Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-10-08
.T newer doubted that. Mr. silher. y

Come" said silber, insinuatingly,
sis il bargain9"
Il can't take it on me to decide,n said
Mr.. Hall, meditatingly. ''You must ask
Narci.sa your own self, Mr.. Silber."
'But yoa don't think she'll objectT'
81 don't know, " said Mr.. Hail. shaking
his head--"I don't know. Girls are
queer. There's never no telling which
way they'll jump. You ask her yourself,
/ say"
But Narcissa did not wait for tn.
sequel of this strange discussion. Her
cheeks blazed crimson her eyes sparkled
like jet stars as she caught her pink
gingham sunbonnet off its nail behind
the kitchen door, aud ieaving the jars Of
garnet t-colored sweetness GA the table,
sped away over the .spangled fields
to certain upland meadow, where Wal
ter Milliman was harneytng the old
horses to glittering moving machine.
"Narcissa!' he cried, in anna ement
whats the matter2 What has hap
penedl"
She caught nervously at his arm.
''Oh, Walter" said she, II am so
frightened! II don't know what it all
means. don't know what l ought to
.dow
Ee hung the bride over an old stump,
and led Narcissa into the shadow of an
umbrella. like oak that grew near the
stone fence.
"Tell me all about it." said he.
1t was strange how each had settled
into his and her relative position-Nar-
cissa clinging, trusting, hiding herself,
as it were, under the egis of his protec-
ton. Walter calmly superior In the
midst of his tender Sc licitude.
"Why, child,n said he, "the old idiot
wants to-marry you"
Narci sa crimsoned to the very roots
of her hair.
II thought So" she whispered. 81
was almost certain of it. But-but what
an to do2"
He took both her little cold hands in
his
Don't be frightened, Narcissa," said
he. You cant marry two people at
once, can you"
"No at least, suppose not"
"And you're engaged to me, aren't
your
''If You say so, Walter, " hanging down
her head.
81 do say so, Narcissal And now let
me take you home Wen see whether
old Silber is to have everything his own
way or not"
But the horses, Walter2"
They II stay here, ,contentedly enough,
until come back, pet--never fear. Oh,
by-the-way, Narcissa little Dorette is in
the basket under the hedge. l haven't
given her to Alice Jefreys yet"
"Oh, Walter, do get herr whispered
Narcissa THE little, white, fluffy dar-
ling! pve been thinking of her ever
since--ever since you went away. And,
Walter" (nervously playing with the
button of his coat, II told you horrid
story about the parrot. I couldn't en-
dure the screeching thing, and Billy
Johnson took it away three days ago"
"Narcissa, you are the dearest little
girl in the worldl" cried the enraptured
lover.
"No, I am not" confessed the faiI
penitent. II am cross deceitful,
treacherous--"
But here the catalogue of sins was cut
snort with absorbing kisses.
S5uire Silber, rubicund and portS
gentleman, we'll on in the forties, sat on
the porch, tanning himself and waiting,
while Mr.. Hall peered restlessly up and
| down the road
"Here she is now," said Hall, with h
long sigh of relief, as his daughter came
up, with Mr.. Milliman carrying her pink
/ n hnnncf q paunrnpflu ~ n
queens crown. "Narcis.a, here's Squire
Silber wanting TO speak to you."
Miss NarciSsa-" ingratiatingiy colS
menced the stout gentleman.
Its of no use, said Narcissa, putting
both hands to her little, pink ears. Il
never, never will consent p
"Yes; but won't you hear me, Miss
Mar"
mo, no, non' and Narcisea stampeo
her foot with renewed emphasis.
"Hear reason, daughter" " gently urgea
the farmer-'hear reason!"
But I don't want to hear reason" "
said Narcissa, almost crying.
He'd be just as good to the little
horse as you yourself would be, said the
farmer; land $500 is price that don't
often come our way. He's going to train
her TO-, a trotter, don't you see."
"To train who2n said Narcissa
"What are you ia king about9"
"About little Mamie, the bay mare, J.
explained her father. esquire Silber
wants to buY her He's taken fancy to
her, but told him she be ongs to you,
and it is for you to decide the matter.
Say yes or say mol won't interfere"
'Oh, he may have her in. we'c,me "
cried Narcissa, uncertain whether to
laugh or cry. II thought supposed
Il don't know what did think y
And she ran into the house and hid be.
hind the great japanese screen in the
best parlor, followed straightway by
Waiter Milliman.
"Oh, go away" she sobbed l feel
as if / could sink through crack in the
floor, l am so dreadful!y, horribly
ashamed Of myself. It's all o mistake. u
"No, it is not" said Milliman, reas.
suringly. "About our being engaged,
dearest-that's not mistakeGn
"No, that isn't mistake; but"
"Then l don't care straw about any,
thing else," said Walter, rapturously.
"And it is a consolation, too, isn't it, to
think that after all old Silber is not such
o fool as we took him forl"
eyes" said Narcissa, in low voice,
II think it is. "-Helen Fo;7ess Graoss.
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