The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-10-25

Year 10 and year out thai house had
stood vacant. simmer sons bad woven
their threads OF light through the closed
blinds; winter SHOWS hsd piled THEN ~hi'"
drii,. sgains. the threshold w
Some said the boase was damp. othcrs
.ha, /, was haunted: yet Others shre~di,
surmis.d that II wss in litigation end
couldn't show clear title,
But nobody knew anything for certnn
and when Major TriIon bought Il aud 40
army OF decorators, painters. mAsons and
upholsteren took possession OF !, the ~
teres. and curiosity OF Por.ville was at a
eliminating point
That the major was bachelor vas very
certain. That be was 40 years old, II not
oldss, appeared an incoatrovertible fact
That lie was immensely rich. rather eccen'
trio aud decidedly in wsut OF a wife every
body 10 town knew before the title deeds
Of the great house had been twenty'ionr
hours iu the possession Of the new owner
Yes, the major had ayerred. seriously.
when iacetiously challenged on the sub
ject by Mr.. Miles Rideau, one oil his most
intimate friends, do want wife. You
may chafY about it as much as you please,
but II don't alter the fact But | want a
wife, not bundle .of giggle and irizzle
and Paris millinery. itl
III introduce you to our frst young la
dies, said Mr. Rideau cheefiully. and then
you can pick and choose for yourself
Major TriIon was silent.
A regular bachelor. said Ridesu to him
self He'll never marry. He wants per
feciiop, and there is no girl living who
can come up TO his standard.
The ladies'. ass matter Of course, were
much interested in tho bluff, brown. elder
Ily major. Miss Serena Silver whose
grandfather had been commodore. anc
whose genealogical tree had more branch
es than a starfsh, picked out the last gra,
hair from her tresses and plumed hersel
for conquest
He will want lady OF indisputabl'
birth and position, she thought.
Alice Wood. The pretty dressmaker'
assistant, pinned an extra blush rose II
the front OF her bonnet as she tripped II
and fro past the windows OF the brow'
house. ..
Tho old story OF King Cophetua and th
beggar maid is often repeating ITSELF sh
thought, and sm not quite beggar
While all the beauties in Portyill
frightened up their armor and prepared
10 enter tho lists.
Major TriIon went into society, and so
cisty was puzzled to know what to max
OF him.
| Twelve shirts! said Gsrtrude May, hold
ing up her hands in dismay.
| Twelve shirts! echoed Mrs. Lacy wh
Was a pretty widow on promotion.
But, my dears. said Mrs. Hedgo. To
mother Of two dimpled, velset.eycl brt
nettes. you must be mistokcal
II We're not, memma, said Bertha.
He really did say so, Mumsey. declare
IdAs
You see, Mrs. Hedge. explained Ermir
Bruce. be has founded hospital or poo
house or something out West and he wan
box made up to send to the poor peop
there. And he has asked the young ladi
hereabouts to contri butte twelve shirts
one each. don't you see9 And they mu
bs made by their own hands.
d So ridiculousl said Mrs. Hedge,
But old bachelors always do have the
: auips and cranks, ssi a Mrs. Lacy compl
I Gently, as she remem tered garment
the late lamented La cy's wardrobe whi'
{ she promised herself to do up and pass
70 the Western panpc- rs as piece of gen
J. inc domestic manufaci ure.
Well, girls, you viii have to get yo
. work boxes, said Mrs. Hedge.
lit was worsted wor k now, said Ida.
Or Kensington stitch, sighed Bertha.
But shirtsl Who ever heard OF sh'
. SAID Gertrude: However. we must all u
A rich old bachelor is wo' th few pick
fingers girls?
But Ermina Bruce, who had no liki
for plain needle work, locke d with disgt
n the WAmsutta muslin. the caid oil b'
tons and the compact paper patterns
the table.
I haven't time for it. she ssic' 70 hersc
liz I practice that sonata for the Thursd
/ evenings musical. II put it oft and I
\ major will never know that Idi,in't ms
, Il myself A shirt indeedl Why. he'll
!. expecting us to scrub floors aid mt
: soft soap nezt. The brown house is We
nice, but l mean to be lady OF u witht
. any Of this odioas drudgery.
So Miss Bruce, who was tall. with
perb com mple.ion. flashing black eyes
!" . figure like Diana's own, rolled up
obnoxious materials aud CO rried them :
little house around the CORNER, where
pale, dove-eyed yonng wo man, no iool
10 her first yoa.h. sat at htw sewing.
Agatha, said Miss Bruce curtly. ] '
1 shirt made. Very nicely. now. 4
You must make it cheap, 10 you hear?
q Agatha Fon.oine looked mp vissinlly
Bot Ermiua, said she, l am very mi
'v hurried just now. AZ you could Wal
week -4EE4
vsry weil sid Miss Bruce with
Of her inpssial head, thcn I'll take
= mslsrisi slsewhers. It's always the
, With ron suffering poor II one takes
h, work you won't do II. and then you q
and tell ne al sorts OF stories about y
priva.ions. But mark my word. Aga
, IL you refuse TO oblige me now. III o.