Milford chronicle., 1883-05-25

alone. And then said in an inquiring
manner to Mouse, "Phil?"
eyes, sir, Philippa. She's my only
sister"
And Philippa, seeing us at this mo-
ment, did not utter shrek and fly, as
many a damsel wot of would have
done, but flung the remainder of the
corn from her apron, and came smilingly
toward rs, walking with an easy grace
that told plainly that she had never I'M
dergone the martyrdom of tight, high
heeled shoes.
"This is Mr.. Lovejoy, Phil, said
Roderick. Come to see if motherl
take him to board for a month.
You are very welcome, said she, at
the same time Offering me small brown
hand to which some of the corn flour
still clung, and looking at me with a
pair Of hazel eyes. "Roderiek has often
told us of your kindness to him."
And no sooner had she ceased speak
ing than I began to think that had
found the very place of all in which to
spend my vacation, and was sure of it
after 1 had seen her father and mother
he an honest, out-spoken, cheery-faced
old fellow, and she an attractive, still
young-looling woman, with eyes exactly
like those she had bestowed upon her
daughter-and the neat, prettily fur
-,, 41,o., Z, ,fs,,.,I mo eoofr,or Tho
grand old wood filed with nut trees that
gave the place its name, and looking out
at the side on a jolly little brook on
whose sparkling waters some brilliantly
plumaged ducks were proudly sailing.
They wouldn't hear of my returning to
the city that night, as I had proposed to
do, but insisted upon my remaining un-
til Monday morning.
cit won't discommode lis in the least,
said Mrs. Dayton.
" And by that time you will be better
able to tell whether you like the place
or not, !" added her husband
"Like the place - made up my
mind about that before I slept that night.
Il was heavenly, after the dust and noise
and crowding and jostling of the city. |
And as for the eggs and milk, and chicken
fried in cream, and light and airy muf
fins that we had for supper, they were
heavenly. too. Philcooked the chicken
and made the mullins, whispered Roder-
ick. who had, as I soon diseovered-a
fact that raised him greatly in my esti-
mation-a most intense admiration for
his only sister Sunday passed like
delightful dream, and early Monday
1 left, with promise to return
the following Wednesday, that being the
day on which nay leave of absence was
to begin.
"Well, how did you like Nutwood?'
asked Lon, as soon as we met.
cts very quite, pretty place, said I.
And the Mouse's description wasn't
as highly colored as the advertisement 2
he continued.
cit wasn't highly colored in the least,
I replied. "I found there all he prom
ised and" much more" was about
TO add, but checked myself.
"Then what do you say to speaking a
word in my favor when you leave? I
might spend one of my holiday weeks
there, anyhow. The other I've got to
spend with the old folks"
ooh, " said 7, emphatically, ''Nutwood
would never do for yOu! You'd get the
worst kind of blues there in no time.
It's so exceedingly-well, dull, you'd call
t. You want to be where there's some
un going on. As for me, give me pipe
md a book, and I'm all right, you know
Wednesday saw me installed in the
,ozy room, with the wood on one side
md the brook ON the other, and a week
1r less from that day saw me as wholly
n love with Philippa as ever was city
youth with bonny country maid. She
was such dear, upright, unaffected girl,
With no faults that could see-and
watched her closely-unless n strong
5endency to superstition could be called
,ne. That spilled salt must be immedi-
.tely thrown over the left shoulder of
ihe spiller, lest he OF she should quarrel
With his or her next neighbor; that no
Quincy or important undertaking should
,e begun on a Friday; that au umbrella
,r parasol opened under a roof betok-
ned a great disappointment; that
row crossing your path boded i'll news;
hat the finding of four-leafed clover
,rought good luck; all these, with
hundred other things of like nature, did
,retty Philippa believe with the whole
# her honest heart. I used to laugh at
Ter at first, but soon learned to humoi
he harmless weakness, and threwspilled
alt over my shoulder, went down on
lands and knees being rather near
iehted--to search for four-leaved clo-
ers, carefully avoided passing under
adder, turned back if 1 met crow, and /
Il the rest of it. Well, I fell in love
nth her; but, much to my chagrin, she '
idnt fall in love with me. She liked i
ne in a sisterly sort of way-that l y
ould plainly see; but she never thought I
me as a lover-that l could also too '
lainly see. She walked with me-Tim,
he embryo farmer, generally accompa-
ying us; listened to my readings from {
~ favorite authors; let me help her I
,ed the chickens; taught me how to !
lake butter and pot-cheese; but not a 4
iep further had 1 got when the last day
{ August arrived, and my vacation came