The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-07-14

boun we're safely lodged st Mrs. B.rton's
dear old home picturesque Oakyie~.
ones during the journey Lon hsd iurued
10 her sister. aud with her voice so soft
and trembling, said;
Janet, how / wish good old Uncle Duo
kin could hsve lived to see this Ishould
have enjoyed !, more il be could have been
with us.
I'm thsnkful be isn't Lou. He vas we'll
enough 10 our old life, bat be wouldn't do
now.
From the date Of tbsl speech Lou had
felt q psug Of sorrow that Was new to her.
and as she sat in the shade OF the elm tree
down by the bridge the change in her sisl
tor came back to her. and she sighed
Rober, Barton was Mrs. Barton's only
child. young man OF twenty two. who
had been abroad for q yesr, aud was eI'
pected home that evening The carriage
had already been sent to the station to
meet him. and JANET. having made up her
mind to ensnare and capture bin and be
come the mntress OF 0skvisw, bad been
practising the art OF luxurious leisure from
The day Of her arrival
Lou had remained by the bridge almost
q. hour, when she saw ,he csrrisge rolling
along the lane, and she watched IL until II
rolled up to the gate and dssppeered
among the trees lining the drive. Sontent
was her etzs and so absorbed ber thoughts
that she started with ht,le cry OF alarm
when she was suddenly aSsksued by the
sound OF footsteps on the bridge close bel
hind her.
Beg pardon, said a dusty, travel,stained
man with = tanned face, as be lifted his
hat. am sorry that frightened yon, /
used TO like this walk, and especially at
this time OF dsy,tsince it is so quiet and
restiul, and then the clover scents always
rings back the days OF childhood. and
when we reached the turn over there ! left
the carriage to walk across to the bouse.
Then you ore Mr.. Barton, Lon said.
Yes; excuse me. should have intro
duced myself. But when one has been
away SO long and is getting home gain lie
feels wild with plessurable excitement
You, presume, are Miss Hardng9
am Lou Harding
Oh, iudeedl Well, I'm aIlous to meet
dear mother, so il you are going to the
house we will walk back together.
But ltlls wss said by either Of them as
they went back across the swsrd, bnt Lou
was conscious more than once OF the hand
some mans eyes being Fixed inten.ly on
her.
When they reached the house Janet af
fected manner so cold and distant and
so listless that Lou looked at her 10 sur
prise.
That night when the sisters promens
ded. arm in arm, across the lawn, Janet
asked
Lou, what do You think OF Robert?
do not know that ought to express
an opinion, Lou replied. since ! know so
little about him.
Don't you think he is handsome?
Well no. not handsome, but well
enough looking.
hope you like him. Lou, Tor | mean
that be shall be your brother. Do you
think you will like him for tr tber2
Ishall like him for yor sake. Janet. Lou
answered.
Tha K YOU sister. Now, since you ere
such duliiul little dumping, I'm going
to tell You something. I've got it all plan
ned out how we are TO manage when Rob
bert and | are married aud am mistress
Of OAkview. You sre TO live with us. oil
course, and know Robert won't object
And As for the old house. I'm going to have
| il oye.hsuled aud modernizad so that II
will be respectable. And as for aunt and
her traps, they shall be packed off to some
obscure room DOT Of the way. All, I'm
going to have thorough renovation. and
society will 6nd 0ikvlew chsrmingly
fs,bionsble. Don't you like thst2
No, don't like it, and II | was Mr.
Barton Ia never consent TO have the ole
house changed 1t is dear 10 it's old
fashioned simplicits, and. besides, know
good old aunt would not like suy changes
1t ought to be left as i is.
| You little goose, when will you evel
begin to learn snythines What do car
for what Aunr likes. aud who cares 10
simplicity Don't tell you we are II
society and we must lay aside all oil
fashioned nonsense. do hope. Lou, yo'
won't N GRITTY me With any OF yopr sbsur
mspners and speeches when Robert
present, Tor If you do believe | shslI die
Janet printed light kiss on her sister
brow and iripped away L'u continue
walking sloS ly to and fro, and her fac
had the marks OF deep sorrow.
Iftha, is 10 be the outcome ofour riche'
she m used, il would have been better 10
us to have remained poor i,rever.
Through the succeeding days Lou her
away from Rob 1T Baton as much as pos
sible. She slipped out alone for long ran
bles 10 the fields, or shu, herself up in b.
room, thus leaving Janet free to enjc
Roberts compsy nDdisiurbed
Yet L7u~a not happy Unconscious
she bad learned TO love Robert hersel
snd ss esrnes ly ss she tried 10 place hi
, out oi ber heart she could not
e ons night Shen q monih bad psss'
II she walked sione on the lasn. There v
a q ssd yesrniDg 10 her soul aud Sigh =
}. csped her TIE neHt momen, Der hsi
a wa I'M risoned 10 siroog bat tend
grasp. sad looking up With little cry .