Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-09-17

i
Even the coal was in the CRATES Of the kitchen and
little front parlor, End the closets aud sideboard
were filed with every article which a generous
housekeeper could wish
Sunday came. Phrbc went to church in the
morning aud as there was no afternoon service she
beguiled the time in shifting and changing the
chairs and tables all the house. satisfy her
self in which position they showed to the best ad.
vantage. As the day was chilly she lighted the fire
in the paror, and then filled the iea.ketile in or.
der that the maid Of all work she had hired and
who TO be there at six o'clock, should not have
too much to do.
Now she was in huuer, a terrible nuller, for it
might be that James would not come in, that he
rouM go to the next door, and all this delightful
little mystery would come to nothing, and he have
TO be told, after all, OF all she had DONE in very
humdrum way. She stood peeping through the
outside blinds full half hour watching his com.
ing, and at length she did see him. He appeared
to be thoughtful aud was walking slowly.
ooh, those beautiful blue eyes of his she said to
herself how they will glisen when he hears all
! know he will forgive me, ] know he will-the
very first word will make him forgive mech, how
could be SO cruel about that work.tabe-how
much he felt when he first showed it to me-
So thought Phoebe; and James was now ap.
proaching the house. He was on the opposite side
of the way, aud crossed slowly if heavy of heart,
casting one glance quick one at the house. and
then moving on. By this time Phoebe had opened
the street door and pretended TO be gazing up the
street, and then looked so naturally surprised as
James stood on the steps before her.
oh, James, good afternoon. come income in.
do come said she, with her face like scarlet, he
looked so lendery at her and yet mournfu
Il do not want to 90 in. PhGbe, told you that
the very sight Of the furniture would be painful to
me; | wonder you ask me-
you need not look at the furniture james; you
had nnfh t,y to do he eho.xs 81
you hold down your head and look at them
She held out her hand so bewitchingy, and looked
so unlike the saucy provoking little creature that
had so often lormenled him, that he paused rreso-
lutte, anil went in.
Come here, James, said she, and Huuer, flulter
went her heart-'come aud see the pocket-book
bought for you in Philadelp hia-though, remember
you not to look at the writing inside ill after
teal have written your name in H.
She unlocked the upper drawer of the beautiful
workable and she and James stood side by side,
quite close to one another.
you see, James that the drawers are full Of my
working materials, cotton, silk, needles pins, eve
~ thing, and there, on that little prayerbook lies
your pocketbook'
But this workable does not belong to you.
Phoebe Why have you put your own things in in
Not belong to me should like TO know what
other owner the beautiful table has, and she stoop-
ed down and kissed it,
PhGbe-PhGbe-wha does all this mean You
that despised that tabie-you that almost drove me
mad when | showed il TO YOU
i have kissed it dozen times al least this very
afternoon, james, and mean to keep it as long as
l live
His arm was stealing nsensbly around her waist
as she said this, and there was dreamy thought
floating in his brain that II she could kiss the table,
because she knew he had made it,, he might ven
ture TO kiss her beautiful lips, so he did kiss them
without receiving the slightest opposition.
The hope that now played about his heart proved
too much Tor him, and the strong young man was
obliged to sit down
Phpbe sat close by him on the sofa and cried
piteousy. He began TO feel certainty that she re-
ally loved him. and that his days Of trouble were
nearly over. How could he doubt any longer when
the little ,yrant had thrown herself into his willing
arms
You will forgive me, James--you will forgive
me all have made you suffer-
Forgive lie did not know at that moment that
there was anything TO forgive, if there was, that
kiss and that pressure was proof that all had been
forgiven and forgotten.
Il knew you would, James, kept saying so to
myself all the afternoon, and yet had behaved SO
badly, James, even when loved you most too, that
was afraid you never could
If he could not forgive, why did he press the lii
tie gypsy so close TO his bosom-why did the hon.
You will find when you look in that pocket
book, James, that there is something written in ii
that you would have given your little finger for,
more than year ago-and now suppose that you
are certain Of my love, James, you will make me
pay for all my cruel behavior
oh, Phnbe-Phebe-ho can you ever fancy
such thing-how little do you yet know Of me-
You will never call me a little devil again
James, if | make you ever SO mad, will you
mo, not if you torment me ten times as much
but you will not, my Phebe-you could not afflct
heart that has been so true to yon.'
There was another Fl of crying and more tender
caresses, aud then Phoebe began to recoect that
there were friends anxiousy waiting TO be sent for
for It was getting late. She made James release
her, which he was very unwilling to do, and as the
girl was now in the kitchen, she despatched for
her uncle, aunt, and cousin, and her uncle went
over for the clergyman, and few other friends.
Her uncle gave James ring and whispered 10
him, it was the bridal ring, and that he was 10 be
married that moment. James sprang up in an in
slant Nothing 10th was he if Phoebe consented
and he saw that she did consent, SO they all stood
up, and in short time he became the husband Of
the most provoking little creature in the world,
Then came the pleasant hustle Of tea and 10 see
that bright lace of hers at the head of the iea.tabe
almost set poor James frantic with Joy. He was
slowly taking in the little plot. She then was the
one that had bought the furniture, and here, in this
house, he was TO be her happy husband Wedding
cake was eaten and carried off, the Tea things were
removed, the wedding guests were gone, and James
and his little wife were len alone.
Now James, dear, you shall have The pocket
book she said and you will find that could not
give Il you before She went TO the workable,