Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-09-21
A PRECIOUS AMULET.

ting at her knitting. could sec the al
ternate sweeps of clouds and sunshine
over the distant fields. and the green
pillows of the apple orchard tossing TO
and fro.
Along the fence red crIrrants were
ripening; neat carnations, tied up 10
green-painted stakes, lifted their heads
toward the purple and pink conyolyo-
lus-cups that ran riot over the stone
wall, and the gray cat, summing itself
on the doorstep, was half asleep. So
was Mrs. Thalia.
"The house seems so still without
Dora" the old lady pondered, as she
came to the seam-needle and let the
half-completed stocking fall into her
lap. "She's been married six months
now, and declare to goodness it seems
like six years. l never knew how dear
the child was to me until she went
away. And suddenly pausing, with
an intent, listening lOOk-"if | wasn't
mortal sure that she was in New York,
living in a flat, l should say that that
was her footstep!"
And in the same breath. Dora VIII
ton, the dimpled, dainty little bride
who had been brought up in this very
farmhouse, ran into old Mrs Thalia
Thaxter's arms.
"Why, Dorar said the old lady
"This amt you? Nothing has hap
pened, hope?"
mo, aunty," sobbed the girl "But
I did want to see you so much; 80 rs
soon rs Herbert went to the Office.
took the express train and came down
to spend the day with YOU"
"And a very good idea. l am sure"
said Mrs. ThaXter. bustling cheerfully
around 20 remove her niece's things.
"And I'll make you a cup of tea
directly, and I'll cut you 4 piece of the
blackberry short-cake | made this morn
ing. and Wen make believe it WAS old
times. and you never married at all
--eh?"
And Dora. who sat moodily playing
with her bonnet ribbons Mt the window,
burst into tears and exclaimed:
"Oh, aunty. if only it was old times!
If only had never married allr'
Mrs. Thaxter stopped short, with the
quaint little japanese teapot in her
hand.
why. Dora, DEAR" said she, "what
is the trouble? Aren't you happy
"Nol" sobbed Dora" oh, no. nol'
And why not, in the name of com
mon sense?' demanded the old lady
You loved him and he loved you. And
when you two were married. and went
away from here, you were the happiest
couple that ever saw"
"Yes, / know" said Dora, still keep
ing her face averted from the old maids
questioning gaze; "but Herbert doesn't
love me as he used to-"
my dear" said Mrs. Thalia Thaxter,
@whose fault is that?'
"Not mine. / am sureF' said the bride.
firing up in her own defense. "No-
body can he expected to be always as
amiable as the patient Griselda. And
ifhe doesn't want me to speak short, he
shouldn't be .everlastingly finding
fault"
Mrs. Thaxter looked at her niece with
alittle sigh.
"Ycs," said she. " / see. It's the
little foxes that spoil the grapes. You
could endure severe test of your
love-"
"But not these little, prieking
worrying trials" spoke Dora, with
spirit. "Oh aunty what shall I dop''
Dora" said Mrs. ThaxteF after a
brief silence, during which she made
the tea and poured it out--a clear and
fragrant bcverage-into little cups oi
antique china, with spoons shaped liz,
miniature soup-ladleC. and bearing tlit
@hall mark" of a hundred years ago
Sall this is no new tale for me to lister
to. The world repeats itself in every
generation. I, too, when first was mar
ried to your Uncle ThaxteE. passed
through just such an experience a
this"