The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1900-01-11

DiNne ufNst ouA " NurN istWN Ntb huh t"h'
the road porthwsrd. The crisp snos o
hishwsy, packed snd polished by wetkt
OF good sleiebios. crssked upder the rur
nsrs OF their ''cutter." aud the sun VA
shining eloriou.ly over tae wooded hill
70 the eastward.
Tbe Stones were eoiug TO spend Sur
day With "Consin Msris," Stones second
cousin. and ibe object OF Mrs, Stop,'s ad
mirsiion aud envy, She declared that
there WAS TO house like Cousin Msrls's
aid no domestic oonyepienees aud adysn
tsses like those she enjoyed. that nobody
wore such beautiful clothes, or had such
good things 10 eat, or commanded such
resources to"so with rs Cousin Maria.
10 short. Mrs. Amass Stoee, who had not
been greet while msrried, and who had
one of the incest little farm houses 10 the
county, as we'll ss one Of the best and
meet devoted husbands 10 the world, was
somehow victim OF that most di.sgtee
abls and distressing mslsdy, eDyious die
content; aud the immediste occasion OF 1t
was = Cousin Maria. II she could only
exchange places (perhsps not husbands,
bat everything else) with Cousin Marie.
how happy she would bel
Curionsly enouRh-by thst strange
irony OF fate which We often see cropping
out 10 human life q Clusiu Maria felt the
same wsy toward Mrs. Stone. She secret
Iy and sincerely. envied the little woman
With the big, devoted loverlike husband
and the mode farmhouse overlC oking one
OF the most beautiful and productive val
ley ferns 10 New Epglsnd. II i could
only keep house like Cousin Ells she
would sometimes say to her husband, and
then she would add, to herself, Perhaps
might il hsd as nice a house, and be
tu$1gs to do with that she has,
Sincere aud cordial envy does not make
people dislike each other, by any means;
and it was natural enough that Mrs, Stone
and her cousin Mrs. Holmes should be
glad to visit each other and so add tresb
fuel to their mutual admiration, They
travelled back and forth on these social ey
good deal; and their husbands.
who liked each other (ind each Others
fare. by tie va were never svsrse to
"drivioe over" or Days outing. The
two farms lay some 20 miles spsr', in
different tosnsbips. oDd about mi iwsy
between thsm was u village, where thr
Stones aud the Holmeses each had q
special friend, with whom il was conven
lett and pleasant to stop for luncb, while
going a.visitiog.
The tleigh-bells rang cheerily end the
miles rapidly fell away behind the Stope'S
cutter. this February morning, ss they
drove slong toward Hydeville. the half
way village. hope lothing will happen
to the stock or the hens, over Sunday.
said Mr. Stone
Or, don't worry about ths exclaimed
bis wife. You spoke to Lsonsrd, Is
usual, didn't you? Yes, l asked him to
odder once day and attend to the milk
ng. Bot be lives quite 3 little piece
,wsy, and II it should come on to storm -
Storml Look at the .ky exclsimed
Mrs. Stone, with q ecoruful laugh. / de
IL. Q IN m In /
worry over nothing.
1t was still eloriously bright when they
esched Hydeville. at II o'clock. and they
topped there foil two hours. As they
gain took the rosd at / O'Clock, they
oticed tbst the sky had become slightly
Ilnly. bnt as it frequently does cioud
yer thus toward the close OF tine winter
sy. they were neither surprised nor dis
urbed. At o'clock however, the wind
egan to rise, the tky grew mole over
asst. end before long was tpittlpg sharply
ut the northeast.
What do you tLiok about storm nowi
sked Mr.. Stone. Drive along. and get
here es quick ss you can. was bis wiie's
oily reply, ss she ssthered The buffilo
ODE more tightly shout her.
When they reached the Holmes farm, g
! about 4 O'Clock, the wind was how ling
nd the snow diving soross the landscape
, sheets Mrs. Stone got out st the side
ntrsnce and plunged sbiveringly sgainst
10 door, bat turned at once TO her bus
spd with LOOK OF surprise and conster
stion. The door was lockedl So we're
ie front door aud the kitchen door, -
icy speedily discovered.
They're away from home; announced
II. Stone. They've gone visiting, grosn
has vile. Oh desrl do you suppose iPs
ossible they've gone 10 visit usf
Shouldn't wonder q bit, replied Mr.. Q
lone. Come to think OF 1t. | beard
ans laugb, when | went over to The 81
ore 10 Hydeville. ihst sounded like John Il
oImes's. Bot couldn't tell where II u
me from, AMI couldn't zee anybody thai v
oh ed like him. so gave II up. Il
Goosei cried Mira Stone He vas pro b
,bIy over ., Jason S1per's, where they Il
ssys stop -out 10 tie bstp, like {. not o.
you'd only mentioned III Well. We O.
ust Just mske toe besi Of bad Job. ! /
1ow where Maria pn.s the kitchen key q
hen shs's swsy, and se might as we'll go u
aud take possession as they Sill have "a
DO al our bouse, ! reckon. si
The key sss found on nsil under the b
oop, snd Mfs. S.on. proceeded to take /
secession. while her husbsnd stabbed bic 81
rec. When Mr. ssope came 10, be Oh
uud lbe lamps ell lighted sud tis vile ID
9 high siste OF eIc.tsmeut and delight
,ha ,,ras peet AZ ssueiro Gonstn A.tf.ts