Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-23
Her rough manners and ways of speech


girl had of late been occupied in the
room of her young mistress over some
new dresses.
Straight to this apartment Elsie flew,
and, locking the door, sat down opposite
Betsy and said:
81 have something for you to do, Betsy,
and I'll pay you well for it"
"Just name 1t them" said Betsy.
"When was little girl Betsy" said
Elsie, poor papa promised that should
marry young gentleman who lives in
England when was grown, and that if
did not should lose my fortune. Now
the time is come, and he is coming; and
| can't marry him. Betsy, want him
to refuse me. Do you understands
~ understand" said Betsy, land if
were you I'd huff him off quick enough,
and make him glad to go, that would"
"And l can't think how to do it,
Betsy" said Elsie, land if you can, you
must do it for me. While he stays you
must pretend that you are Miss Sea-
bright; you must wear my clothes, and
take all the airs you possibly can, and
make him as unhappy as possible, so
that he'll have to refuse you-that is,
me, you know. Be sharp as you can
with him, Betsy-never the least bit
kind or nice. You'll try, won't you,
Betsy?'
Then the two girls left all other work
to examine Elsie's wardrobe, and soon
Betsy was dressed in the most elegant
attire.
"And l." said Elsie-I will be your
poor companion, and you must call me
Miss Smith, and snub me and order me
about"
Thus it was all arranged when the
little letter Elsie had so long been ex-
pecting arrived, and breaking it's blue
seal she read that Mr.. Harrington would
pay his respects to Miss Seabright in the
course of an hour.
How Miss Seabright laughed as she sat
waiting in the drawing room. watching
Betsy sail up and down with all the
new assumption of dignity. Betsy,
with the most amiable intentions, would
have been sure of offending; but Betsy,
oent on being unpleasant, would be a
grand success.
Just then Betsy herself leaned from
The window.
"Oh, miss!" she cried, there's car
riage at the door, and there's a gentle
man coming out of it. Bless us! if that
is him I don't wonder you want to be
off your match. Deary, oh! deary me!'
But before she could explain servant
had brought Elsie a card bearing the
name of Harold Harrington, and as she
arose the most extraordinary figure en-
tered the room.
1t was very tall young man, between
whose shoulders, nevertheless, grew a
hump. He also, though he seemed to
move actively enough, walked on
crutches.
On his head, from which he had re-
moved his cap, was a black silk skull
cap, such as entirely bald old gentlemen
then wore.
His nose was certainly well shaped,
but it was much the color of red flannel;
and about his throat was muller.
This was Harold Harrington.
Elsie's surprise was so great that she
sank into a chair and forgot to prompt
Betsy as she intended.
But Betsy needed no prompting She
was not in the least embarrassed.
She advanced to meet Mr.. Harrington
with grin of supreme insolence upon
her face, and burst into loud laugh
"Well," she said, "you are my young
man, are you? must say, whoever
picked you out showed no mighty grea,
taste; 'twasn't for your beauty, that's
plain"
"No, madam" said the arrival, at
was not for my beauty. Do I address
Miss Seabright?"
Why, who else should l be?" CRIED
Betsy. Twas not for your cleverness
neither. you were chosen. But now
wars, haven't YOUR
MY infrmities," sighed the yount
man, "are the result of my recklessnes
as boy. / had most sympathizinl
letter from you upon the fall that brok'
my limb. You remember it? You ais
condoled with me upon the careless sho
which cost me my eye, though you die
not know how serious was the result.
1T was while I was on a trip t,
Switzerland that injured my back, an'
while endeavoring to drink some boiling
tea the housekeeper had left carelessl.
on the table scalded all the hair from
my head. This scar upon my cheek /
the result of having attempted to shaw
myself with my poor fathers razor. l
was injudicious of him not to tell you
the result of my injuries, but now yo'
see them for yourself, will not go int
further particulars. You remember al
my accidents"
eyes," said Betsy, land a fine figur
of man they've made you; you'd do t
scare the crows from an orchard, l mus
say, and you're sent to me, that nigh
have my pick and offers to marry. 1t
enough to make one die of laughing"
"Then you refuse me"' said the younI
man eagerly.
"Oh, no." said Betsy. "Oh, no, don't
there's the fortune, you know. None.
is money, and even an object like you l
better than poverty. Pllhave you; thoug
how folks will laugh to see us paired OF
topetherl One comfort. though; so brokel