Morris tribune., 1883-09-15

lovely name, don't you think so?" SAID
Miss Lyddy, and she blushed and smiled
like schoolgirl in her teens-had but
short flrlough, and the marriage was
to transpire the next week, 80 the relic
was put out to bleach forthwith. 1t had
already been put upon the grass three
DAYS and nights, and had dubeen religious
Iy watered by Miss Lyddy at morn and
noon and dewy eve, and the next day 1t
was to be taken mp early and put into
the dressmaker's hands for the neces.
sary alterations, when the dreadful
e, ent occurred with which this nara
tye opens.
"Giory" I said, edo you keep watch
for Miss Lyddy when she returns. Say
nothing about what has happened unless
she misses the gown from the grass. In
that case tell her that thought it was
bleached enough and took it up to dry.
and you don't know where | have put
it. / am going out now, but if she asks
where, tell her you don't know"
Glory was faithful, and had besides
the natural craft other race, and | knew
that she could be trusted. AS for me,
swiftly donned my bonnet and set out to
find Major Hawthorne. 1t was a bright
June evening, and my walk through the
meadow and the grove that skirted Haw-
thorndean would have been more
delightful one if l had borne
mind more at ease. The
major was a gentleman by birth, but he
lived out his fifty bachelor years in gay
and careless way that had seemed to set
the gentler creation at defiance. In the
lifetime of his parents Hawthorndean
had been a beautiful estate. 1t still re-
tanned many marks of wealthy and cul-
tivated ownership, but it was sadI y run
down, as the homo of bach
elor is apt to be. The grove
which had once been the pride of the
place, was grown up with brush now,
and the sere leaves of many summers
growth rustled under my feet as walked
through it AT one point, coming sud
denly around thick clump of under
growth, heard chorus of tiny snorts
and the scampeaing of numberless hoois
and knew that i had invaded haunt
of the ma jors last agricultural freak, the
very brood of Berkshire pigs that were
the source of all my borrowed woes.
Away they scampered, their snouts wei
raised in the air, and each, with cur
in his tail that seemed too ornamental
to be wholly the product of nature and
to Justify the village ruinor that the ma
ior's own man put those tails in cuTl-pa
rers every night. They had the air OF
spoiled children, every one, and were,
evidently, the majors pets. But that
didn't matter: they had ruined Miss j
Lyddv's wedding gown, to say nothing
OF other aggravaIlng exploits which do
not belong to this story, and was de-
termined to have satisfaction out of their
owner.
| found the major sitting on his piazza
with an after dinner look upon his hand
some, good. hulnored face. He rose to
greet me- with an air of old-scho0l polite
ness, dashed with a faint wonder that l,
woman, should have had the hArGi-
hood to approach place SO little fire.
quented by women.
GOOD evening, Miss Grace. I am
happy to see you. In what can have
the honor to serve your"
He had read my face and knew that l
had come on mission.
"Major Tia Sthorne," I said, paying
no attention to his offer Of chair, 81
have come on very painful errand."
sit down, madam, said the maj or,
politely. 81 cannot possibly permit a
lady to stand on my piazza. ought,
perhaps to ask YOU to walk in, but it is
rather stuffy inside, this evening""
"No," | said, 81 will sit here. if you
please" To tell you the truth, indoors
as seen through the windows, hal not
the most inviting look, and l WAS glad
to compromise.
"You have no doubt d"--plunging
in medias res, ''that Miss Lydia Ludkins
is about to be married"
married.! Miss Lydia. No! Hadn't
heard word of it," said the major in
genuine amazement. 'Who is the for
tunate man pray?"
Nnl, Ioh n1nI n
missionary to the Micronesian islands,
who has come home to recruit his health
and find WIFE,"
81 know him. said the major. "Saw
him down at the station-a long, lean,
lank individual-iust fit for his VOCATION;
no temptation whatever 70 ca aInibals!
But what the deuce is be going to do
with Miss Lydia? What viii Balaam m's
Corners do without her?'
"Balaam's Corners must do the best
it can" sad-I fear little sharply
TOR my mind was still in most aggres-
sive state toward the major.
"rhey are to be married next week,
and"
"What will become of the 'ances-
tors?' interpolated the major, in whom
surprise seemed to have often the bet
ter Of habitual politeness.
'4.Oh. she has made arrangements with
Mr.. Crow about that"
! Just like her. Dear, faithful girl"
The major had all his life loved all the
sex-not one-and I was not to be be-
beguiIed by this show of feeling.
''She had set her heart upon be-
ing married in her grandmother's we'd
ding gown"
"Old Mrs. Captain Simon? I reme:n-
Der her well. A mighty fine woman. |
She never would have gone to the ends |
of the earth with a missionary. Its the |
craziest scheme | ever heard Of"
| began to fear / should never get to |
my errand.
being little yellow with age. 1t was |
lovely embroidered India muslin that |
the old captain brought bone from IN
dia himself" ... ..
How we'll I remember him in my boy
hood! A jolly old soul! A granddaughter
OF his 90 off to the Cannibal Islandsto be
eaten UP by the savages! won't have
itT'
'Her hearts set upon going" contin-
ued. "The wedding gown was put out to
bleach, and this very afternoon those
little Berkshire pigs of your5-lhey are
nuisance TO the whole neighborhood,
major trampled and rotted it to pieces,
SO that it is utterly ruined"
Little black rascals" said the major,
with chuckle behind his neckcloth.
"And have come without her knowl-
edge to tell you of it. because | was sure
that, under the circumstances, a gentle
men of your breeding W ould feel in hon
or bound to make some reparation to
Miss Lydia"
The major mused and looked at his
boot for a moment ii silence.
MISS Grace" he said at length, 81
thank you for the service you have rem
dered me in this matter. Willyou have
the goodness to say to Miss Ludkins.
with my compliments, that I shall do
myself the honor to wait upon her to-
morrow at 10 o'clock, to adjust this un-
fortunate mattprpI beg in the meantime
that she will gi ,e herself as little solici-
tude, for, though l cannot restore the
ancient aud venerated dry goods, will
do the best that Is possible under the |