The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-08-06
THE MAJORS ESCAPE.

very good match indeed, as Miss An
gerona Dilworth and the gossips very
well knew.
To-be-sure, he was rather bald and
had wart on his nose; but, then, he
was the owner of many acres of rich
land; he possessed herds of fat, short
horn cattle and flocks of long wooled
Merino sheep; he raised untold quanti-
ties of amber cane, to be made up into
sugar; and was, all told, the richest
farmer in the neighborhood of Sugar
Maple village.
As for Miss Angerona, she was not
very young. but neither was she old.
She was not remarkably plain, nor
could she be called pretty. For the
rest, she was rather sharp-featured
and very sharp-tongued, so the neigh
bors declared, though the major had
not discovered this fact.
Miss Dilworth was not benevolent
person, yet she had taken her orphan
uiece, Avis, to raise,
Avis Dilworth was hearty, merry
girl, in spite of her aunt's grabbed
temper, with round face, deep dim
piles in her cheeks, pair of laughing,
blue-gray eyes, and plenty of vim and
life about her, though demure and
quiet as a nun under Miss AngerOna's
sharp eyes.
Indeed, many people asserted that
if Avis were only decently dressed,
and allowed the advantages she de-
served, she would be quite belle.
But Miss Dilworth's old garments,
however neatly made over, were not
sufficient to set off even a good figure
to much advantage.
They were all poor Avis was allow.
ed, however, and she sighed in vain
over the crisp new lawns, tie sheer
white muslins, the huted ruffles and
fresh, plumed hats of her more fortu-
nate acquaintances.
At last Major Hartletop had propos-
ed to Miss Angerona, in good. sub.
stantial, plainly-expressed letter; and
Miss Angerona had determined to &C
cept the proposal.
If.he is bald and ugly" she re
marked to herself, "hes rich, ant
money covers multitude of bad looks
Besides, it'll spite that stuck-up Wild
der Flukes, that's been asserting he1
cap at him this month or more; an az
long as she wants him I'd have him, il
he was bald as an egg an ten times a.
ugly as he is!'
But, in spite of his defects, Major
Hartletop was good-hearted, and a
romantic as many man with gloss.
head of hair and no wart on his nose.
He was really in love with Mis-
Angerona, and after sending his pro
posal, the moments seemed weighte,
with lead until he could receive he
answer.
At last his impatience grew unbear
able.
81 won't wait no longer" he declar
ed. II just call around and get he
answer right away. or 1 shan't sleep
wink tonight, l know"
And popping his hat on his head, h
set off on the winding, country roa
which led to Miss Angeronas dwell
ing, his mind busy with pleasant fan
cies of what the future might have i
store.
"How nice it'll be to have my wifi
a-setting at the head of the table, 0
stepping around the house, overseeiI
the butter and cheese-makin'," b
muSed.
aAn' that pretty Avis, too. Sh
shall have better clothes than sh
wears now. Is'pose Angerony can
afford to dress her any better; but L
see to that. She shall have whit
dress, with lace flOunces, an one
them crimpy things girls wear aroun
their necks, to stand up with us in"
And so, hi. mind busy with cheerfl
pictures of the happy future, he reacl
ed Miss Angerona's house, ascendt
the steps, and was about to knock c
the open door, when shrill, higl
pitched voice reached his ear.