Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-05-18
Ills MATCH.

Everybody SAID tnat OTpnles french
Fas crazy to think Of marrying Hector
hunter In the first place be was too
Id He was 35 and Orphies only 1877
b the next he was a widower with four
hildren. tOrphies. being an only child,
kas unused to children.) And lastly,
e was the crossest grained, most misery
han that ever existed.
Every one in Hillwood knew him.
lhey knew he had been the means Of his
rst wife finding an early grave; and
low he wanted to break Miss French's
cart. pretty dimpled, brown eyed
Prphies, the pride Of the village and the
dmlration of all
How she came to choose surly, selfish
ban like Hector Hunter was a wonder
b everybody It was well known that
lue eyed. sunny faced Charlie Chester
hood ready to lay down his life for her
hke. and that James Singleton had Of
ered himself to her at least three times.
Either would have been considered
ood match. and yet It was quite evident
hat Hector Hunter was the man she
bved, and she had been known to watch
eside him day and night when he was
u. ana reIuSe Hi IOOu I'LL Sue WdS SURE
e was out Of danger
Yes. Miss French did love him. She
vas engaged to him. too. and that sunny
horning in June was to witness her
ridal.
She was to be married in the little
hurch where she had been baptized. in
he presence OF those who had known
nd loved her from a child.
So what was really nobody's business
vas everybody's business, and proved the
opic of conversation throughout the en-
ire village
All her girl friends pitied her; all her
male acquaintance envied Hector Hun
er Ali the mauons bewailed her fate;
IL the slres limited that the bridegroom
vas lucky man.
Finally came the organ peals, then the
olemn service for it was solemn-and
hen pretty Orphies went down the aisle
Gaming on the arm Of her sour looking
husband as smilingly as If her path was
trewn with roses, and her future as
hear as lake at even, when the glory
y the setting sun rests upon its placid
bosom.
I Cdu dDOiu W tdhc q WCuOlllS bliD,
prphies. MIR. Hunter had said the night
be slipped the engagement ring on her
bigger and listened to the shy Eyes"
whispered under the tree that grew back
4 her home.
1T costs a good deal to live nowadays.
The children need clothes. and twill take
s. hill night out OF my pocket to pay
he minister You won I care, will you9
Rou had Just as soon settle down as a
ensibie woman hadn't your That is
he way my first wife did. ."
And Orphies said yes she'd do any
hing he liked" like the dear little thing
bhe was
So as soon az her gray haired pastor
had made her Mrs Hector Hunter. she
walked quietly across the village COM
non to the large gloomy looking house
puiit on its edge. and closed the door in
Fhe faces Of those looking after her with
b world OF commiseration in their eyes.
"She u regret this act OF bern. or my
name is not Miranda Highfyer. said one
barrow minded splnster to another.
She u look like a wilted rose by the
lime she has lived three weeks with those
children, said Miss Dean. the village
dressmaker to her customer Mrs Flint
~ know all about them once made a
hrese tor the first Mrs Hunter and had
chance to see some OF their actions"
We've lost our pretty Orphies for
over said gray haired Farmer Slocum
Crude hands have picked our sweet briar
rose. and there Is none other so fair -
I'VE are going to have Orphies French
Tor step mother said the Hunter
children. pressing up to the window
winch commanded a view of Hillswood
common and church. ''She awful
pretty bat it's a mystery how she came
10 marry father"
You know the young folks so we'll
Orphles, that there Is no need Of an intro
ducuon." said MIR Hunter, as his young
BRIDE kissed one rosy face after another
and sat down in his dead wifes rocking
char with the youngest on her knee.
When you are rested we will &c
over the house and take a look at things
then we will have some dinner. | dis
missed the housekeeper today. as | knew
we should not need her after you came
Her month was up. and as penny savec
e penny earned | let her GO Ross
Bell is large enough to help you abou
the house She Is l6, and as tall as yot
are. guess you will pull together frs
rate.
Pretty Orphies looked at her steI
daughter questioningly,
Il hope so" she said. quickly. YES.
kissing her. II am quite sure that W,
shall
That kiss won Rosa Bell.
ARTHUR she said to her 12-year-olC
brother the moment the door closed be
hind her new mother, take heart. | d,
believe there is change coming. Tn,
second Mira Hunter is very sweet anc
smiling but should not be surprised /
father had found his match. She doesn
say a great deal. but there is look il
her eye which makes me feel funny"
He u tame her before long," an
swered Arthur with knowing shake o
his head. Shell have to knock unde
the same as the rest Of US wonder
he'll let me go out on the common to
night The boys are getting up base
ball match. Tom Jones was here thi
morning and made me promise I'd come
The skinflints are going to play agains
the lronsides. but III bet on the
1Voa, rv,ustp't hat ar al intarruDta