Stories by American Authors (Volume 4)Woolson, Constance Fenimore
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Stories by American Authors (Volume 4)
Woolson, Constance Fenimore
Short stories, American; United States -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
I am come to y^e laste Entrie I shall ever putt downe in y^s Booke, and
needes must y^t I putt it downe quicklie, for all hath Happ'd in so
short a Space, y^t my Heade whirles w. thynkinge of it. Y^e after-noone
of Yesterdaye, I set about Counterfeittinge of a Head-Ache, & so wel
did I compasse it, y^t I verilie thinke one of y^e Twinnes was mynded
to Stay Home & nurse me.--All havinge gone off, & Clarence on his waye
to Islipp, I sett forth for y^e Churche, where arriv'd I founde it
emptie, w. y^e Door open.--Went in & writh'd on y^e hard Benches a 1/4
of an Houre, when, hearinge a Sounde, I look'd up & saw standinge in
y^e Door-waye, Katherine Ffrench.--She seem'd muche astonished, saying
You Here! or y^e lyke.--I made Answer & sayde y^t though my Familie
were greate Sinners, yet had they never been Excommunicate by y^e
Churche.--She sayde, they colde not Putt Out what never was In.--While
I was bethynkinge me wh. I mighte answer to y^is, she went on, sayinge
I must excuse Her, She wolde goe upp in y^e Organ-Lofte.--I enquiring
what for? She sayde to practice on y^e Organ.--She turn'd verie Redd,
of a warm Coloure, as She sayde this.--I ask'd Do you come hither
often? She replyinge Yes, I enquir'd how y^e Organ lyked Her.--She
sayde Right well, when I made question more curiously (for She grew
more Redd eache moment) how was y^e Action? y^e Tone? how manie Stopps?
Wh^at She growinge gretelie Confus'd, I led Her into y^e Churche, &
show'd Her y^t there was no Organ, y^e Choire beinge indeede a Band, of
i Tuninge-Forke, i Kitt, & i Horse-Fiddle.--At this She fell to
Smilinge & Blushinge att one Tyme.--She perceiv'd our Errandes were y^e
Same, & crav'd Pardon for Her Fibb.--I tolde Her, If She came Thither
to be Witness at her Frend's Weddinge, 'twas no greate Fibb, 'twolde
indeede be Practice for Her.--This havinge a rude Sound, I added I
thankt y^e Starrs y^t had bro't us Together. She sayde if y^e Starrs
appoint'd us to meete no oftener y^n this Couple shoude be Wedded, She
was wel content. This cominge on me lyke a last Buffett of Fate, that
She shoude so despitefully intreate me, I was suddenlie Seized with so
Sorrie a Humour, & withal so angrie, y^t I colde scarce Containe
myselfe, but went & Sat downe neare y^e Doore, lookinge out till
Clarence shd. come w. his Bride.--Looking over my Sholder, I sawe y^t
She wente fm. Windowe to Windowe within, Pluckinge y^e Blossoms fm. y^e
Vines, & settinge them in her Girdle.--She seem'd most tall and faire,
& swete to look uponn, & itt Anger'd me y^e More.--Meanwhiles, She
discours'd pleasantlie, askinge me manie questions, to the wh. I gave
but shorte and churlish answers. She ask'd Did I nott Knowe Angelica
Roberts was Her best Frend? How longe had I knowne of y^e Betrothal?
Did I thinke 'twolde knitt y^e House together, & Was it not Sad to see
a Familie thus Divided?--I answer'd Her, I wd. not robb a Man of y^e
precious Righte to Quarrell with his Relations.--And then, with
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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