Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-01-13

ONtAAN 0bNh wv hChtY NV ~ h0hf0 " ]
once to take him home with him to supper.
Miller was a dashing business young fellow,
who kept a store about a mile and a half
from Wilder's, and was reputed to be worth
some five or six thousand dollars. lie had
heretofore been a frequent visiter at Wilder's
house, and there was q time when his at
%tentions to Debby, were such as to cause
Mr.. Wilder to expect that the thrifty young
trader would become his son-in-aw. Debby
however was not sufficiently pleased with
him to encourage his attentions, and for
some time past his visits had been ~discontin-
ued.
"Good afternoon Mr.. Miller" said Wild
er, presenting his hand 'glad to see you,
how do you do? fine day, this"
Eyes, fine day. said Miller, excellent
weather for crops; how are you all at
home P'
"0uite well, thank ye," said Wilder
Come you must 90 down to the house with
me. Why have you been such a stranger
lately 2"
ooh, I've generally been pretty busy"
said Miller, %coloring a little, 81 don't get
much time to visit"
swell, YOU must 90 down to the house
with me now, and stop to supper said
Wilder "you can have nothing to prevent
you to day, Pm sure"
Miller colored still deeper; said he did
not think he could stop he only came out
to take a bit of a walk. and did not think Of
going any farther than the top of the hill
where they now stood. Mr.. Wilder now
ever would not take mo- for an answer, and
after considerable importantly he pre-
vailed upon Miller to accept his invitation
and they descended the hill together and
went INTO the house.
"Debby, here's Mr.. Miller" said Wilder
as they entered the parlor.
Debby rose, handed a chair, and said good
evening but her face was covered with
bushes, and she returned again to her seat.
As Miller seated himself in the chair, he
glanced across the room and recognized
Joseph Nelson. The two young men nod
ded at each other, and both seemed some
what embarrassed
"Where's your mother, Debby ?" said
Mr.. Wilder "Mr. Miller's going to stop to
supper"
At this moment Mrs. Wilder entered the
room.
GLOW does thee do, Henry ~ said she,
presenting her hand, 81 am glad to see
thee | hope thy mother is we'll"
every well indeed" said Miller, and after
a few more remarks, Mrs. Wilder retired to
superintend the preparations of supper.
Excuse me, Mr.. Miller, a little while ~
said Mr.. Wilder, 81 want to 90 and show
Joseph that field of corn of mine we were
looking at, back of the hill. According tc
my notion it is the stoutest piece there is il
the town. Come, Joseph, go up and look
at it,"
81 think it is the stoutest piece Pve seer
this year." said Joseph; 81 saw it about
week ago"
ooh, it's gained amazingly within aweek,'
said Mr.. Wilder, "come, go up and look a
it,"
Joseph was altogether 'unaccustomed t.
such attentions from Mr.. Wilder, and h,
looked not a little confused as he took hi
hat and followed him to the door. The
went up the road, and Mr.. Wilder took hin
all around the field of corn, and examine,
hill after hill, and looked into the other fields
and found a hundred things to stop and lool
at, and talked more to Joseph than he ha,
II OclOlG fluI SIN liOlllllS. JOSCDI SuSDtCtCt
that this walk was undertaken by Mr. Wilde
t for the purpose Of leaving Miller and Debb
( in the room together, but he bore it all pa
: %tiently, and answered all Mr. Wilder's re
marks about his crops and his fields with ap
, parent interest, for he knew too well tn
state of Debby's feelings, both toward him
self and toward Miller, to feel any uneasi
ness. At length Mr. Wilder concluded SUP
y per must be nearly ready, and they returne
to the house. On entering the parlor the
found Miller alone, reading a newspaper
y Mr. Wilder looked yexed.
"What, all alone, Mr. Miller ?" said Wi
a der; 81 shouldn't have staid so long, but
thought Debby would amuse you till We &C
back"
. "Miss Debby had some engagement tn;
required her attention. said Miller, ''an
: asked to be excused but | have found my
self quite interested in this newspaper"
Wilder went out and met his wife in tn
G hall, and asked her how long it had bee
n since Debby left Mr. Miller alone in the pal
= lor.
"She left in three minutes after thee wer
OUT SAID Mrs Wilder, "and couldn't pei
suade her to go back again. She said sh
knew thee went out on purpose to leave he
d and Henry alone there together, and sh
e would not stay. It's no use, William, thes
g things always will have their own way, an
y it's no use trying to prevent it,"
d The supper passed off rather silently an
e rather awkwardly. Mr. Wilder endeayore
to be sociable and polite to Mr. Miller, an
is Debby performed many little silent acts {
n politeness toward Joseph, and Mrs Wilde
A. as usual was mild and complaisant to ALL
IF But an air of embarrassment pervaded ii
whole company, and when they rose from I'll