Milford chronicle., 1885-12-11

"Oh Cousin LeDedee, I'm so glad
to see you; and hadn't any idea you
had grown half so handsome p
And she gave him great hug, at
the same time holding up 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
cousinly advances.
"I--I beg your pardon" said he,
slightly receding, "but I'm afraid
there is some mistake. My name is
not Zebedee aud the lady for whom 1
am looking is some years older than
YOU"
Bertha Hooper started back colOring
and confused, and as she did so, fat
comfOrtable-loOking old lady came
trundling along the platform in an
India shawl and boa of Russia sable
worth its weight in greenbacks.
"Charlle" she cried, 81 thought I |
never should find you, Is the carriage |
here?'
"All here and waiting, Aunt Efie."
responded the young man; but he still
hesitated a second as Bertha Hooper
stood with averted face and motionless
figure in the shadow of the building.
"Can be of any service to you?"
he asked. "If you are expecting
friends who have failed to meet you
-"
Anybody here by the name of Ber-
tina HoO-oope ?" shouted stentorian
voice, and tall, raw-looking lad with
a lantern-also lighted with red glass
rushed shufling around the corner.
Zebedee HIMSELF red-haired and
shambling and awkward as he had
been in the old fox-and- geese days.
"Ohl" said he, catching up his Ian
tern so that the scarlet birds wings
flashed out like spit of hame-scarce-
ly more scarlet, alas, than Bertha's
own face. "Here you bel I'm a
little late, for the roads is so alfred
bad, and 1 couldn't start the pony out
of a walk. Come on. How de do2
BE you very cold?" I,
"Zebedee," said Bertha, clinging
almost Historically to her cousins
arm, "whos that young gentleman
With-with the other lanterng
"Eh" said Zebedee. "That feller
with the old lady in a patchwork
shawl?" !
"Yes."
"It's Charley Harcourt, the squire's !
son" said Zebedee. "Just come from
furrin partsP' :
"Zebedee," said Bertha, with a Curl
GUS little sound between a laugh and i
a sob, put me into the cutter. quick, :
and drive me somewhere. I don't 7
care wherel Because"
"EhP' 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- n
cies of desperation, Il took Mr.. Har- Il
court for you; and Rugged him and a
kissed him." n
"Is that ALP" said philosophical a
zebedee "He won't care" Ii
"No!" said Bertha, "but I shall" Ii
"You amt crying, be you?' said q
zebedee, noting the culver in his n
cousins voice. n
"How can 1 help it?" walled poor c
Ber tina.
"Twarn't no fault o'yourn," said
consolingly.
"Of course it warn't," said Bertha, m
mpatiently "How was 1 to know dl
hat every lantern at Montcourt had m
red glass door to it?" Il
And poor little Bertha cried herself bt
o sleep that night. tn
The next morning-Christmas Day, th
IL showed up into glorious drifts ev- SO
rywhere-Mr. Harcourt drove over re
o the Higgins farmhouse. The m
oung lady had dropped a fur glove W
n the platform, and Mr.. Harcourt nj
cit it his duty to restore it to her. tn
md, moreoyer-here Mr.. Charley Of
Iarcourt hesitated little-he hoped de
Iiss Hooper would excuse him for be- m
lg so stupid as to allow her to fancy m
i'm her cousin. H
81 ought to have explained sooner" ra
aid he. mi
''No. you ought not" said Bertha sci
The fault was all mine. OF
II don't recognize a fault any liE
here" said he. And if 1 am par wi
oned-" lin
"Of course you are r said Bertha, I'M
osier and prettier than ever. Gu
I'm that case am commissioned by a.
~ mother to ask your aunt's permits
on to take you over to help US finish
eessing the church in time for morn
lg service. My horse is waiting" al
'May I go. Aunt Almira?" said me
ertha with sparkling eyes. WI
"Of course you may 60, said Aunt trl
lmira. On
What was the end of it ALP There Ma
but one sequel to stories like this 'u'
hen youth and bright eyes and hu- VI
an hearts are concerned. Tie next ahp
eve Bertha Hooper and ms
harley Harcaurt were married. But an'