"Well, I thought I'd jest mention it, so you could get your present
ready," said Hannah. She nudged Rose violently as she spoke.
"I don't care; I meant to give her a hint," she said, chuckling, when
they were outside. "She can give you something jest as well as not;
she might give you some silver teaspoons, or a table, or sofa. There!
she bought that handsome sofa for herself a few years ago, an' she
didn't need it more'n nothin' at all. I suppose she thought Richard
Alger was comin' steady, but now he's stopped."
Rose was married in a few weeks. The morning of the wedding-day
Sylvia went into Berry's store and called William aside.
"If you can, I wish you'd come 'round by-an'-by with your horse an'
your wood-sled," said she.
"Yes, guess I can; what is it you want?" asked William, eying her
curiously. She was very pale; there were red circles around her eyes,
and her mouth trembled.
"Oh, it ain't anything, only a little present I wanted to send to
Rose," replied Sylvia.
"Well," said William, "I'll be along by-an'-by." He looked after her
in a perplexed way as she went out.
Silas was in the back of the store, and presently he came forward.
"What she want you to do?" he inquired of his son.
William told him. The old man chuckled. "Hannah give her a hint
'tother day, an' I guess she took it," he said.
"I thought she looked pretty poorly," said William--"looked as if
she'd been crying or something.
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