The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-10-22

lsieut until she hsd passed middle aes
but he could zee tai Il nov incssssed
constantly.
And il vAs not The gossip aIoss. Hs
bad lately found under the cushioa Of her
chair, 10 search for '.Zion Messenger.
. paper covered book with the astoaishing
title. The Stolen Bride. or The Mystery
OF the Most.
/ Laviuy was light minded.
4 The deacon had seen advertised book
on heredity. which be resolved 70 pur.
chase the very NEXT time be vent 70 the
city.
But Lsviny vss the wife Of his bosou I;
be hurried home To consult with her absut
this new trouble that had recsotly fallen
upon him.
He found her perched upon ths high
stool behind the rows Of pigeon hole, IN
the postofice. scrutinizing thsesgh her
glasses the superscription Of isttsr.
"Nehemiah. Tidy Slocomb hes got
letter. and iss mans writing. bal ! doat
think it's Ssul's The postmsrk y whse
beats ma.
| ~ hear thst shs has eonsss Edsa b
work in millinsr's shop sinos her father
died" said the deacon. I'VE must ssad
the letter over"
1
"Now It's queer didn't know she'd
gone. Folks don't take the trouble TO tell
poor old lame woman what's goin' on,
said Mrs. Kittridge. plaintively. And
they won't send postal cards; there amt
half 40 many goin' between here aud Eden
as there used TO be.
The deacon looked up quickly from the
bowed position in which he had sat down
He had observed that; be had also over.
heard whispers which led him to think
that his wife's curiosity about the mails
WAS causing classification in The town.
Was disgrace in another shape coming
upon him in his old age-upon him who
had led so upright, so blsmelsss, liiel
But no; be only imagined thst because
trouble had disturbed his nerves; nobody
could suspect Laviny Of anything really
dishonorable, and surely they could bear
with her harmless curiosity and gossip.
"Lavina. Saul has joined q concert
troupe. They are going TO sing in Haver-
ford tomorrow night; the bills are posted
all over town, with Saul Kittredge basso
profondo' on them"
The deacon's lips took on hard and
scornful curl. although be looked other
wise broken in spirit. He was thinking ofa
long line OF ancestors, some OF whom had
distinguished themselves; most Of them
had been sturdy farmers, now and then
perhaps carpenter or blacksmith, but
never . playactor until now.
Mrs. Kittredge got down painfully from
the high stool-a little withered old lady.
but with hair that was still Asxen and
childish blue eyes. "Oh, Nehemiah. onr
Saul2" she said with gasp. stretching
her trembling little hands ont toward him.
"But maybe IL ain't so bad. Don't look
so. Nehemiah You don't s'pose he'd pre-
tend he was negro, and play on bones,
or wear women's clothes like those awful
creatures that came herel / don't believe
Saul would do that. and II it's only sing
ing. be always had . beautiful voice." A
pleased look stole over the withered little
face. Before he was four years old he
could catch the tune OF Antioch, and he
would have sung il beautifully, only those
children down on the Flats learnt him
to sing Mother Goose verse to it-There
was man in our town = and you couldn't
break him Of singin' il that way even in
Sunday school.
Deacon Kittredge groanel. II don't
see why we should have had such son,
Laviny," he said, shaking bis gray head
heavily. "But therel It's the Lords Judge.
ment on us and we must bear it. /"
Aud the deacon vent TO his closet, aud
on his rigid old knees sought to discover
the meaning Of the Lords Judgement.
After supper he *ended his way to the
weekly prayer meeting. Huldah. the
"help." went too. and Mrs. Kittredge was
left alone.
As soon as both were gone. and the doors
we're fastened behind them. she went into
the postoffics aud took the letter addressed
to Tidy Slocomb again from its pigeon
hole e-Tildy Slocomb. who had come Of
"shiftless" stock, who wore pink bonnets,
and went to dances. and Airted with the
stage driver.
"If il ain't from Saul, / want TO know it;
and II it is. seems as il ought TO know
it, And never saw post mark that !
couldn't make out before. II there was
any postal cards to pat my mind on, may
be could stop thinking OF il; or II ]
knew Just how. il was sbont ArviIla
Wright's beau jiltin' her: but ! cant be
took up with that book Miss Skinner
brought me. feel 80 wicked resdin' Il;
and IT don't pay. for there amt word Of
truth in II. fshould like 70 know who
has written To Tidy SIocomb.
She held the letter up between her eyes
and the lamp that stood on bracket on
the wall.
Il don't see Why Nehemiah Was bent on
havin' everythin' so high mp here letter
boxes and stools and lamps and all. I'll
take the letter out into the sittin' room.
But come to think Of il. should feel kind
Of awkward hidin' II away, il anybody
should happen to come in. and IT'S warmer
and not so lonesome 10 the kitchen"
30 Into the kitchen Mrs. K,ttredge vent
with the precious letter hidden under her
little vorstsd cape, although there vss