Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-09-26

With this he dashed out of the gn.e and
up the read toward Sarahs home, leavirg
Mary leaning against the window in any.
thing bnt cheerful mood
She Lad intended TO break him of his
vanity, and then marry him; for there
WAS everything hat was good and generous
in John, and II never occurred to her that
they could do without each other. And
now he was going, thimblc. needlebox,
ring and all.
Mary didn't cry. The hope that Sarah
had gone as usual to prayer meeting, and
in the meantime Johns anger would alb tie
and his love return to her, held its own
against the bitterness Of self reproach and
regret.
BIT when the next day wore on. and the
evening was far advanced and the posi-.
biliIy that Sarah hadn't gone 10 prayer
meeting, and that at this very moment
she was entertaining her future husband
on cider and gingersnaps grew to a GER
| 'ainty, there was nothing for her to do but
to 60 out of sight and sound of tickle
humanity J, and bury her grief In he neigh
hood OF the spring where John and she
aad so often listened 10 the music of the
| falling water, and the song of love lthin.
John must have hal II similar impulse,
when she drew near the spring and
| pulled her handkerchief from her pocket
| IN preparation for II good cry, sh- saw
John with his head buried on his knees
and oh, joy? dressed in the ordinary
working clothes IN which she always
liked to see him.
Her first impulse to make up Was re-
strained by the fear thai he might lie
S,rah's belrothed. She swallowed big
lump in her throat and tried to look very
Indifferent, as she said
Good evening Mr.. Redpalh. Perhaps
{ may congratulate youP'
mo you maynt either, I've got nothing
to be congratulated tor, except that l
made "A scarecrow out Of my thirty dollar
suit But it don't seem to be ii success
even there. The crows are us hard as
ever
This time the tears came very quickly
to Mary's eyes. She knelt down ON the
grass beside him. and said softly: John.
please give me my thimblc agahp"
The non thmblc was f,led from he
depths of Johns pocket and handed to
Mary in silence.
The momenlary stiffness w,s Tin
broken by The same pleading voice:
John, please give me my tin needle
Gaze"
The needle case changed owners in the
same mechanical fashion.
You look very nice now John, You
look like a man, you know, that one
could love and look up to-" said Mary. at
he same lime pushing back the slouch
bat and prering closely in his eyes.
"Mnry, will you take the gold ring
nowp'
Mary held her finger and John slipped
he gold ring on just as he had slipped on
the brass ring ten Years ago.
"Mary, may Kiss you now?"
She only nodded her head, and John
was limid, after Il certain adventure the
day before.
~ n won't treat me like you did the
other day, Mary, if kiss you?'
Mary laughed, little confused, as she
answered: Il dare not now, you know;
we re engaged
1t was long while before she made
any ,ffJrt to free herself from his arms
alter that.
When they walked home past the corn.
field in which the crows were still busy
getting their late supper, in spite of the
fashionable scare in the center of the field
John, remembering that other fellow,
who had caused him a sleepless night,
wanted to know who his formal rival was.
'Ic is John Redpath, the farmer, and
want you should be good to him. aid
Mary archly. The fellow didn't like is
Mr.. Redpalh, the dandy, who isn't success
.ul as Il scarecrow, you see. Is it any
wonder woulln have hm?'
Both laughed, and were happy.