The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-10-29
Hirhe, in L~svenng Pover-u Govt Report avg 10 'S
Roe! g! Bssi9s Bs%as9
ABSOLUTELY PURE
ALIrTLE COWARD.

..sueh little coward r
The words came floating up 10 me IRON
. group Of children playing under my
window and carry me back two years,
10 The summer spen, in Wesion,ille and
The "Ii,lle coward" ! me, there.
hsd been in practice ss pbysician 'or
several years when Aunt Jspe. The rich
aunt Of the Hutchinson family, wrote
10 invite rue 10 spend lev weeks with
hey vas rather smszsd st the invitation
as Amt Jane had neysr bad the slightest
affection for me; bu, the letter was cordial
enough TO tempt me
III have three young .sdies visiting me.
she wrote, aud you msy fall in love WIN
auy of them with my consent They are
ali well born and wel,bred, which is more
than can bo said OF most girls nowadays.
Serena Marbury is Just the woman for
physicians wife, seli possessed, calm cour'
speous and yet perfectly womsnly. She IS
yefy handsome, too. Jnlis Strong is
literary girl and writes for the newspapers.
She ia pretty, but distracted, lives In q
poetic region above my reach Susy MARX
ham il tcarcely more than child,
eighteen years old. and small ss girl OF
twelve. fair bsired. blue eyed. gentle and
loving; but will not attract you, as she is
the worst little coward ! ever ssw screams
At a spider, iaints st = moure clings to the
boat when on the water and gets as white
M a ghost II . horse prances. But come
and see me and the girls, and stop poison
inp patients, saving bones and prsncing
about sick rooms, for month at least. "
So | went. bad been at Aunt james in
my boyisb days, and the large, beautiful
house, With its wide. high oeilined rooms,
its broad poIcbes. and airy hall. wss quite
familiar to me. Lying near river and IN
the shadow OF q mountain, Westonviiie
was most charming summer residence
and Aunt Jane had visitors from the FIRST
warm day to the last one. so was not sur
prised to find others beside those mention
cd 10 my letter Of invitation.
Pleasant days were the rule, and we
boa,.d, rode. drove. clambered up The
mountain for picnic parties. played lawn
tennis and croquet, and eojoyed life ss only
youth enjoy i. in summer days free from
toll or care.
Aunt Jane gave the most cordial wei
come, and the FIST time she was alone
with me, said
II is time you we've married. Harry.
bsve tboupht il all over, and / mean Il
give YOU house well furnished as soon n
you introduce me 10 Mrs. Hutchinson
! Mol You needa't gush about it. ! can al
ford it, and you deserve IL! Bnt DON
imagine from my letter that the girls know
Of my match making intentions. The!
would pack up aud leave at i've minutes
notice, il they suspected it, And they ar
all popular in society, making sacrifc
Of other pleasant invitations to come t.
Westopyille. Serena is the wife for you
il you can win her
| | cordially admired Serena. Certainl
she wss the most queenly, self sustained
beautiful girl I ever met. Nothing flui
tered her, or moved her from q calm com
posure. Il was impossible to imagine Be
repa in Mysteries and her health was sb
solutely perfect.
/ devoted myself to Serena. and foun
her mind ~ attractive ss her face sh
was well read, snd had keen interest !
the current topics Of the day. ! never me
any Que who so thoroughly read and un
dtrstood newspaper, and she could con
yerse we'll on oil The political, foreign an
domestic affairs.
Julia was in aponies OF composition
gathering scenes and incidents for her fir'
, novel. and going about as II asleep with h'
eyes open.
And Susy. The first time saw susy 81
vas in the orchard, dressed In sometbin
blue and thin, all RIFLES and bows. 81
vas standing under sn apple tree abst
lu,ely parslyzed with terror, and s'zine
huge caterpillar creeping mp her arm
! Hearing my step. she isised 3 colofle'
mce. With strsiued blne eyes and quiverin
lips. to cay.
Oh. take IL eft Oh. pl'sse take IT oil
Another moment ionod her sobbipg by
,ericslly. and with choking words
thanks abe ran awsy
i. al passed 80 quickly that 'he v
zone before / saw how pretty she w
leaving behind bsl! picture OF tbn
golden cnrls snd frightened bsby bi
eye.. The nt-, time saw those eyes th'
were iuli OF ,esriul gratitude Tor my hero
hsudlipg OF cs,erpillsrs
Itxas odd how they hsunied me. Qui
resolved to win Serena. IL persistent wool
would accomplish IT. sought her on
occasions, but, being united party
friends. We we're no, often iste,a-'eie. Al
t~ss 10 me. sivsys. that Snry turned.
hour. Of peril. when toad sat upon
vhi,e drss, ~ben the boa, tipped bal
.<esdih more than usosl, when horri'
>lips things ciossed our paths, .
9" rued their heads TO contemplate
co -eb oceasions, two 'Iny han'
w ,lk. soii a. satin. .uddei
slhe sod ,obl obi esllsd |
clssped ny arm 80,
.,,es,iop TO the it fo' =
Ass i ss 20, d, &c %, -. = !
.,,,o, deceive physici y = - :
.ra nv professional eye. ~,
.r.,,y lace blsrehed. the ! ~ 4, 1,
.s ,oa tie y sbole lii'ie hFufe "'D y
Sc really u. the worst little G ~
= eset cav.
saa yet, although ! ch'd'd n!ssh
"A Il, 4 could DO, share sefsnst open'!
81 r,,S.sd contempt. OF sphcienhy san
.rs.u .corniul indinsrsnee to sosds :
rr..sssepsu. boss ,irpins OF irsen'