The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1895-11-21
AN ODD CoURTsHIP

Northern Shore of Like Ere. Eberez
vu a.. miller by trade sud bschel'
~ clolce Polly wtss msiieu Of 81
every body declared tbst vas her az
thousd ajl hsd see sod res the uoFd
Traced by Polly osn hagets 10 the ssn
90 the beach times without uumbers.
Polly Fedehs Virgins aged -
Ebenezar hved 10 lonely house hes
the mil Polly lived with her sstst, 90
va, the ouIy dfestmsker millluer SD
general sesmstt'ss the place Afforded,
One bright siteruoon Polly tbres aid
the shirt she sas making for Mr. Stfckne
aud lakin3 her sisters children vent dowl
oa the bcsoh fer swAlk Halt sn hour a
terwsrd Ebeutz.r was waking 10 the sam
direction He bad been kept away iron
the mill oil day by ielou on hi
thumb
He walked along over the be ch, hold
ing the thl tcled Thumb tendery IN hi'
pslm Al length, through 30 opening IL
cluster OF elders, be discovered Polly
Virgins. It Was raw day 10 esI = spune
/ but Polly. bat was oil snd she was bow
log and gesticnIstng aud apparently en
saged 10 earnest conversation.
Polly Is either gong crt2y " she Is try
Jog to perform like them theatre folks We
saw when We went on the excursion to
Buffalo
50 saying, the miller crept csu'louIy
20 TO the intervening bushes aud peered
through, softly chuckIing With delight as
he watched Polly go through one OF her
surprising bows But the broad smile
gave place to a look OF sstonisbment as be
heard Polly say
YES Ebencz.r, consent to marry you
on four conditions.
He saw her glance tinilly, not at The
vbiskered fsce among the bushes but st a
stump. then, n II she had been ssket
what those conditions were, she went on
You must quit wearing thst s0utf colcr
ed, pigeon tailed coat that your grandfsth
er vas married 10, You must smoke Gig
ars. if you cant live without smoking, in
stead Of always having that old black pipe
10 your mouth You must shave Of those
old fashioned, grizzly gray whiskets, and
raise mustsche, and quit riding that din
qy white, bob tailed rsckabone OF q horse
every here you go, and with your coat
tails han ing down TO cover bis ribs, too
Ebentl,r looked sober enough now, and
hung his head like scolded boy. he was
very proud of his personal appearance.
And if there was time when he thought |
be looked psrtic1ralIy grand, it WAS when
ne was dressed 10 lis Sunday suIt and
mounted on his faithful white horse He
vas trying to make up his mind whether
10 ought to step ont and call her the big
,est slmpeton 10 all creation or go oil
bout bis business, when Polly began talk
ng again in q tender, chiding tone, as il
Ter feelings had been hurt.
Oh, Ebentzer, how can you ask if
owe you? Didn't Jim Winters pack of to
)4liiornia. JUS! because | would not have
im2 Didn't Ruby Oskes try to drown
imseIf because | mittened him? Didn't
refuse Jerry Vail only last Sunday, Just
or you2 And after I've waited all these
ears, you ask ne that
And POLL GOV ytred her face with her
snds as II TO conceal either her tears or
er blushes, but shortly she uncovered
er face and pretty pale, though some
that careworn face il was and contlnu
d.
You're very kind and thoughtful, Eben
zer, to ask me about hIing up your house,
here you lived 20 many years cant help
eiug happy home for me; but | might
1ggest one or two little improv ments,
.elng You asked me. You might just cart
be rubbish ont OF tie front yard the
will tsrrel, aud ash heap. aud gf nd stone
ni such and make up some pOsy d.
ye got lots OF seeds, and you can have ;
)me Of them holly Iyhocks, and msrlsolds,
I'd astors, and double poppies and etc
hey will want to go by the wlndoF, aud
ou'll have TO move the pig trough. Then ,
our spsre room would be more like some
ling If 1t bad carpet, and sofa, sGd
Icturs or two, and centtrtable and f.,
)ove erythlng else curtains for the sln
lws.
y N haven't got msUy dishes, suppose,
ut I'll bring host. We got two whole '
is OF blue stonevsre, except the slop !
owls, besides the beat part OF gilt I
.laa set. You We seen EN-, | guess The =
ouse wants p iutIug, too. | never saw so
own house for white one, Then oe
III want 40 eIteusion table. so when Bet
and her chiIdreu visit Us they can sit +
,wu. Don't be tflroded, dear Eben'z.t; u
shouldn't have SAID sll this for the world
at You koos you asked me. Il
Ebeuez . didn't know whether be ought
be flrnded OF cot. He was filtered
ID yet mortified, too.
Polly put ber hand 10 her pocket aud J..
.oustt ont her handkerchief, sud with
came ber tst'io thuttle sld thread. The
eht Of these At ouce brought Der mind
.ck t. tie sober resliues Of life. 1t vss
itch, stich With poor Polly from morn
2 TO uigbt, with 90 Que 10 love Der or
rs Tor her A. she uetted So she sat .
,vn uith btr back TO tue bn.hes, aud
ben E1su,z.r kues by the loE sobs that
sched hiu that she Sss crying, be let 20
.e uosLes csrrlBl y. 90 as not 10 disturb
y. aud walked 4, 4 home.
lie Ia ssake oltil iolg siter mliLisht.
i. punb ptIafd tim : lrt,e, bat he