The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-05-08

howard, as the stage door was thrown
open; but instantly he recognized her
lovely features, shaded by a large bon
net. As he assisted her in alighting he
could scarce repress an expression of sur
prise at her grotesque appearance, while
she ingeniously said:
am glad to see you, dear uncle, but
no doubt you are surprised at my trav-
cling equipage. Do not remove nv
baggage, as perhaps you will not APP
prove of the assumed character which
circumstances compel me to act if re-
main with YOU
She then explained all in regard to
the letter, and what had been overheard
by the bearer, and closed by saying that
since she had sent compliments, she
had thought best to come but if such a
part as she proposed to act would be in
the least unpleasant to him, she would
depart.
by no means!n replied her uncle:
your plot is excellent; and, though |
can scarce bear TO see you do violence to
the refinement of your feelings and thus
veil your superior loveliness, vet doubt
not ii is one that will greatly assist in
curing the serious faults of my child
faults which conceal her very virtue
and viii assist you to the utmost of nv
power
During all this time, peeping from
the window above, was poor Emily. and
as she witnessed the dismounting, the
removal of baggage, etc, her appear
ance was quite a. laughable a. that of
her cousins, and her remarks much
more so
80 horrible - she exclaimed, raising
both hands and looking as if she scarce
knew whether to laugh or cry, rs Louisa
first made her appearance, what large
bonnet And IA to her outside dress
| really believe it is her old fathers big
farmer coat. Well, well, papa need not
have feared smiling lips and honied
words from me, for, hypocrite as he
thinks me, could not have assumed
them, but should have laughed, in spite
of myself, in her face, which, of course,
is a. big and homely as her bonnet. The
provoking creature what assurance
do see her lean on his arm And the
baggage is, am sure, precisely like that
of the fat Irish women, who always
come to service in a stage-cOach, with
just such an old handbook tied up in
rag, only she has got rusty umbrella.
| suppose she thought nl0bbg her cous-
in Emily had none, and this is jest the
thing to kiUer US both in our rainy walks,
It's too bad too bad" and tears began
TO flow.
At this moment Sir Edward Walton
the son of wealthy marquis, who
was visiting at Mr.. WilmOt's-was an
nounced, and hastily drying her tears
and arranging her dress with studied
negligence, she proceeded to the draw
ing-roOm where he was awaiting her.
A look of undisguised admiration from
him rewarded her trouble, and forget
ting all her anXieties in regard 10 her
country cousin, she was soon rapturous-
ly listening TO his glowing and refined
conversation.
In the meantime Louisa had been
busily Engaged in decorating, or rather
disfiguring herself for the pursuance Of
her plan. Her beautiful brown hair
had been drawn back from her forehead
and its Iuxuriant tresses confined with
an immense tortoise shell comb di
rectly across her fair brow was bound a
row of short, stiff, artificial curls, secur-
red by black fillet, which was tied
back of the ear with pink bow. Her
dress, which in no ways fitted her ele-
CANT form, was of calico, gaily striped
with yellow and green /; her waist WIS
encircled by red sash, fastened with
an old fashioned brass belt-buckle. To
complete the arrangements, pair of
mits encased her delicate hands and
green shoes sat loosely on her feet.
While Sir Edward and Emily were
still enjoying their charming fete-d-tete,
the door was thrown open and the glow
ing country lass stood courtseying be-
fore them. Emily was so shocked she
was unable to rise ; but, not at all dis
comfitted. Miss Louisa approached, and
throwing her arms about her neck inn
printed a smack on her cheek, which
resounded through the room like the
bursting of a bottle of beer; and with
out taking breath, she exclaimed
~ told you I'd come, dear cousin
Emily, and | meant to. Ever since
nv uncle Charles was at our house, I've
been wanting to. He told me all about
YOU. but he never so much as told me
YOU had BROTHER advancing to Sir
Edward with extended hand, saying in
an under tone, "well, so much the bet
teri
Poor Emily vainly essayed to speak,
and Sir Edward, noticing her embar-
rassment, with assumed gravity, while
he took her extended hand, informed
her of her mistake.
"Oh, pardon me, " she replied, start
ing back and then cycling them both
in the face, she said, " but you look as
near alike as two peas, only Miss Emily
is so pale: and marching across the
room with the air of one perfectly at
home and fixing her eyes on a rich vel
vet-covered easy-chair, she said, "what
an WeQent cheer! but | s'pose you've
no objection TO my sitting in it now I've
got on my best new gown. And so COM
Portable tool" she continued, as she
threw herself into il; and placing her
hands Oh her knees, with her mouth
half open, she stared about the room
and freely expressed her admiration OF
its embellished beauties, declaring it
was unlike anything she had ever
dreamed of. At length as if recollect-
ing herself, she started up and said:
"But come, Emily, where is your
piannay your father told me about? I'd
iike too see sich a wonderful thing that
speaks music right OUT" and familiarity
seizing her hand, she continued, "c0me
don't be so stupid, you know you've
got to show me everything new, and
that will be no small task, for every
thing in city is new to us country
folks. s'pOse / shall be asked to plen-
ty of frolics, candy scrapes and cuttings,
and all that sort of thing, and I've
brought lots of pretty clothes to wear.
/ know you will be quite proud of me ;
and as to the beaux, why, up where |
live, they think Iam-but there, won't
brag-you'll see what | can dc"
At this juncture, Sir Edward, whose
generosity would not allow of his tor
turing Miss Emily, babe them good
morning. and withdrew, though il
must be admitted he had enjoyed the
simplicity of the little rustic.
What pity ~ said he to himself as
he turned away, 'that such pretty
little creature" flor despite of her dis
guises she was beautiful, with eyes
as soft as the doves, and teeth of pearls
half concealed by such sweet lips, and
complexion whose purity might excite
the envy of even the beautiful Emily
Howard, what pity that she is so ig-
norant and so singulariy devoid of taste
in her personal adorningsl And her
voice. despite the coarse things it ut
tured, its musical sweetness thrilled my
heart! Well it is for her that she is I'M
der the protection ofas influential man
as Mr.. Howard, for in this vile city, pos
sessed of such fresh beauty connected
with such ignorance of the ways Of the
world, it were next to impossible that
she should escape unframed from the
seductive wiles of some one of these
monsters who are ever on the alert to
lure from virtues path the young and
innocentv