The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-07-03

y
scy. turned stormy and snowy. and Miss
Abr. awakened ovsry nov sad then by
. the shrisks and moans sf the wind. ss Y
, swocped down In gusts on tho old house
: bsiAeaeht hsrsslf Of the human beings
within call. and ploiccd IN qnisune
sense Of security
After she had made her toilet 10 the
mGniag. assuming. With her clothes, a
aign&dsd. toueh-mr-not cir, she advanced
, 70 The sipdow. drew aside the curtain aud
rsissd ths sAsh.
II There starring her full in the iaoc was
large. vtias sigs. with the words. "Matri.
monial BursAs, Sauuel Msrriman. Agent, =
printed upon nan slarisg black letters.
Miss Abby caugLtrals curtain for support
and closed her eyes through sheer nodes
| ~. but slight noise oansisg her to open
them. shc beheld the bead aud front Of all
this offending.
4 A man, tall aud spare. with this coat
bsttonsd tightly around his lank losp'. aud
10 hat rather the verse for wear, warn
iauntily o. one side Of his head. was sho.-
cling quickly and lightly through the
snow from his door to the gate.
4 Suddenly he seemed conscious Of Miss
Abby's fixed stare, and ceasing his work.
removed his hat with arespectiul flourish.
exeiaimilg in hearty voice.
Good morning, ma'am; quite snow
for the first one Of the season.
He speaks like any other man. said
Miss Abby to herself "What can ! do9
! must auswer him "aud hasty withdraw.
al from the window, her heart beating vi
olently at her own rashness.
Throughout the whole day that horrible
sign staring her in the face, seeming to
possess a dreadful fascination and draw
her again and again to the window to
satisfy herself that it was actually there,
and then sending her back to the circular
in the old Bible. until, when darkness fell
she still,found herself in an unsettled and
bewildered ifcsme Of mind.
She had discovered during the invssti-
cations Of the day. that her neighbors had
resolved themselves into = single person
slity, and Ii 1t Samuel .N~rimap, agent
for the matrimonial bureau. was "suffi-
cient unto himself" and possessed neither
child nor female about his house, attended
to all bis own work aud apparently lived
as lonely and solitary life as she did
herself.
Just as Miss Abby was about to refresh
herself With warm cup Of tea. supple
mentea this evening by a dish of bikel
beans for what wonld bo New England
Saturday night without that nourishing
and important dish1 there came knock
at the door, manly voice was heard, aud
in another instant Samuel Mer-imau eu.
tered the room.
Il beg pardon. Miss Tyl-r--I believe I
| speak TO Miss Tyler? but have you o.
spar, tea kettle? Haven't yet got all my
goods. and I've forgotten the very things
| waAt most
Miss Abby quaksd. Alone at such an
hour with this monster! She almost feared
that he would pick her up and carry her
of to his den, and there devour her at his
leisure. Poor Miss Abby! it never oc.
cnrred to her what dreadful poor meal
she would make.
However, her kindly nature spoke for
this poor lonely man, who had none Of the
gentle sex to care for him, and she placed
chair near the FIRE for him saying, Eyes.
am Miss Tyler. Please take seat and |
will look, sir" And in kindly bustling
way, she rummaged in neighboring clos
ct, at length finding the article OF which
she was il search.
"Wsit ose moment sir, will wash it,
it's dusty she said.
But Samuel gfasped the handle, touch.
ing, as hs did so, he slender fingers and
causing thrill OF horror to creap down
her spine.
mot in the least. Miss Tyler; can do
thst myself. Much obliged Il will bring
il back in day or two, II you viii not
want IT sooner
keep it as long as you want to- Mr..
Merriman, for hardly ever use it." aud
Miss Abby stood ansiously waiting foi
him to take his leave.
he cast longing look of the bright fire
and with sigh turned ont into the dark
night.
Miss Abby saw the look aud heard the
sigh, and her heart bAde him remain, but
fear aud cautioa came to her aid and ar
rested her words ere they left her lips.
GOOD evening, ma'am. and many
thanks" from Samusl's lips. and ''good
evening, sir, you're welcome, I'm sure,
frsm Miss Abby, and the dsor closed be
tween them.
"Kind old soul and csmfsrtable home,
ssliloqnized Samuel Merriman as he strobe
across the snowy road to his cold and
cheerless house. and quite the gentle.
man" sighed the feminine part in this du
st 10 Miss Tylers ruddy kitchen.
Winter deepened. and Samuel Mcrri- |
man settled into his new home Tho peo-
pie had become accustomed TO him and his
strange bushes, and though but few pat
ronized The Matrimonial Bureau they
one and all conceded that BIO was coed
enough sort Of creaturs and wouldn't harm
baby" and the younger ones found TO
their great delight that lie Was on the best
OF terms with good violin. asa could
treat them TO Virginia reels. cotillioDs and
jigs-his repertoire even embracing few
fashionable walizss But notwithstanding
bis popularity. his business did not thrive
and had ii not been fer tbs small pittapee