Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-06-05
What Was 1t?

her without expressing admiration,
and one did not weary with the face
after years of familiarity with it.
She was well bred, accomplished and
an heiress. / had reason to believe
she was fond of me. No man could
be more entirely content than | was
as leaned back in the first-class
carriage which took me from Glas-
gov into the country, to the Vale of
Cruix, where I was to preach a few
Sabbaths.
The pulpit was vacant. and | was
going to try my wings. With my pc
cuniary prospects l scarcely thought
| should care to accept call to the
Vale of Cruix, but had no objection
to filling it's pulpit for few weeks,
especially as Angelina had gone to
the west coast, and Glasgow was
warm and stuffy and stupid.
Casual remembrances of elegant
parsonages built in Queen Anne's
style; of a study where the footballs
were softened by Persian rugs, and
the door draped in portiers of velvet;
chairs and a desk carved as richly as
some old confessional fitted through
my mind. And | thought also OF a
table, spread with silver and rare
China, with lady at its head, who
resembled queen. And | breathed
a luxurious sigh as / awakened from
my day-dream to a knowledge that
the words ''Vale of CruiX" were be-
ing shouted on the platform, and that
the train was coming to a standstill.
| seized my travelling bag from the
rack overhead and hurried out of the
carriage. The porter had just pulled
four or five trunks on the platform.
Two old wagons stood in the road,
one driven by an old woman in a sun
bonnet, and the other by a red-head-
ed boy with bare feet; and a queer
knock-kneed horse, attached to a
queerer old gig was standing at lit
tie distance. A young man, in a
light summer suit and a city family
bent on rural happiness, were my
companions on the platform.
The former put his trunk in the
first wagon, kissed the old woman in
the sun-bonnet, took the reins and
drove away. He was evidently the
son of the family, come home to
spend his vacation. The rest of the
trunks, city family-mother, father,
little boy, nurse, maid and baby
were put in the wagon and driven by
the boy.
When the train moved away | was
left alone on the platform, alone but
for the station-master, who sat upon
a bench smoking clay pipe.
In moment more the official with
out looking at me, made the remark I:
"Deacon Stevenson has come for the
new minister. He's over in the ho-
tel and will be back in few min
utes.,,'
''Thank you," said l.
The station-master took no notice
of me, having climbed upon a stoo
and made some changes in a time
register on the wall of the station
locked the door, and put the key il
his pocket and sauntered away dowr
the railroad.
l took the place upon the bencl
and waited. In few minutes
prime little old gentleman appeared
on the top of the hill, carrying in on
hand tin can, in the other til
pail, and under either arm a brown
paper parcel. / knew at a glanc
: that it was Stevenson.
: care you Mr.. Mactaggert? h
l. inquired, mildly, as he approached
II want to know. / hadn't any ex
pectation of being kept so long; bu
you see, it saves the women-folk
/ to fetch things when / drive down
/ Step in, won't you. I'll jest han
l this can of parafine lie on behinC
Some dislike the smell-maybe 20
!, do. The sugar-loaf, tea and coffe
t can go under the seat as well as no
How's your health, sir, and how d
you like the Vale of CruiX?' p
s l answered that my health ws
e good, and that l had not, as ye
: seen much of the Vale of Cruix.
. "No, you haven't said the ol
a gentleman. ssWell, you'll driv
d through it now.' And he shook tt
reins, and the old horse began
e stumble along. And on we drov
II past certain rows of brick house
: very much like each other, and wit
- the same flowers in their front ga
it dens, until, having passed the churc
N we came to one happily set about
of old oak trees, before the gate
which we drew up.
II A girl stood at the gate-a ia
- girl in a blue muslin dress.
h. "Take the sugar, Mary, before
If gets upset. said the deacon. 9Th
IS is Mr.. Mactaggert, that's to prea'
to for us. Mr.. Mactaggert, this is n
- daughter Mary
We bowed, and she vanished wi
i the parcels.
ir s'What lovely little creature
ct said l to myself. "Nothing like A
pc gelina. but SO prettyl'' And -four
rs myself thinking of her as | wash
. my hands and brushed my hair
- the blue-walled bedroom on the sc
h. ond floor, with white fringed countt
\ -,a,.o. 4 o..l - !.