The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-01-20
A VERMONT COURTSHIP.

The icy brilliaDce of the freezing Februa-
ry sunshine was scintillating its Polar splen-
dor over the pine thickets and snow-crushed
wilderness of the ''Gray GOrge''-a solitary
valley amid the wooded heights Of Vermont
The little brook was cased in steel blue ar
NOR Of ice the frozen mountain-crestsI lifted
their bold and rocky peaks against the deep,
dazzling blue of the winter sky; and the
wind, as it rushed bowling down the glen
shook the very foundation Of the farm house
in its mad glee
Eyes, there they CO." said Miss Pamela,
lifting the corner of the window curtain to
look down the long perspective of the wind
ing road. -Four of 'em. In two cutters,
with two wOlf-robes, and two sets Of sleigh,
bells. And it's the third time that Ruth and
Bessie have been asked out sleigh riding
within month, and nobody ever thinks of
me -
And it was little strange, too, when one
came to think OF it. Miss Pamela PipeIy
was plump young woman of three-and-
thirty, with rosy cheeks swapping black
eyes, and a figure as straight and trim as a
sapling pine.
She had not Ruth's melting, almond
shaped eyes, perhaps, nor the peachy pink
Of Bessie's radiant complexion, but she was
universally acknowledged to be the best
hand in picking and preserving in all the
country around.
She couldn't quote Sw;nburne or Jean In
gelOw, but she managed her widowed broth
er's household with a firm gentle hand. and
had chest full of pa;chworks and bed
quilts and crocheted tides, in the big old gar
ret up stairs.
In fact, Miss Pamela Pipely would have
made first class wife to any man living-if
only the bachelors around Gray Gorge could
have been brought to perceive a fact which
was so manifestly to their advantage
So Miss Pipely sat before the fire of blaz-
ings logs, all messed over with silver gray
fringe and bubbling out their resfnous hearts
before the fiery ordeal of the flames and
knitted away at Squire Sans gray mixed
stockings, as if she were on wager against
Old Time, as was resolved to conquer at all
hazards. And the dragons head that was
carved on the old mahogany chair opposite
and the claw-Iegs and the queer little brass
knobs scattered all over it seemed to wink
soberly at her in the pleasant light as she
worked. 1t was an heirloom IN the family.
that old chair, and the Pipelys were proud
of it.
Just then there came the merry Jingle of
sleigh bells up the read like the peal OF min
iatuTe laughter.
"Some Ole else out for a sleigh ride"
thought Miss Pamela, without turning her
head.
But to her infinite amazement, the tiny
peals ceased to chime the sleigh had stop
ped.
Good gracious - said Miss Pamela. tax
ing hurried observation from behind the
netted fringe Of the curtains, cts Mr. He'd
ger. And he's coming here, too
Mr.. Hedger came ina stout, middle-aged
man, with light blue eyes shining behind his
spectacles, brown hair just sprinkled with
gray, and seal muller buttoned up to his
very nose.
Good morning, Miss Pamela !'' said he
pleasantly.
Good morning - said Miss Pamela
I've called on business - said Mr. He'd
ger, who was one of those uncanonized So
cial martyrs, a bashful old bachelor.
Miss Pamela, to be sure, was an old maid,
out she wasn't in the least degree basLful,
so that perhaps the two were not evenly
matched.
"On business p repeated the lady, 'I'n
call my brother at once"
''Oh, don't do that, Miss Pamela - said
Mr.. Hedger, lifting his hand deprecatingly
mop" Miss Pamela raised her jet black
eyebrows in some surprise.
Because my business was with you, es-
pecially," be explained.
"Oh 10
Miss Pemela sat down again, mechanically
crimping the borders of her apron with the
finger and thumb of her left hand, while a
very pretty blush cTept over her face.
'Ive been thinking it over for some time, -
said AIr. Hedger, rather abruptly.
''Have you? said Miss Pamela.
And the crimping operation went on fas
ter than ever.
"Of course I know it's taking great lib /
erty,. said the gentleman apoIogeucally.
ooh, dom speak of it - said the lady.
"And then you know we are almost stran- .
gers, - he added.
''Oh, that makes no difference said Miss .
Pamela, hurriedly.
81 can hardly muster courage to ask /.
said he.
Don't be afraid" sweetly smiled the
black-eyed damsel wondering what Ruth
and Bessie would say if they were to come
~ ssI bsr