The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-09-06

- Of sveetfrru, across tuickeW oI aow-
gro wing Lnekleb~rry bushes. I'll purpled
over with fruit. un.ier the shade of col
emu old pine trees. aud past herds Of
grazing cattle. vho lifted theis hsads to
look .. Der - she passed
But when st iast, breAthless ~ pant.
ing. she reached the lov stone uAll that
separated Uncls Bsniamin's fasm iSan the
main road. she resped her reward
There. onIy . iew p.ca, asay, tAe tAll.
brown-skinned stranger sat q store.
tanning himself with the vide hein u bis
straw bat. and reading from The pnoes ci .
tiny duodecimo volume.
Like young deer Ellie Tie Akipped
over the wall and ized his ssm.
"oh. you wicked. wicked mear shs
cried, eAsping Tor breath. ''AseAt yoa
ashamed Of yoursslfs Give ne hsek ~
money you stole this instant | o.. DOM
sssss a - ssif you dids't undsssaSd
what 1 say You do undsrstand You
are thief You have returned my kind.
ness with the bssest ingratituds r.
The msn looked st Ellie y il hs belisv.
cd her to have gone suddenly mad.
"Really," said be. "sll this 10 perfectly
incomp prehensible 20 ma."
Ellie uttered scornful laugh.
"You will please be so good - 10 oome
back to the house with me r said she,
vigorously retaining her hold Of his sleeve
"and Uncle Benjamin will search you r
search me For what p
"As il ycu didn't know !" retortsd Ell
lie, curling her pretty upper lip.
The brown complsxioned stranger vas
tall and broad shouldered. With thews and
sinews like those Of gladiator.
Miss Tier Was something under ave feet
in height, and resolute turkey gobbler
could have put her TO fight at ten seconds
warning. But, nevertheless, ho followed
her as meekly as II he had been feeble
prisoner in the grasp OF giant constable.
II don't know what it is all about,
said he "but il you say 60 with you 60 II
is"
Ellie deigned him no answer Argu
m ent, she felt, could only injure her dig.
nifty which formed her chief strength.
And SO they proceeded in silence across
the green pasture-lot and through the syl-
van woods mp to Uncle Benjamin's back
door.
That worthy soul was drawing bucket
Of clear, cold water from the we'll to mois.
ten his psrohed throat.
His hair was iumpled great beads Of
perspiration stood on bis forehead. Evi
dently up TO this time his search had been
fruitless.
And st the same moment there WAS =
rattling Of wheels. and Mrs. Parsons. FL
lies aunt. drove her little gray pony round
to the rear. aud jumped out Of the low
wagon.
"Mother," bawled the farmer. who had |
not yet caught sight Of the Ill. assorted
pair toiling up the acsent behind the
gnsrly apple trees. "hsve you seen that
ten dollar gold piece that Ebenexer Pare
ley paid me yesterday II left IL in the
pocket Of my alapscky coat when took
II of, and
"Yes. l know you did" said Mrs. Par
sons, briskly. 'And an awful place II
was 10 leave IL in. saw 1t there myself
when brushed the dust off your alspaca
coat, and took it out and put the top,
left hand drawer Of the pine d. 10 the
spare chamber. ! meant 70 have told you
Of it before went, but somehow it slip
ped my mind"
"Je- rusalem |" grupted Mr.. Parsons. I
never was so glad Of anything In oil my
life.'
Ellie, from behind the orchard wall.
had overheard every word Of this eoloquy
She let 60 the sleeve Of her captive.
"Oh, / am SO sorry" fsl.sred she.
"Please forgive me IL thought"
You thought had stolen this missing
treasure, said her companion. his lips
relaxing into On involuntary smile.
"Well. under the circumstances IL WAS
not such very unnatural conclusion.
Only, young lady. let this be lesson TO
you not to judge too hastily hereafter"
He bowed, raised bis bat from his head
and vanished under the lesfy canopy Of
the old apple trees.
And the NEXT Tuesday evening, when
Ellie went TO the second OF the Course Of
Lyceum Lectures 10 the villsge With her
uncle sod auut. she recognized 10 the
speaker Of the evening her anonymous
friend who had appreciated the black Der.
~ pie 50 thoroughly.
She could feel herself color 70 the roots
Of her hair ~ she sat there. |,
First took him Tor tin peddler."
she said TO herself, "and then for thief.
What must be think Of me ?"
But when she was formally introduced
10 Edgar Williams at the close Of the lecs
turs. and tried 10 stsmmer out her spolo.
gies, he only laughed.
pray do not vex yourself sbout Il !"
said be. As for me. have forgotten all
the dissereesbles OF The day. and remem-
Der only the delicious taste Of that piece
Of blackberry pie you gave me. and ! have
thought more than once since that
should like 70 become better acquainted
With the lovely giver
Ellie blushed pre,tiiy and The scquain
tance thus oddly begun ended some
months later 10 quiet Wedding 10 the
city. la which the little school teacher
And the brosn faced lecturer took rather