The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-01-24

worth while slssys 10. though that's
something: Bat vhss esa do come
.hing for soms one siss. sAy. IL makes me
- stroag again, sss > siott bopefuller.
doaI doubt Il. Bat nss. Hannah. do
take osss Of yoarssu ssd - souebodY 10
come 10 and help yoa. " cant let you
get worn out yet
She did NOT look vorn o1A - she hit-
ted about after hsr visitos ~ gone, get
ting her cosy lee and puttjss things 10
order for the night Ener9s wss 10 every
movement Of her trin. spasv aSure. and .
kind Of hopeful coosssi snd eourass blend
cd with the kisdlinsss - hamor tha.
illumined the brown syss. 6hs VAS ad
jns,ipg berself mentally 70 The neu turn
Affairs had taken, With that ready willing.
ness characteristics Of her. I couldn't do
difierenily. she vas saying 70 berself.
There wasn't but mo 70 do Il nyhow; and
the money will bs real help this fall. The
house reeds something laid ont on IL, aud
want 10 send Marihs's gisk something
by and BY; aud nov shall have . little
more for missions. home and foreign. too;
aud can get some Of these books I've
been wanting, And she paused in her
fitting to aud fro, TO look lovingly q: the
already we'll stocked shelves Of the mas
sive secretary. and thoughtfally at the
empty space in the newer bookcase beside
il. Yes. am not 30 sorry % ! might be.
Twill be quite . piece Of work. though,
before its through. However. / guess ]
can manage.
Quite piece Of work II proved indeed
TO be. The threshers came, staid = week
and departed. Close upoa them came the
carpenters crew; and just % they we're
we'll settled. came the most dreadful OF oil
Mr.. Sterne's friend, the superintende dent Of
the nes mills. Miss Hannah had word
that he WAS coming. and Mr.. sterne drove
over with him 1t supper time. He was in
haste, and stopped only to say that his
sister was no better; the fever vas having
long run. Lucy was about worn out,
too. And this is the gentleman We spoke
Of, Hannah. that you said might stop here
q spell. Think he's an old acquaintance
OF yours.
Aud Mr.. Sterne had driven of before
she had had one good look at the man be-
fore her He lifted bis hat then aud held
out his hand with smile
You used to know me. Miss Hoitt You
can't have forgotten how many times we
have trudged up hill to school together,
aud how many times you did my sums
and helped me out with my parsing, in the
little red school house over youder. Or,
II you've forgotten, l haven't.
Allen Maynard! / had no idea it was
you that was comingl didn't really know
who II was, come TO think. but ] didn't
dream it was youl
But you'l take me Just the same?
For answer she led the way into the
house. with pink cheeks. shaking off her
confusion as best she could.
The little home was very CHEEKY. The
slant rays OF the setting sun streamed 10
between the plants in the bay. window and
gilded the bindings OF her book and made
great reflections from the polished and.
irons. Aud IN the next room WAS spread
the dainty tea table. with ito crimson cloth
its glittering glass, its tempting array, and
its vase Of flowers in the center. For Miss
Hannah was persuaded that even "those
men" noticed and appreciated her flowers.
And the fragrance Of freshly made tea, and
the oders Of browning biscuits, Of baked
apples, and other appetizing scents, were
in the air. And il was with pleasure not
ct oil concealed that the new bosrder took
the seat she assigned him. 1t cbanced to
be opposite her own. II Was natural that
the days should seem to go by faster than
ever, now. They we're very short anyhow
and Miss Hannah was very busy. II any
other element gave new, sweet zast to
day time task and evening talk, she did
cot own il.
Allen Maynard was still good and true
and brave and generous, though bis hair
vas turning gray, aud he bad been many
times scross the continent. twice across
the sea. once even around the world. He
had many things to tell Of people and
countries aud customs known to her only
through books Aud he liked books as
much as she did. too, and brought some
OF his own for her to read, and sometimes
new ones that they read together
The work on the new barn dragged
YEARLY, though Miss Hannah hardly no-
ticed that October was gone aud Novem
Der was going, till one night she heard the
mea say that they sLonid just about get
done when the ground closed up. Ard
Mrs. Sterne came home; her sister wss con
valescent, but she well-Digh prostrated
herself with watching
And now the carpenters would 60 in
week or two. at most, and Miss Hannah
4
bsgsn to realizs that the old life would
soon begin again for her. and that II would
be lonely. For Mr.. Maynard must go, too
How should she let him know IN Hsr
hints fell unheeded. aud though the men
spoke Of going home. aud she Of being
alone once more, she did not sec that he
noticed.
But il was her torn to be surprised
little later. when be spoke Of his plans for
the winter. aud Of business in Esston.
He would not be near. then. even 10
drop in for an evening" She began 70 be
. little lonely slrssdy. He he'd had bet
ter position offered bin, maybe And
a. an sha te "a ~ . mar tsv tb.n NJ M.v.