The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-12-28
MISS JUDITH 5 LOVE STORY.

The rosy Units from a setting sun
fell in showers of crimsOned gold upon
the little village of Ashlea. A sigh Of
relief escaped my lips as the lumber
ing OH stage reached the top of Hur
ricane hill, and | threw wide open the
window to gaze down upon the rose
gardens and clover fields which would
gladden. my eyes and rest my weary
heart all through the coming days Of
June and July. Ashlea has no pre-
tentions to historic fame-it took no
part in the wars of the rebellion. No
bullet holes in its ancient barns can
be pointed out to mark the spot where
noble man perished in defense Of
friends or country. nor has any poet
sung Of its green valleys or murmur-
ing brooks but as we issued sudden
ly from a tiny forest of maple trees,
and drove with Gathering wheels
through its tranquil streets, [ could
but think of Moore's lines on The
Vale Of Avoca":-
Sweet vale of Avoca. how calm could rest
On thy bosom Of shade, with the friends l
love best,
Where the storms that we feel in this cold world
should cease
Ard our hcarts,-lde thy waters, be mingled in
peace.
The stage paused IN front of an old
fashioned house with gabled roof and
long narrow windows that seemed to
regard me in half sleepy surprise. At
the gate, standing against back
ground Of tall pink hollyhOcks, was
Miss Judith HOlcOmb, and beside her,
shading her eyes from the setting sun,
stood her sister, Miss Hester.
As [ stepped out into the cool fresh
ness OF the June evening and was
cIasped cordially by the hand. sud
den feeling of disgust came over me
a- | looked down at my patent leather
shoes and saw the shadows Of my
large hat with its dancing ostrich
feathers on the stone walk at my feet.
An irrepressible longing possessed my
soul to throw my arms around the
neck Of Miss judith, whose quantity
braided hair and severely simple ging-
ham gown brought to mind the spin
ming wheel in my grandmother's gar
ret, and the lavender scented chest III
which she kept her linen.
You're a little late" cried Miss
Hester, the stage mostly is OF Mon
day. Judith and | have been wonder
in all day how you'd look. Our first
boardcr, you know" she added apollo
getically, and drawing me by the hand
to the shelter Of the jasmine shaded
porch, where both she and Miss Ju-
dith sat down on either side of me In
willow rockers to get acquainted
You see" exclaimed Miss Hetty
smiling at me over pair OF gold
trimmed spectacIes, folks can't git on
till they find out what each others
like. Now | must say I'm agreeably
disappointed in you-I kind o no
toned you'd be stuckup, middle
aged woman. with more airs n a wind
mill"
My land" cried her sister, drawing
closer to me and patting my shoulder
with maternal indulgence. She's
nothin' but a poor little pale-faced
city gal. Hetty, and you n Ill jest
mother her up some, and git some OF
them pink hollyhocks into her cheeks >
[ looked mp through a mist of un-
shed tears. Such welcome | had
never received in all my vacations
from the maddening crowd OF our
great city. | was used to all the ele-
gance of luxurious home and my
| Iindulgent father had shOwered gifts
upon his only daughter | had no
mother, and as | looked into the ten
der depths of Miss Halcomb's gray
eyes, a sudden swelling Of the heart
oppressed my breath Tossing my hat
to the ground | flung my arms about
her neck and cried like child upon
her ample bosom.
why. my tulip bud, what ails youE
| She exclaimed, smoothing with mother
! Iy hand the yellow locks of her new
! boarder.
! shes tired out, and like enough
She aint had bite of dinner" eXclaIm
ed Miss Hester rising and bustling
into the house. "1ou take the poor
lamb upstairs, Judy, and let her battle
her pretty eyes. and Eli have supper
on the table in two shakes Of lamb:
tall
But it was not supper wanted, ant
as Miss judith took my two hands be
tween her own and gazed at me witt
pair Of keenly discerning eyes, sh
nodded knowingly
Il amt never set eyes on You before
child" said she, "and it seems power
fuI queer what fetched a lily fowe
to such lonesome spot. But Hett.
n mes awful glad to have you, an
/ mebbe the country air Will do yo
: good. Come upstairs, and you
. little blue room, and hathe your eye:
j and when you're freshened up Aun
Hetty and Aunt Judy'll be all read
, for YOU
\ peal of happy laughter fell frol
= my lips and startled me. L mad n'
laughed since
"Oh. Aunt judy | cried, ''ho
glad | am the Lord sent me straiSi
to you"