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

10 DAMP clcsAiag aud csdhsh. WAS vcss
10 say with short chuckls. while point.
ing with hi. thumb in lths direction Of
Miss Absys honse that hs guessed he
would not he wsa,ed there = great while
losger. aud when asked for an sxplasA.
,ion, would laugh 10 humorous way, but
kindly held hisrescs
This reiicenec on simeons part. and
the isolation of the houses. we're the two
things which prevented Any gossip among
the villagers
Many = lcsg winter evening did Miss
Abby and Samuel Msrriuan pass together
by her cheerful fresids, and a. many ana
as marvellous in their way we're tho tales
ho told her AZ was that Of the "Mocr Of
Venice. and he had as attentive listener
albeit neither so young nor 40 fair.
And so the time passed until ssmothing
resembling love lighted its flames in Miss
Asbys frszep heart aud Mrs Smith. a.
ter returning from call on her, said to
her husband;
II declare cant think what's getting
into Miss Abby, she looked 70 clipper
this afternoon.
Then there came time when Miss Alb
by having neither seen nor heard Of Sam.
usl fos two ~hole days, was forced 10 con.
clude that hs had taken journey. aud ere
long she had persuaded herself that she
was martyr to his neglect.
Toward evsnisg Of the second day. just
as she was about TO draw the curtains, she
glanced once moro at the lonely house
across the road, and was turning away
with sigh. when something white hat-
tering from one OF the windows caught
her attention. She looked, and yet look
ed once ngain. and finally made out
through the fast gathering twilight that
the object was a signal Of some kind, aud
what could it be hut one OF distress
Hurriedly aud with trembling hngsrs.
she threw shawl over her head, and sped
with astonishing rapidity over the path
which Samuel had cut with his own hands
but few days before The door was us-
locked, and she entered quickly.
A groan fell upon her ear, and she fol.
lowed ia its direction with beating heart
to the upper. floor; here sho paused--the
habit Of life time asserted itself--and
she suddenly became aware OF the singn-
larity al the thing sho was about to do.
How cople she iutruds upon his pri-
vacy.
Standing thus. ssslly on tho rack, she
heard her name called in weak voice. aud
with do-or-dis look upor her face, she
pushed open the door Of. ~ room ia
which the sick man lay.
Her womau's fyo took in ai giaaee ,tlle
pitiiul need OF every eomfort-the cold
and cheerless fireplace. and the fever
flushed face of the sick man, and her heart
sseined to rise up in her throat and choke
her
1rrpig4 to tho window to hide her tears,
she espied kbe tall gauut figure OF Simeon
Knowles wsSiag through the snow to-
ward her gate. ',Wait ore moment, Mr.,
Merriman,r she sss1, "I'll come right
back, and, leaving ,tl,s room hurrledly,
called to Simeon. wbe formed IN great
amazsmspt as he heard her vsjce proceed.
ing from such an unusual guantdy.
BLESS my soul, Miss Abby he sx-
claimed, "what are you doing theret"
"Oh, Simeon, do como here, and foil
me what to do, she replied, in tone 81
great distress, and then recouated to him
the state Of affairs overhead.
Simeon mounted the creaky stairs, and
returned in few moments, his face very
grave.
miss Abbey, that man is going 70 be
downright sick. SO farI don't see any
thing TO binder him from the ,-vtr, and
he's nigh starved with cold ana saut Of
victuals." "
"Ohl OIL Simeon, while have bees 80
comfortabe.' aud Miss Abbey 3 siiawi Aas
thrown over her face as she sobbed bit |
terly
Nov don't take on 30 Miss ALbey,r
said Simeon. kiudly. ''well have it all
right before long. III go for til. doctor
right Of, and you had better 60 home"
II shan't do anything Of the kind Sim
eon. Ia like TO SEQ myself leave that poor |
sick creature up stairs alone. No Ill stay
hers until yeu gst back. ana il you'll first
brig ms some wood I'll soon havs good !
warm fire.
Simeon glanced curisusly at her. asd,
still closer bis great coat, pre-.
pared to face the freezing weather.
As he left the house prolonged whis
tie passed his lips. and lie muttsred to
himself, II wonder ii hadn't bet,
ter bring along the minister at the same
timer
An armfnl Of wood was brought, and
before Simeon lad passed from sight,
Miss Abbey had blazing 6re in the sick
room.
weak voice called Ler " the side Of
the bed, TO AZ uDinterestsd person not
the slightest taste Of romance could bc
found ia Samuels weather beaten, puck
cred face; but in Miss Abbey's eyes be pos
ssssea intellect. bsasty, strcngth--alI. 10
fact. that could be combined in man to
make hin admirable.
Dear Miss Abbey be said, "wbat
would have become Of neil II hadn't besn
Tor yon? God bless you hundred times. I"
aud he fesbly grAsped her hand.
Miss Asbey's face flushed with . tisgs
suggestive Of suiutnn ioayss and she drew
back saying; "You must not talk. Mr..
and busted herself setting to