The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-05-17
AN OLD-TIME GIRL.

$50 it seems Fred Hayes has finally
fitted Fannie Howe" said Grand pa
West, one rainy morning, as he stood
shaking off his drops from his great
coat on our kitchen stove.
Eyes" replied /, as filed pan with
apples and prepared to cut them, "and
more shame to him, too. Brought her
clear to an engagement, and then left
town with another girl, and without
one word to Fam"
'Shamep repeated good Grand pa
West, with an indignant flash from eyes
blue and clear as at 81; cts disgrace
to any Christian church to let one of its
members 60 on so. Time was when he
wouldn't have 6 one scot free, as he has
now."
'But what could have been done2' l
inquired. ..
'Done2 He'd have had the full
broadside of church discipline on his
shoulders fifty years ago. He ought to
be dealt with as Harmon Page was,"
concluded grandpa. meditatively.
"How was that9" inquired I, inter-
ested at once.
II wonder if you've never heard that
storyw SAID he, with a curiou. glance 1
understood better afterward. "See
here; it's rainy day, and mother won't t
be expecting me home. Hand over a
knife, and I'll help you with your ap-
Piles and tell that yarn at the same
time"
Well pleased with tho plan, took
another pan, and our fingers flew as
grandpa went on with the true and au-
thcntic history of Harmon Page.
"You sce," ho began, call this hap
pened fifty years ago, and Amityville
wasn't then the slow going, dull little
place it is now. 1t was comparatively
new, and was as lively and enterprising
as the new places of the west are today.
There are good many old aristo-
cratic families, though, and I toll
you they held their heads high.
The very meetin' house slips had to
be gauged accordin' to the rank of the
buyer. aud tell you old Deacon Avery
would never have got the scowl out of
his forrard if Squire Page had hap
pened to have seat in front of his.
''Dea. Avery had daughter, quiet,
gentle girl, with slight, graceful fig
ure, and face-well, you don't see
such faces now days-a clear, fine COM
plexion, with delicate pink trembling
up to her lips when she was spoken to-.
Her eyes were great limpid wells,
changing with every thought, and hc1
hair was soft chestnut brown, waving
about her face in its own way ward
style.
"She was lovely girl, became pro.
fessor young, and was always to be seen
in the end of the deacon's pew every
Sunday, rain or shine. She never had
much company, for there was kind Of
digniied reserve about her that KEEP
the fellows at a distance. But wher
she was long bout 1S OF 20 Harmon
Page began to go with her.
sHe was handsome, high spirited
chap lively and full Of talk, and a
different from Mercy Avery as tw
persons well could be. But they lovet
each other; there's no doubt about that
Many's the time I've seon her grant
eyes sparkle and pretty checks flush q
Harmon's witty speeches till she wa
really brilliant And he, with hi
proud spirit, always grew strangel
gentle with Mercy.
$50 in spite Of the rivalry that ha
always existed between the two fam
lies. no one would have disturbed tn
two had it not been for Virginia Wake
She was cousin of Col. Ford's frs
wife, and came there visiting frol
Boston.
Virginia was called handsome girl
a with her brunette face, flashing blac
. eyes, and heavy black curls she WI
!. never tired Of jingling around her necl
She had good deal, too, of what yc
call style and Amityville folks WI
Z didn't know as much of the ways of Il
world as they do now were completed
! fascinated with her taking ways. tt
z young fellows in particular hovcre
9 around her like moths around candl
I "All except Harmon Page. sHe hs
| engaged himself to Mercy, and at fir
d gave the newcomer the go
/. The Pages and Fords had
: family feud OF good many yea
= standing, which kept them apart +
one thing, and Virginia had plenty
company besides Harmon.
l. "But suppose Haimon's indiff'
J or co pioued the girl, and she snubb