The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-12-24

to see you; and I'hadn't any idea you
had grown, half so handsome
And she gave him a great hug, at
the same time holding sup her rosebud
lips for kiss.
But, to her infinite amazement, the
hero of the sealskin cap seemed a lit
tie backward in responding to her
cousinIy advances.
"I--I beg your pardon" said he,
slightly receding, "but I'm afraid
there is esome mistake. My name is
not Zebeaee and the lady for whom I
am looking is some years older than
you."
Bertha Hooper started back coloring
and confused, and as she did so, fat,
comfortable-localing old lady came
trundling along the platform in an
India shawl and boa of Russia sable
worth its weight in greenbacks.
"Charliew she cried, II thought l
never should find you, Is the carriage
here?"
"All here and dwaiting, Aunt Effe,"
responded the youngman; but he still
hesitated second as Bertha Hooper
stood with averted face and motionless
figure in the shaGow of, the building.
"Can 1 be of any service to you?"
he asked. "If you are expecting
friends who haves failed to meet You
-"
Anybody here blythe name Of Ber-
tina Hoe ooper?" shouted a stentorian
voice, and tall, raw-looking lad with
a lantern-also lighted with red glass
rushed shutting around the corner.
Zebedee himself! red-haired and
shambling and awkward as he had
been in the,old fox-and-geese days.
"Oh!" said he,' catching up 'his1an-
tern SO that the scarlet birds wings
flashed out like spit of flame-scarce..
ly more scarlet, alas, than Bertha's
own face. Here you be! . I'm
little late, for the roads is so ALFRED
bad, and I couldn't start the pony out
of a walk. Come on. Howsde do?
Be you very cold?"
"Zebedee," said Bertha, clinging
almost hysterically to her cousins
arm, "who's that young gentleman
with-with the other lantern?'
"Eh!' said Zebedee. THAT Teller
with the old lady in patchwork
shawl?"
"Yes."
"It's Charley Harcourt, the squire's
son." said Zebedee. "Just come from
furrin parts!"
"Zebedee," said Bertha, with curl
GUS little sound between a laugh and
a sob, "put me into the cutter, quick.
and drive me somewhere. don't
care where! Because"
''Eh!" said Zebedee, staring hard'at
his cousin, as he packed the buffalo
robe around her before touching up
the laggard old pony.
Because" added Bertha, in a spe-
cies of desperation, II took Mr.. Har-
court for you; and / Rugged him and
kissed him."
"Is that all2" said philosophical
Zebedee. "He won't care"
"No" said Bertha, "but I shall"
"You amt crying, be you?" said
Zebedee, noting the culver in his
cousins voice.
"How can I help it?" walled poor
Bertha.
"Twarn't no fault o'yourn," said
Zebedee, consohngly.
"Of course it twarn't," said Bertha,
impatiently. "How twas l to know
that every lantern at Montcourt had
red glass doorto ltT
And poor little Bertha cried herself
to sleep that night.
The next morning-Christmas Day.
all showed up into glorious drifts ev-
erywhere-Mr. Harcourt drove over
to the Higgins !. farmhouse. The
young lady had dropped fur glove
on the platform, and Mr.. Harcourt
felt it his duty to restore it to her.
And, moreover-here Mr. Charley
lfarcourt hesitated littIe-he hoped
Miss Hooper wouldsexcuse him for be-
ing so stupid as to allow her to fancy
him her cousin.
Il ought to have explained sooner"
said he.
"No, you ought not" said Bertha
"The fault was all mine.
81 don't recognize fault any
where" said he. And ifiI am par.
doned-"
"Of course you are " said Bertha,
roster and prettier than ever.
"In that case l am commissioned by
my mother to ask your aunts permis-
sion to take you over to help us finish
deessing the church in time for morn
ing service. My horse is waiting"
"May l go, Aunt Almira?" said
Bertha with sparkling eyes.
"Of course you may 60" said Aunt
Almira.
What was the end of it ali? There
is but one sequel to stories like this
when youth and bright eyes and hui
man hearts are concerned. The next
Christmas eve Bertha Hooper and
Charley Harcourt were married. But
I AZ ,,nrn;at,,