had time to attend TO these littl
details herself.
Blu, Miss Hortensia Waldron, the bird
elect OF Mr.. Halbert Rockingham, Felix
eldest brother, viewed the welding gift c
her husbands aunt with considerable les
favor. Miss Waldron was beauty and
belle. with An uncle in the United State
Navy, father who dealt extensively
mining stocks and bonds, and Frenc
maid. And tho Rockinghams were all de-
lighted. and said, what great thing
was for Halbert TO marry into such fam
ly.
: Good gracious me, said Miss Waldrot
ewing the ancient sealskin wrap through