Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-01-23

NOOAt hS ANAe AAiONS0 w oNANSAhS'1Os
"Sister Maria" said he, ''this is a
miserable world"
eyes, Brother Skeels,'' said the
maiden, sympathetically.
81 don't take no sort of pleasure
in nothing since l lost my partner,
life seems SO lonesome-like," said the
deacon. Scripture says it amt
good for man to be alone.'
81 don't reckon as how you'll ney-
er find no one to take her place."
said Maria, timidly.
"Ah! Sister Marier, there is them
as could make me happy once more;
could make the tins in the shop shine
agin, as it were, and make me forget
my grief for her as lies in the buryin'
ground with the long grass wavin'
over her,'' said the deacon, in a
burst of eloquence.
But at this juncture the swallows
in the chimney flew up with a loud
whirr that caused Maria to start up
with a little scream-albeit she had
been accustomed to these summer
swallows from childhood-and the
good deacon could not refrain from
clasping his arm around her firm
waist, and entreat her not to be
alarmed.
'My sakes Brother Skeels, what
turn them birds did give me There
L feel better; 1 feel quite relieved
now; thank you kindly" said the
gentle Maria, leaning very near the
deacon's bombazine bosom, her eyes
half closed, and one little weather.
beaten hand spread out over her mai
den heart.
"Don't move till you feel calm,
Sister Marier.''
Whereat Miss Parrat, instead of
becoming calm, showed signs of in
creased agitation, as was perhaps
| natural under the circumstances. The
large palm-leaf figures ON the bosom
of her gown heaved wildly and she
burst into tears then the coat sleeve
tightened about the firm waist, the
maiden's gray head sank lower and
lower, until finally the faded cheek
rested upon the bombazine bosom,
and the deacon's voice whispered:
"Marier, you air the bein' | would
have for my second partner will you
bekom Mrs. Skeels and make me
happy?'
Without waiting for her lover to
repeatof the offer, Maria whispered
gently, Yes
1t was night. Squire Anson Par.
rats oats had been cut and piled il
little stacks about the field adjoining
the old farm house. The chickens il
the cherry tree beside the kitchen
porch slept peacefully in their perch
and the pale light of the new moor
shone softly over the scene. The in
mates of the little house seemed to bt
resting likewise under a peaceful
spell, and all appeared to slumber
Not so, however. One wakeful be
ing beneath that quiet roof was toss
ing restlessly on her high-posteC
couch. This was no other than tht
gentle Maria. She listened impa
tiently to the old clock ticking ou
the seconds, and to Betsy's peaceful
snoring until she was assured that tn,
household was at rest for the night
then she stole softly from her bed
and by the faint light of the moor
proceeded to array herself in a greer
delaine gown which had been he
"Sunday dress time out of mind
She was just doing her back hal
when Tiger gave growl, then louC
bark on hearing what seemed to hin
very much like the wheels of ricket,
chaise rattling some distance dow
the pike.
"We are diskivered," said the ag
itated Maria to herself, in grea
alarm.
But mol Tiger stopped to listel
for the near approach of the wheels
but either he had been mistaken il
the sound or the chaise had stopped
for all was quiet. He gave severa
low, dissatisfied growls, as much a
to say: cit may be all right, but
don't believe it. / think / know bug
gy wheels when 1 hear them. | thin
l sniff some mystery in the air, but
will wait and see.'
Maria went on with her dressing
Finally the last touches had been ad
ded to her midnight toilet; she ha
tied on her head coquettish bonne
of previous age, and all was in read
mess save her front teeth. Thes
were artificial, and being made by
bungling artist in teeth, who had re
paired to the village some time pre-
vious, were exceedingly uncomforta
BILE, and always laid aside by Mari
in private. She was sure that sh
: had put them in the right-hand COZ
ner of the stand drawer. But no
Clearly they were not there. Maria
: heart sank. She stole softly to th
mantel-shelf and felt around anon
the brass candlesticks, and came nea
, knocking over the plaster cast c
r 'Little Samuel but no teeth wer
: there. Heavens! She remember
now. She had left them ip recent
| ct of her palm-leaf fiqfianging in the
) the occasion 983etsey's room.
| CALL ando an dof dismay crept over the