The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-02-06
THOSE DREADFUL GIRLS.


The pArk surrounding Chsil,oo msn
or house vas looling i,s best one iovel
morning 10 October. as Hope Chs,lio
took her way down the avenue Of beechr
aud watched the rabbits as the scudde
merrily amongst the dried fern stalks al,
the long grass. and ssw the squirrels rae
log up and down the tall stems Of the d.
10 the background She iel, she wa
bound 90 q strsngs eusnd; she was no
used 10 the psng which seized her whe'
she came 10 sight Of the gray pile 0
"homs" for she might call il by tha, nam
no longer
Her isihr hsd suffered Ike many OF bi
friends during years Of agricultural de
preston. but bad brsvely faced his tronb
les. and having let bis house TO SON
Americans who we're anrions TO spend
winter 10 good sporting district. bad lie
taken himself TO Jamaica 10 SEQ IL aay
thipg eonld be done with au fsip'e b
possessed there; while bis wife aud chill
dren took up their abode fur the time il
the Dover house. an old Ied brick build.
ing. whose enden walls Joined The parl
on the eide where the villsee street cam,
up to the lodge gates Hope and be
mother. who was an invalid. had beef
With Mr.. Charlton to Meadhampton. ant
Hope had seen the last Of the stesme
which bad conveyed him away, and ws
nov bent on carrying ont his final instrnc
'ions. and seeing tbs, the housekeepe
made everything look its best Tor the re
cepiion OF Mrs. Caleb Gerrsns and hel
daughters Pauline and Ciarissa Sh,
made a pretty picture in the autumn
sunshine as she walked brisLly on. beI
gray cap and ulster sniiing well her slim
figure and her blue eyes aud bright gol.
den hair.
The next morning was one OF those
bopelessly wet days which makes one fee
as il the world could never be dry again
and hope was bearing her little sisters
lessons, " Ken she was interrupted by g
ring at the door bell and the almost i'm
mediate entrance Of two tall girls. who
each s,zed one Of her hands, and eIclaim.
ed In rapid duet
Well, now, you are real goodl we are
ever so much obliged TO you. Did you
pick all those Dosegrays, and fix UP ouf
bedrooms? They are just lovely 1t is
wet enough tc drown beaver, but we put
on thick shoes and wrappers, and came
right along
Hope felt somewhat bewidered with
the highly pitched voices and the twang
as well as by the extreme beauty OF her
but when they were seated in the
iided arm chairs by the library fire, and
she had time to disentangle Pauline from
Clarissa, she enjoyed the long chat which
followed. The entrance OF her mother
caused diversion. and when the frai
looking lady took her place on the sofa
Claiissa exclaimed
Oh, my are you sick, ma'sm? am
real sorry
Mother is not strong, exclaimed Hope;
md the young ladies did not stay long. fear
ng they should weary her
My dear, what dreadful girls said Mrs
settling herself am ong her cusb.
ons. as the door closed On the visitors.
Hope laughed. They were very kind,
mother, and they like the dear old house.
md never said one word of pity to us for
iaving to leave it. l feared they would
They find it difficult to get Mrs Potter to
what they would like in some.
hings. and / am going up this afternoon
o talk to her. They really live in place
hey say is ''out west. but are come Just
low from New York, and their brother
will join them soop, they hope.
Their brother said Mss. Charlton, J.
hougbt Mr.. Gerrans was the father Of the
amily.
No; their father died ten years ago. re.
,lied Hope.
shall never endure them or their broth
NJ said Mrs Charlton, and they ought to
iave waited till we called on them; it was
sking liberty to rush in like that.
Hope was delighted with her visit to
he manor in the afternoon, and found
'irs. Caleb Gerrsns charming. She was
mall and dark, with bright eyes and
allow face. and elquisitely dressed. She
,ree,ed Hope cordially. and bade her come
right close" to the fire. while she seated
Ierself in luxurious chair, and holding
tiny handkerchief in one band, shaded
er face from the flames with q festber
su beli in the other, and recounted her
iffieuliies with Mrs. Potter.
She never heard Of wsfiiesl she said,
laintively.
And had 10 notion what bominy was
aid Pauiine.
Hope laughed merriy, aud bright
our followed. during which she became
to the quaint phrass Of her
-iends, aud MAS delighted with the pleas.
re at the prospect OF life in England. and
ever tired Of answering their hummer
BILE questions. Her Writ made subiec,
,r conversation all the evening with ber
io,ber. aud she felt that = new interest
ID catered her life.
The three girls speedily became friends
nd Pauline aud Claiisss were also soon
opular 10 the neighborhood Their pi-
q ~, faees, beautiful dresses and socisble
,anner. .tod them 10 good stead. and
,ry rode ~ell. walked ssreat deal. and
ent 10 and out q the cottages. aud talk
} 10 old and Young as II they bad been |
them for years. They Invariably
,ilsd Mrs. Charlton ''M.'sm aud aston. |
he'd n. youthful vicar OF the parish by
a....,.,., hin, "a aSir uhsIs iles tnld I