Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-05-25

VINO ever heard of a wedding trip
without a hotel!
She decided to stay three days, per-
haps four and she looked fondly at
the little round ring on the map,
which contained so many delightful
possibilities
Then she would close the book and
20 to bed only to dream of wonderful
electrician rides to the moon.
At last the great day came. 1t
dawned clear and cloudless, and
very happy Matilda climbed the stairs
for her treasure. JoyOusly she grasped
the precious pile with eager hands,
then looked ruefully at the empty spot
in the drawer She hesitated mo-
ment quickly found the dingy nickel
and smiled content as she placed 1t
back In its old corner and closed the
drawer.
With trembling hands she arrayed
herself in her wedding garments and
seated herself on the doorstep to wait
for the stage.
Matilda Jones looked almost hand
some this morning, with her cheeks
so pink" said a pretty girl on the
| back seat to her companion, as the
coach stopped for its passenger.
"Why, Nellie" said Matilda to this
same pretty girl, as she clambered in,
IAN | going to have you to ride with?
That will be nice. I'm sure ~
Eyes, I am going up to the junction
n In
pretty busy these days" said she, with
an adorable blush which suddenly re-
! minded Matilda that it was nearing
| Nellte's wedding day. This warmed
| her heart to her at once, for was she
not on her own wedding trip? She
beamed anew on Nellie as she settled
herself comfortably for the two-mle
drive.
! How the sun shone and the birds
sang, and how good the air was to
! breathe.
care YOU going away for long. Miss
| Matilda?" inquired Nellie politely
"No-only little trip" she replied,
| trying to look unconcerned. as If trips
Wee an everyday occurrence with
her: but the red deepenpd in her
cheeks, and her voice trembled little
rs she asked abruptly:
"Where are you going to take your
Wedding trip dear?"
The girl colored painfully.
'We can't take any at all, Miss Ma
tilda-isn't it dreadful?' and the
young face looked pinChed and drawn
with woe. You see, Jim's money,
that he'd been saving up to go with,
got all burned up in the fire, and-and
we've had to give it up" she fin
ished with a wall that clearly told her
disappointment.
Miss Matilda sat very still. She
thought her heart had stopped beat
ing-then it gave BIZ thump, and
there was strange, tight feeling in
her throat. She did not say anything
and by and by Nellie looked out at
the scenery with grieved expression
on her pretty face. When they
reached the junction, the young girl
turned Der head, and said cOnstraln-
eddy, as she jumped lightly from the
coach: Il hope you'll have a nice
time, Miss Matilda"
THANK YOU" she murmured with
out smiling, and Clambered slowly
down. Then she walked along the
platform, and sat down on an old set
tee on the shady side of the building.
BY and by a train rumbled in
shook itself of passengers-gathered
new lot-and rumbled out again. One
-twO-three trains did the same
thing, and the forlOrn little woman
still sat on the old settee.
Didn't you want to take one o.
them trains?" goOd-naturedly asked
the blue-coated man, who had been
curiously watching her for some time.
She looked at him with dull eyes,
and shook her head
When the stage coach made its
evening trip to the village Nellie was
surprised to find Miss Matilda on the
back seat.
"Why, | didn't expect to see you so
soon! Didn't you go?" asked the
young girl pleasantly.
"No, l had-I had a headache-I
mean a throatache," stammered Ma
tilda in confusion.
The next night Nellie burst into her
mothers room with an excited face
holding an open letter and a paste
board box in her hand.
"Mother-what do you think!
told Miss Matilda yesterday how we
couldn't take any wedding trip, and
she never said a word and then
felt real cross, cause l thought she
didn't care a bit r but just see what
that dear old maid has done"
My Dear Nellie:
| think wedding trips are the incest
things in the world, and l don't want you
to give up yours. l had a little extra
money that I did not know what to do
WITH so | send 1t to'you for your wedding
trip, l hore you will have nice time.
Your friend
MATILDA JONES.
Ana Nellie's tears dropped fast on