The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-11-23
IA Miscellaneous.
A SAMPLE SKETCH.

The icy brilliance of the freezing
February sunshine was scintillating
its Polar splendor over the pine
| tnickets and snow-crusted wilderness
of the Gray Gorge'-a solitary val
ley amid the wooded heights of Yer
mont The little brook was cased in
steel blue armor of ice; the frozen
mountain crests lifted their bold and
rocky peaks against the deep, dazzling
blue of the winter sky; and the wind,
as it rushed bowling down the glen,
shook the very foundations of the
farmhouse in its mad glee.
Yes, there they co. said Miss Pa
melia, lifting the corner of the window
curtain to look down the long perspec-
tive of the winding road. -Four OF
'em. In two cutters, with two wolf
robes, and two sets of sleigh bells.
| And it's the third time that Ruth and
Bessie have been asked out sleigh rid
ing within the month, and nobody
ever thinks of me ~
And it was little strange, too, when
one came to think of it. Miss Pamela
Pipely WIS Il plump young woman OF
! ree-;tnd-thirty, with rosy cheeks,
swapping black eyes and a figure as
straight and trim as sapling pine.
She had not Ruth's melting almond,
shaped eyes, perhaps. nor the peachy
pink of Bessie's radiant complexion,
but she was universally acknowledged
to be the best hand in picking and
preserving in all the country around
She couldn't quote Swinburne OF
Jean Ingelow, but she managed hel
widowed brothers household with a
firm, gentle hand, and had chest
full of patchworks and bedquilts and
crocheted tides, in the big old garnet
upstairs.
In fact, Miss Pamela Pipely would
have made a first-class wife to any
man living-if only the bachelors
around Gray Gorge could have been
brought to perceive a fact which was
SO manifestly TO their advantage.
| So Miss Pipely sat before the fire OF
blazing logs, all messed over with sill
yer gray fringe and bubbling out theil
resinous hearts before the fiery ordeal
of the flames. and knitted away at
Squire Sans gray mixed stocking as
if she were on a wager against old
Time, and was resolved to conquer a:
all hazards And the dragons head
that was carved on the old mahogany
chair opposite, and the claw-legs, and
the queer little brass knobs scattered
all over it seemed to wink soberly at
her in the pleasant light as she work
ed. 1t was an heirloom in the family,
that old chair, and the Pipelys were
proud of it.
Just then there came the merry jim,
gle of sleigh bells on the road like a
peal of miniature laughter.
Some one else out for sleigh ride,
| IL d., oil I'm
ing her head.
But to her infinite amazement, the
| tiny peals ceased to chime the sleigh
had stopped.
Good gracious !" said Miss Pamela
taking hurried observation from be,
hind the Melted fringe of the curtains,
here, too"
Mr.. Hedger came ina stout middle,
aged man, with light blue eyes shin.
ing behind his spectacles, brown hair
Just sprinkled with gray, and seal
muffier buttoned up to his very nose
Good morning, Miss Pamela ~ said
he pleasantly.
"Good morning !" said Miss Pamela
1--WE called on business" said Mr.
Hedger, who was one of those uncan
onized social martyrs, bashful old
bachelor.
Miss Pamela, to be sure. was an old
maid, but she wasn't in the least de
gree bashful, so that perhaps the two
were not evenly matched.
ION business ?" repeated the lady
"I'll call my brother at once"
"Oh, don't do that, Miss Pamela y
said Mr.. Hedger, lifting his hand de
precatingly.
mo ?'' Miss Pamela raised her jet
black eyebrows in some surprise.
Because my business was with you
especially" he explained.
"Oh p
Miss Pamela sat down again, me
chemically crimping the borders of hel
apron with the finger and thumb oil
her left hand, while a very pretty
blush crept over her face.
1--WE been thinking it over for some
time,n said Mr. Hedger, rather alb
ruptly.
And the crimping operation went OF
faster than ever.
"Of course l know it's taking a
great liberty" said the gentleman
alphabetically.
"Oh, don't speak of it ~ said the
lady.
''And then, you know, we are al
most strangers" he added.
"Oh. that makes no difference
said Miss Pamela, hurriedly.
81 can hardly muster courage tc
ASK said he.
Don't be afraid" sweetly smiled
the keyed damsel, wondering
what Ruth and Bessie would say i
they were to come home and find hel
engaged.
SYou will forgive my audacity - ht
murmured, moving his chair a trifit
nearer.
"Of course" responded Miss Pipely
"Well, Them said Mr.. Hedger
plugging headlong into the subject
Twill you sell me that old mahogany
dragons head chair of yours for col
lection of antiquities am told i
has record for a century and half
and have been anxious to possess it
Expense will be no object to me, as IN,
chief pleasure lies in accommodating
these valuable objects of vertu."
Miss Pamela turned red and white
the fold of the apron fell from he
hands. Figuratively speaking sh
froze over at once.