The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-08-09

surrounded q vine.eMbowcred cottage
famed the flushed check and toyed will
the stray ringlets OF sweei-fsccd girl VIII
stood with dosncAs, eyes and ircmuloui
lips
"And what does she say. Blossomf'
queried tall young man Of three or foul
aud twenty. looking down on the fair mai
den beside him, an expression OF an1ist,
blending with the look OF love that shon,
In his dark eyes
"She says must wait; that she cannot
conscientiously give her consent, and thu
girl turned her blue eyes. misty with un
shed tears. toward the handsome face oI
her lover. who bit his lip with vexation.
"How long are We TO vaits' he asked,
after moments silence. As Rose Matt
lands eyes once more drooped beneath
their long lashes.
II really don't know, WILL" returned
the girl. "you know poor mamma died
five years ago. when ! was fourteen, and
promised her 10 do as auntie said for ten
years. no auntie was made my guardian
tall should be twenty -four, unless mar
ried before that time with her consent.
"And il you marry without her consent,
what them" Will Vernon pressed the lit.
tic hand be held and looked beseechingly
down into the sweet face, but its owner
shook her head.
IL cannot listen to that" she said SOL
emnly. II love you, Will, but ] cannot
break my promise to my dying mother.
But, oh dear, Aunt Margaret is so hard.
hearted, and am afraid she will not con.
sent and five years seems almost life
time"
She plucked rose, and tore its Grim.
son petals asunder with trembling fingers,
scattering the beautiful leaves on the
II ground ut her feet. the afternoon sunshine
\ glinting through the trees and falling here
and there in light patches.
'Of course this is fnal" said Will,
moodily, "and we can do nothing but
wait and pray that the years may glide by
ss rapidly as possible. But, hsrk, some
one is coming down the walk. It's your
Annt Margaret, and, as live, gentleman
with her.
The look of vexed moodness lifted for q
moment from viii Vernons face, and gave
place to an amused expression.
Sure enough, adown the rose-lined path
way came Miss Margaret Maitland. q pre-
sumably confirmed spinster Of forty, sis
ter Of the deceased father OF Rose, and
guardian ol the latter, and by her side in
close proximity walked well dressed man
of middle age, with a square face and
dropping moustache. as yet untouched by
the frosts Of time.
"Oh yes, that is Auntie's admirer," said
Rose indifierently, as the mature couple
sauntered slowly toward the young lovers.
He sings in the choir OF her church. and
they really seem fond OF each other. !
wish they would marry. Perhaps auntie
would grow more lenient toward us l
have never met him as yet"
Will Vernon regarded the approaching
pair with some curiosity. Miss Margaret
Maitland, whom he had always considered
as species Of man-hater, was not Of the
typical class Of old maids. Instead Of be.
ing lean and scraggy, she was we'll pre-
served and plump, though the short curls
beside her round face showed stray threads
OF silver.
my neice, Miss Maitland, Mr.. Rogers;
Mr. Vernon, said the elder Miss Maitland
as they came face to face.
Mr., Rogers lifted his hat from his in
tensely black locks.
Extremely happy to make your ac-
quantances, lie said, with sort OF ready
made smile, as Rose thought, beneath his
heavy moustache, and then he grasped
Wills hand with vice-liko grip.
"This is beautiful place-and the most
charming roses ever saw, said Mr.. Rog-
ers, looking from side TO side over the
howery expanse.
'sYes indeed, we are extremely fond Of
flowers, roses especially returned the
happy spinster with an appealing look at
her niece, for to the exquisite taste Of the
latter the place owed its floral charms.
"a love OF flowers evinces the truest,
sweetest womanhood," said Mr. Rogers,
his jet moustache again showing symp-
toms Of smile, while Miss Margaret sim
pered and made futile attempt at blush
ing.
Mr.. Rogers picked soft blush rose and
held it playfully up TO the cheek OF the
lady in whose good graces be apparently
stood so high. "Allow me TO fasten this
at your throat" he said, and Rose shrank
blushingly back at the bold strangers fa-
miliari,y with her heretofore prudish
aunt, the latter submitting to the adovn-
ment with pleased smile. though she
WINGED as thorn concealed in the spray
Of green leaves pierced her skin as he fun
bled awkwarjly at her neck, but she bore
the inAiciion with heroic fortisude, amply
repaid by the bland smile OF the donor.
Don't you think Mr.. Rogers . very
agreeable man?" questioned Miss Marga-
ret, OF her niece the next day, Monday. as
they sat upon the piazza, the former full
of serene happiness, the latter somewhat
downcast
yes. I suppose SO. Auntie." was the
reluctant admission.
i "Humphl You think there Is nobody in
the world bnt Will Vernon, retortcd Mis-
Margaret. not At all pleased. "Now Mr.
Rogers il man Of some stability. Hs II
a member Of the church and pillar Of so
ciety."
4