Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-09-25

to her on his eddication- he was a
lazy soul, but was called, as he said,
to be missiouery; n eff he can make
himself agreeable to the heather. l
s'ppose it's as we'll as he could do His
rooms better'n his company here. "
Mrs. Bragdon pauses, quite out of
breath, and regards me with earnest
appeal.
81 can tell you why she didn't
marry the minister" says /, with the
true air of profound mystery and
deep importance which is character
ietic of the real Bramleigh gossip"
She gives a great start, removes the
spectacles from her well-pelishsd
forehead, draws her chair several in
ches nearer my own, allows the cat to
play with the ball of her knitting work
with the most reckless Indifference,
and exclaims: You don't say?' in
a tone of mingled suspense and rap
ture.
Whereupon, after the usual pre-
liminaries, the ekhortation to eternal
secresy, the hesitation and delibera~
tons which, somehow, seemed to
heighten the enjoyment OF the ex,
pectant listener, then began my
tale:
1.-The first year visited Bramleigh
I used to 90 and see Miss Matilda Jane
very often, you know. went past
her house on my way to Morrlll,s
meadow, where the orchids grow, aad,
stopping at the gate to admire her
flowers one day, she came out and
presented me with a lovely bouquet of
spice pinks and lavender. Then, one
day, when was heated with my long
walk, she invited me into the house
TO have glass of her raspberry shrub
and / accepted the invitation with
pleasure, for it looked cool and in
viting inside the wide, breezy old
hall.
"Good gracious = said Matilda Jane
Il shouldn't never get my breath
again if l walked as far as Morrill's
meadow. l wish you would always
drop in here and rest awhile whenever
you take walk in this direction. |
see so few strangers that my eyes fair
ly ache for the sight of one, and when
l have time to be, I'm dreadful lone>
some
$50 sat with her some time, try
ing to make myself agreeable; but, as
the lady is not little deaf, and | was
not aware Of it at that time, we did
not get on very well at first"
"'Deaf as a post-deaf as the back
side of a meeting house of week
days. assented my listener, warns
ly.
''But / called again and again. and
after awhile we became very good
friends. | liked the quaint old house,
with its large, low-ceiled rooms, the
huge fireplaces filled with evergreen
boughs, the old-fashioned furniture
and ornaments brought from over the
sea by sailor relatives, the house pie is
n the wide windows seats, and the
scriptural tiles in the chimney piece.
Then the Maux Cat and the parrot
were sources of unfailing amusement.
Didn't you see the earson-Matil-
da James beau-when you was theres'
asks Mrs. Bragdon, breathlessly I'M
patient for the announcement of the
story.
"Why, yes; Pm coming to. that
presently said |, with wicked DELHI
Grafton, as i stroke the back of the
tortoise shell eat, who has seated her.
self in my APP and basking delightful-
ly in the warm glow of the fire.
Her father, old Capt'n john,
didn't take no fancy TO him at fust-
so | didn't know as no come to the
house much in them days, that's all, "
she apologies, becoming sufficiently
composed to pick up her knitting
work.
mot long before | left Bramleigh
that fall, one bright, frosty afternoon,
| went over to the Snow woods on an
autumn leaf expedition, and called to
see Miss Matilda Jane, as usual, on
my way home. But, finding the min
lister, Mr.. WhItcomb, seated in very
close proximity to his lady love, L
thought it best to make my excuse
and take an immediate departure.
"'No, indeed; you mustn't think of
going she said, with energetic decis-
ion. You must take off your hat and
stop to tea, for I'm goi2g to be all
alone this evening. Brother Whit
combs got to go home and tend q
prayer meeting, and pas going over
to Tim Ramsdells to see ais new
tangled corn shelter Do take pity on
me, for the crickets are singing louder
than ever tonight, aad l shall be
lonesome enough to die.
Eyes, ] told Tim I'd drop over ter
night, tho | don't believe nothin' in
eny o those new~fangled machines, B."
explained her father, "'n eff you'll
stay with Matilda Jane I'll let Ethan
harness up the old Moll N take yer
over ter the village by 9 o'clock, or
whenever you feel as eff you must
CO."
"'These melancholy autu anu days,
when everything in nature reminds
us Of our own sad decline, make us
more prone than ever to seek the
companionshlp of eongenial spirit,
remarked the minister in his most
solemn tones.
His cheeks were more like the red,
red rose than usual, and he had
brought as gifts to the object of his
affection oranges and the Missionary
Herald.
Miss Matildy Jane was extremely
unconscious and matter of>fact, tho
her toilet bore marks of more than
ordinary consideration. You'd better
wait long enough to just taste cup
of tea. too, Brother Whitcomb, said
she, L wont't!be any time preparing
it. The teakettle is ready ts boil now.
And If you are not there in time can't
one of the deacons open the meeting2"
''He shook his head plaintively.
We are too prone to shut our eyes to
the vece of dooty, too prone to follow
our own inclinations m stray away
from the straight aud narrow path.
No, we must follow dooty, even tho
it leads us away from our dearest
companions, glancing with solemn
fondness at Miss Matilda Jane"
81 wouldn't never a he'd man in
this world tibet courted me Just as eff
he wa> exhortin' siunerl" exclaimed
Mrs. Bragdon.
HE did not follow duty immediate.
ly, however" l resumed, "but stood
with his hat IN his hand.
for few moments, then concluded
to follow Miss Matilda Jane into the
kitchen instead, and, though he did