The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-03-23
A BRIARLEY HOLIDAY

was considered a fortunate woman. She
had her health, the Bfisrley farm and the
secret Of the Biiarley preserves. Despite
Hsnnshs genuine grief, 1t could not but be
a relief 10 her that her aunt, old Eunice
Briarley, was dead, ard her bitter heart at
rest. she had brought up Hannah from a
child, and It had been no light-hearted girl
hood
Hannah Overton had done hel duty, but
shsckleford bad watched the youth fade
out OF her face, and 1t was glad that at last
she was to have chances chance Of what,
perhaps Shackleford hardly knew, To be
sure, Brisrley Farm was mortgaged, but
there was sale at a good profit 10 Boston
for the Brisrey Jams ard i-lies. Shackle-
ford refused to be anxious over the mort.
gage. 1t was more spprehensive that the
coming Ct the stranger, Lena Pierce, might
10 come way bring trouble to Hannah.
But Lena Pierce brought no trouble. She
was the orphan child Of Eunice Briarley's
fsvorite nephew. and lint hei; with Han
nah o Ogerton to the Briarley Farm. Lena
was brisk, rosy, capable little person Of
twenty. For three years she had support
ed herself as stenographer. Once, when
a little girl, she had visited Brarley Farm,
and ever afterwsrd the visit had remained a
sunny memory, as she walked 10 the city
streets where her lot was cast.
A course Of varied fortunes had taught
Lena adsptability. With an ease that was
amazing she took to her new inheritance
and her new cousin, to the cultivation OF
small fruits and the manufacture OF pre-
serves.
From the first Hannah and Lena were
companionable. For Hannah 1t WAS story
that never grew stale to hear Lena tell OF
the txperi .nces Of her checkered childhood,
story that Lena told with qaaint, de-
tsched amusement, as 1t not been her.
self at all, and always with protecting
tenderness for the pair OF impractical par
ents who had been so helpless and loving.
Hannah's lie seemed strangely mesger be-
eide that Of this girl Of twenty.
I'm afraid you'll be lonely here, Hannah
said, as they sat together on the front
porch 10 the summer twilight.
No, answered l. .na. with decision. Ever
since can remember I've always been
moving, but tli, Is home.
As the weeks went on they grew more
than compap ionable. II seem to each that
she had wanted the other for long time.
Then came on the part Of each an effort
to live up TO the Others opinion OF her.
Hannah had seen bow Lena's keen yourg
eyes looked through people; she had heard
her forming Judgments and showed re.
lentless common sense. Would those keen
eyes see through Hsunah herself one day
She thinks I'm Brisrley groaned Han
nah. She's all Brisrley herself. ! did
think This summer might get some rest,
but thouldn't dare, with her 10 the house.
That's the Brairley Of II
Sadly enough Hannah remembered how
often her old Aunt Eunice had said that II
hands haa been more capabie
and her feet swifter. there need never have
been mortgage ou Bri.rley Farm. o that
mortgage. How Hannah ha,ed II
Yet that summer che toiled as she Tad
never toiled before aud all btcaute here
had come Into her lie young person, en-.
ergetic. ferceiy hating tloth, q young per-
son merry and full OF cheer and good to
have about, who looked a. Hannah with
eyes full Of admiration and Of love.
On her fret arrival LeLs had given the
accounts ,f the fam a sharp inspection.
She had found cut The suels Of The Briar.
ley preserves AID the imouIt Of the mort. |
gage. The iies q lhe mortgage was bid
eous 70 her. She and her cousin would
work until they got rid Il II and the Btiir.
ley Farm was lhehs
THEREFORE Lens learned the secrets Of
ttrawberry Iunners, ard tie thinning Of
bu bes, and clad 10 b'ue pima
tore, toIled over the sissming sifups until,
10 oue ,boit sumner, htr current Jelly |
qasl,d Hannsh's and her blsek rsipberry
,m was jast shade better.
But II vas really al very res - her, and
her f'isietey sss At lbe ceit ofa itrict
seif.ciscipliIe. Ste sssbers al lsst nu ihe
Briarley Farm, that f.iri I,Dd II h'r child.
hood, snf, siles Lena sss but tseniy and
had never had line 10 be young. the farm
Itse'f spptsled TO her siih 80 inioIisstiog
delight.
wha, place ;be sppie orchard WAS for
dreaming Ba, appies, Lena had to remem-
ber. meant beautiful amber Jelly. and ,ily
uesa, dollars, And dollars meant mortgage