Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-20
Thomas Elliot's Speculations.

A liyerystable bostler meanwhile held,
hard by, two very correct steeds, duly
eouipped with saddle and side-saddle.-
A curious big, red, full-eyed Irish dam
sci, very frowsy about the hair, opened
the door.
Thomas is an impatient man. AS the
door opened he said, Come, Lily +!
Hurry Every minute
.An' its not Miss Lily that's in it at
ALL said the Celtic lady, with grin and
in harsh, dry voice, as If her throat
were lined with the best double-B sand
paper. And there was queer look in
her big, bold, prominent eyes, as she ad-
ded, The misthress sez Miss Lily won't
see yez thin And therewithal she sed-
ulously framed in her very solid person
into the opening of the door. Thomas
Elliot is good young man certainly
But he certainly used bad word about
this time--no matter what. He, howev-
er, speedily showed his self-control by
extracting from his pocket shining
bali dollar, which be inserted into the
hand Of the princess Margaret-tor such
at least with him and Lily, was the lofty
style and title of the damsel of the door.
And withal be winked. A certain visi-
BILE modification might now be seen TO
pervade the hard face Of the princess
Margaret, and she grinned. Then the
enterprising Thomas, with barefaced as
sumption, said in loud voice, mot ready
yet? I'll wait in the hail. And thus
pretending, be thrust forward in such
wise that the princess was in a manner
obliged to make way, and he entered
But with a disagreeable sensation he
said to himself, There's surely something
wrong And there was.
What may be termed a simultaneous
dialogue was in progress at the head OF
the stairs, executed in duetto by the stri-
dent soprano of Mrs. Grigg and the low
pitched. full, clear alto of Miss Lily,
both earnest and half audible in that
smothered tone which we use when we
are apprehensive that an appropriate
third party may hear US, but when we
are too angry to care much il be does.
Tom stood, half-hearing and uneer-
tain, in the pure receptivity of an unex-
pecting spectator. The princess Marga-
ret had disappeared to her depths. An
angry beauty, in riding habit and cap
and feather, holding up her long skirts,
tripped harriedly down stairs, her face
flushed, and eyes sparkling and dewey
with anger and tears-too exalted in her
mingled passions to care for forms.
Come, Tom, she said, and held out
her hand, i sOW see you once?
And she led him into the parlor and
shut the door. 1t is a modification to be
obliged to add that Mrs. Grigg came
softly down stairs and listened at the key
hole; but satisfaction TO add further
that, in spite of her listening, she could
hear nothing at all.
Old Grigg--it would be vain TO deny
that he is known in the street as Pig
Grigg--is in the general commission bu-
siness, and worth money a big man,
oldlsh, fat, with pendulous jowls, heavy
of eyelid, bald of head, wigged, thick of
neck, forid, full-blooded, as hot as gin
ger, as obstinate as a pyramid, harsh,
vulgar, greasy eater, uneducated, yet
withal shrewd, energetic, strong, large
faculties, and successful in business
Mrs. Grigg shows the frame of good
face and figure is dry and sharp and
thin and pale as cheapest Rheinwein f; a
sad scold, I'm afraid penurious and
imperious. She and her husband are
good-bad examples of the American So
cial and business life perversions of first
rate natural gifts, physical and mental.
But violets grow in barn-yard.-
These two pernicious elders certainly in
troduced into this world, and long main
tanned upon their premises, one of the
most delightful daughters ever known
Lily Grigg. The daughters graceful
baptismal name was, perhaps, the last
faint foweret OF the romance of her
poor, dried-up mothers departed youth.
She is of middle-size, plump with long,
abundant, wavy dark-brown hair, having
warm bright CLEAN in it where the
light strikes it, as if it had dreamed oi
being a clear gold-red. Her skin is thin
and fine and clear, and she has plenty Of
swift warm blood so that her complexion
is rosy, pure, translucent-like melted
glass and red roses all mingled. 1t is q
rare complexion. I never saw but two
others like it; and one belonged to a
Clerk of Court, and the other to a
strong-minded female lecturer. How