The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-01-04
RUNNING THE TOLL.

JuSt mint at running the TOLL, ana
grandma will tell story" said Lily
Weatherbee, demure as little Quaker
and sweet as wild rose, looking up
from her Kensington stitch.
Grandma overheard her and answer
ed with smile that made her piercing
black eyes sparkle like diamonds.
81 don't think yOu viii ever run the
toll, Peace ana Plenty" she said. That
was the name she had given Lily when
she was baby
mo, indeed; one in the family of
that sort is quite enough" laughed the
girl; "but here is Hattie waiting to be
amused, and you must tell her about it. -
''Well, how shall l begin, chatter
box?''
''Why, tell her about the old house
with the gray moss clinging to the raft
ers. and the haunted window and the
great barn, first
''Ihe haunting was easily enough ac-
counted for" said grandma, rolling up
the stockings she had been mending and
taking off her spectacles; ''that was the
tapping of the old horse-chestnut when
the wind blew, but it was long time
before / found out the meaning of the
three mysterious knocks-always three
and when | did, what fun l had at the
expense of Miss Silena Cross, our dress
maker, who had taken infinite pains to
prove that was favored with spiritual
visits! Poor Miss Silena! I never saw a
creature more disappointed. As for the
barn, it had originally been buila fag
Westinghouse, but never having been
finished on account of lack of funds, my
grandfather took it for debt and turned
it to very good account. That old barn
was great institution, and was regu-
larly farmed out during winters for
revival meetings, dances, husking frolics
and sundry other things. One night
we let a tramp sleep there, and the
consequence was that by noon next day
there was nothing left of the barn but
smoke and ashes. Poor fatheri 1t had
been a source of income, and nothing
could take its place. Everybody mourn
ed the destruction of Uncle Hiram's
barn but nobody offered to rebuild it.
1--WE were poor, not that we suffered
for the necessaries of life. The farm
kept our table, but my father worked too
hard for an old man. and his boys were
all girls The fact of our poverty never
troubled me, however,; l was too happy.
Only give me plenty of fun, plenty of
sunshine and nothing seemed hard to
me. My genius at improvising all sorts
of amnsements made ne a general
favorite in society. Nobody looked
down upon me because | wore calico
and worked from morning till night. In
fact, Jack was always in requisition; it
was Jack who took the lead at our
merry gatherings, who filed the gap
with some audacious gossip when no.
body knew what to say, who was afraid
of Iothing-who was, am rather sorry
to add. careless of consequences, so that
she had good time.
But | was happy; nobody can ever
take that consolation from me. | never
sighed for what was unattainable. Fair
weather or foul, washing or baking. at
home or at the countryside parties, ]
was always at peace with the world,
though my one best muslin gown had
done duty for several years"
''Oh, grandma! what would you have
thought then of a pink satin reception
dress, and everything to match, like the
one l am having make?' exclaimed
Lily.
Shouldn't a been a bit happier, my
dear; couldn't a been," was the calm
response. Resides, young girls never
wore satin in those days, bless youi-
plain white null was considered dressy
enough, with flowers, which 70 my
taste, are prettier than jewels any day.
And now l am coming to how | ran the
toll. Ned Hamilton was considered one
of the best young men in town. He
would a been handsome but his nose
was too thin and his eyes were too close
together. though they were fine eyes.
AT all events, he was great fayorite,
and the girl who secured him for part
ner considered herself fortunate. No
body treated him just exactly as did,
for | would tell him to his face that he
was conceited. though secretly [ did
feel tlattered by his attention. | sup
pose the great Rosedale farm had some
thing to do with it, and two grays and
the handsome carryall. Perhaps / was
ambitious and didn't exactly know it;
for to tell the truth, when | did think of
him at all seriously it was the big farm
that loomed up, not my liking for him.
To be Mrs. Hamilton-the name was
good one-to step from our homely one
story house into grand old mansion,
where the furniture had stood for a
hundred years-that was something for
poor mans child to achieve. I was
very proud and happy when he showed
me any unusual attention. 1t did stir
what vanity had to see his team at our
cottage door, to pass our acquaintance
seated beside him, to be singled out Mt
parties-me in my plain dress, with
perhaps only a rose at my throat and
another in my hair"
"Now confess that you were hand
some, grandma" said Lily.
That's not for me to say, my dear,
though / believe they did call me rather
pretty. One day Ned Hamilton invited