Middletown transcript., 1896-11-21

/ II seems to me they ought to be, !
said Mercy pausing moment the tips
of her fingers resting on the fire-board
as she gazed out of the window re-
| fiectively.
The day is done, and all Is ready fol
the morrow's feast. The little mother
and the girl who in the short space Of
less than year has become very dear to
the elder womaa,ar resting from theil
days labor beside the wood fire, leap
ing and glowing from the fireplace in
the keeping-room, and brightly re-
fiected in the shining tops Of the
andirons and the brass mounted fender.
They have been talking at intervals,
but it has been such a busy day, and
presently after longer interval than
usual Mother Douglas decided she is
too sleepy to keep her eyes open one
more minute, $50 Pm going to bed
| my dear,
1.-THE girl raises her eyes from their
contemplative look into the burning
Goals and smiles slowly as she says
quietly" Do, dear Madam, and have a
good nights rest.n Her companion
stoops down and touches her lips to
the broad white forehead and with a
gentle goodnight" leaves her alone.
Mercy is a little tired too, but as
Ben went out great-coated and pulling
on his big fur driving gloves he said. !"
There's snow in the air or I'm very
much mistaken. How nice it is herel"
then dropping one of his gloves beside
her as he stopped down for it, whisper
ed, "Wait for me-" So she waited; her
thoughts running riot as she sat watch
ing the fire as it snapped and cracked.
So intent were her thoughts that Ben
returned before she had expected him.
As she opened the door he said,
laughing gleefully as he pushed her
back" Take care-I'm full of snow
wait moment" and he shook him
self like newfoundland dog before
he entered.
And now shall We waltz i think not.
Tomorrow we as well rs the re ST, will
notice the pretty circlet on Mercy's.
finger and we too may guess what it
means.
Thanksgiving day and merrily rang
the bells as the horses gaily trotted up
to the door then away to the barn to be
housed for few hours and the guests
have gathered around the hospitable,
we'll spread table iE the long, low din
ing-room with windows open to the
early morning sun on one side and the
last slanting ray of the setting sun on
the other. Here too was fireplace
with the usual backlog and great thick
hickory sticks sending out its own
welcome to the uncles, aunts and
cousins large and small. The dinner
is well served and duly appreciated and
Aunt Douglas is duly complimented1
who however asserts that she never
put hand to the pies, nor cakes,
nor bread, no, nor the turkey either"
''Well, then," sharply questioned
Aunt Patience (which name, by the
way, was assuredly misnomer) "Pd
like to know who did if you didn't"
"Why Mercy of course, Patience"
"Mercy p with a Sniff" and how
did she ever learn to do such things,
I'd like to know, and another thing
Mary. Think its time for the family
to understand things.''
"What do you mean Patience" said
Mother Douglas a trifle impatiently
for be it known Aunt Patience, or
more properly speaking, Mrs. Abner
Douglas, was a veritable thorn in the
flesh to most folks. Her son Abner
sat beside her and under cover of the
long white cloth gently touched her on
the knee as though irf entreaty. She
turned to him saying, "Abner Douglas
I won't be quiet. come here to-day
with a full. intention to tell all 1 know
and no nudge from you nor black look
from Ben yonder will hinder me from
doin' il" and she cleared her throat as
sort of preliminary. "I say Mary, it's
high time you and all of US knew who
this girl is you took in with her high
and mightyairs. I say it is high time. +"
Mercy sprung to her feet from her
seat beside little Nell,a wee tot of three
who was a devoted friend of spitty
Mussey," and at the same moment Ben
left his place at the head of the table
and going around to Mercy took her
hand gently in his own and throwing
his arm about the slender waist
quietly said, ''Don't say word"
Then as Abner came . to him with
flushed face and glittering eyes, he
said kindly, "Never mind old fellow, it
is all right. "Aunt Patience = his eyes
flashing from out his white face while
the brown fingers shut more closely
about the little white hand and the
strong arm gathered the slight form
closer to his side, "Aunt Patience, will
you kindly wait few moments, then
we will hear what you have to say.
Mr.. Winslow, we are waiting for you,
please" and to the unbounded aston
ishment Of every body, poor Mercy in
cluded, the old white-haired minister
also left his place at the table and be-
fore Aunt Patience or any of them had
quite realized what was going on, Ben
and Mercy were pronounced man and
wife.
Now we will listen to you, but re-
-