Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-10-30

days, assents my listener, warmly.
''But / called again and again,
and after a while we became very
! good friends. l liked the quaint old
house, with it's large, low-ceiled
rooms, the huge fire-places filed with
evergreen boughs, the old-fashioned
furniture and ornaments brought
from over the sea by sailor relatives,
the house-plants in the wide window
seats, and the scriptrual tile in the
chimney-piece. Then the Manx cat
and parrot were sources of unfalling
amusement"
"Didn't you never see the parson
-Matildy James beau-when you
were there?" asked Mrs. Bragdon,
breathlessly impatient for the de-
nounement of the story.
"Why, yes; I'm coming to that
present." say / with wicked deliber-
alton, as | stroke the back of the
tortoise-shell cat, who has seated
herself in my lap and is basking de-
lightedly in the warm glow of the
fire.
''Her father, Capt. John, didn't
take no fancy to him at fust-so |
didn't know as he come to the house
in them days; that's ALL she apollo
gizes, becoming sufficiently compos-
ed to pick up her knittingwork.
''Not long before I left Bramliegh
that fall, one bright, frosty afternoon
/ went over to the Snow woods on
an autumn-leaf expedition, and call
ed to see Matilda Jane. as usual, on
my way home. But, finding the
minister, Mr.. Whitcomb, seated in
very close proximity to his lady-love,
[ thought it best to make my excuses
and take an immediate departure -
"'No, indeed; you mustn't think
of going said she, with energetic
decision. You must take off your
hat and stop to tea, for I'm going to
to be all alone this evening. Broth
er Whitcomb's got to 90 home and
tend prayer meeting, and pas 60
ing over to Tim Ramsdell's to see
his new-fangled corn-sheller. Do
take pity on me, for the crickets are
singing louder than ever tonight,
and | shall be lonesome enough to
die -
=" Yes, l told Tim I'd drop over
ter-night, though | don't believe
nothin' in any O. these new tangled
machines, explained her father an
eff you'll stay with Matilda Jane I'll
let Ethan harness up old Moll N
take you over to the village by nine
O'Clock, or whenever you feel as eff
you must 60
These melancholy autumn days,
when everything in nature reminds
us of our own sad decline, makes us
more prone than ever to seek the
companionship of a genial spirit, re-
marked the minister in his most sol
emn tones.
"His cheeks were more like the
red rose than usual, and he had
brought as gifts to the object of his
affection, oranges and the Mission
airy Herald.
s'Miss Matilda Jane was extreme
| ly unconscious and matter-of- fact,
though her toilet bore marks of more
than ordinary consideration. You'd
better wait long enough to just taste
a cup of tea, too, Brother Witcomb,
she said. 4 won't be any time in
preparing it. And if you are not
there in time, can't one of the dea-
cons open the meeting?
ssHe shook his head and said
plaintively: we are too prone to
follow our own inclinations n stray
away from the straight and narrow
path. No, we must follow dooty,
even though it leads us away from
our dearest companions glancing
with solemn fondness at Miss Ma
tilda Jane
~ wouldn't never "a he'd a man
in this world thet courted me jest as
eff he was exhortin' a sinner - eX-
claimed Mrs. Bragdon warmly.
''He did not follow duty immedi-
ately, however," / resumed ''but
stood irresolute, with his hat in his
hand, for few moments; then con-
cluded to follow Miss Matilda Jane
into the kitchen instead and though
he did not make his adieus to either
Capt. John and me, | supposed he
was hastening toward home and the
missionary meeting,' when, in the
course of a half hour or so, Miss
Matilda Jane announced that tea was
ready.
& La! Brother Whitcomb went
home, after all. did hef' inquired the
lady, looking somewhat disturbed, [
fancied. Il thought he had decided
to stay. Strange he didn't come out
and say goodnight.
"'Why, didn t he? said Capt.
John; he went out toward the kitch-
en-, and that's the last / saw of him, ;
':Miss Matilda Jane seemed slight
ly absent minded for moment or
, two, but soon recovered herself and
was as bright and talkative as ever.
, Now / will make haste and get my
work done up, and we'll have a good
long evening together said she.
Ethan wants to 60 to the store, so
I