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

charms on Harmon.
"She came in the fall, and along
about Christmas time the neighbors
began to notice that Virginia was
mighty thick at the Pages.
1.-THE two houses were pretty near to-
gether, and sho used to run over to
Mother Pages on some excuse or
other, twenty times day. Perhaps
'twa'nt strange that Harmon began to
be fattered by it. He had as good
turnout as any chap in the place, and
he got in the habit of taking Virginia
considerable.
'You sec, positions everything in
moro cases than one, and Virginia was
right there handy, while Mercyiived at
the top of one of our old fashioned Con-
necticut hills, with dreadful hard
road leading to it.
"Whether she know how much Har-
mon was taking the other girl wasn't
known; some thought not. She didn't
get out much, except to meetin', that
winter, and she had enough of her
fathers spunk about her not to let on
that she saw Harmon fool.n' with Vir-
ginia Wake at the noonin's.
'oThere was splendid sleighing that
season-the kind we don't have these
days-and some of the young folks
wanted to have general sleigh ride. 1t
was put off from time to time, till twas
finally set for one Thursday night.
'.It was the night of the regular
week prayer meeting, and after tho
time of the ride was all settled Harmon,
who was the only professor in the party,
tried little to have it changed. But
Virginia Wake declared, with wicked
shake of those jingling curls, that she
could say her prayers just as we'll in a
sleigh as she could cooped up in that
stupid barn of meeting-houso.
everybody thought afterward she
fixed the ride for that night to show
Mercy Avery the power she had over
Harmon Page.
"Well, the party started from Amity-
vile long about o'clock. They were
all in big two-horse load, except Vir-
ginia and Harmon.
''She had arranged for them to 60
ahead in his cutter alone, and I'll admit
they were splendid looking couple---
he, with his fine eyes and teeth, and
she, in rich crimson hood that set off
her dark beauty to perfection.
''Our route---for I was one of the
party---lay straight up the hill toward
Deacon Avory's. Just as We turned
into it who should we meet hnt The
deacon and Mercy.
''They wero late, for the meeting was
alus appointed for early candle light
ing; but Mercy ilhad probably
waited awhile for Harmon, who,
for year back, had taken her to Thurs
day meetin' as regular as the day come
round.
"She sat up straight and queenly, be-
side her father, as they passed, and
seemed not to hear the malicious sally
Virginia called out to her.
"We. in the back team, were near
enough to catch tho scornful glance sho
threw from those deep eyes, gray as
steel that night.
Gas for Harmon, ho turned white to
the lips, and for mile hardly answered
the banter that Virginia kept up After
that ho seemed to grow perfectly reck-
less, laughed and joked louder than any
of the rest, and was so careless that he
drove on stono wall; and we, follow
ing, were all upset in heap together,
and had hard work to get tied up so as
to make our way home toward morning,
more dead than alive.
'Tt was sorry day for Harmon Page.
He was waited upon by church COM
mittce, headed by Deacon Avery, who
denounced his whole conduct toward
Mercy as unchristian and highly incon-
| sistent in church member.
''He didn't have much to say for HIM
self, and they churched him on the spot.
He was pretty down in the mouth, but
kept up some hope till he saw Mercy
Avery.
.'He had refused to see Virginia
Wake, and that night he went up the
familiar hill to Deacon Avery's stone
house.
mercy herself came to the door, calm
and self possessed, as If nothing had
happened, and showed him into the sit
ting room. There was a steady light In
her gray eyes, though that made Har-
mon tremble, and, without beating
about the bush bit, he came right to
the point, and asked if all might be for
given and forgotten, and they become
as good friends as before. He worked
himself into passion, cried and took
on like child, they said.
''But, law! it didn't move her an
atom. She had the genuine old Avery
grit, if she was mild-mannered, and she
told him that as long as the church had
put him ont, she, of course, couldn't
take him back.
HE pleaded and entreated until 10
o'clock at night, a late hour in them
days. but it didn't make might OF
difference. She wouldn't overlook what
the church had considered gross
breach of faith. He went out crushed
man, and from that time his spirit
seemed to leave him utterly"
"And what about Virginia Walker
interrupted, uuconsciously cutting my
finger in my eager interest.
.tOh after the pirl had done all tn,