Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-08-25


the neighboring parapet there appeared 3
black silhouette, and the arr was rent VIII
a terrific wall 1t was nothing more ap'
lpallina than the cat Of No. engaged IN q
Ituneful promenade on the roofs; but to our
young people, absorbed in their tduail SOL
itude, the sound was startling &c the ,asi
degree. Tina started up, but missing hel
footing, fell upon the slippery shingles
her beads escaping, rolled slowly down
ward and she gave little cry, nail Of
pain; half OF vexation, but its effect upoT
| Fred was irresistible. Forgetting his iu'
cognito and everything else, he sprans tC
( her assistance, raised her, recovered tn
rosary end placed it in her hand, all In
moment, while, pale and startled, sh'
leaned against the chimney unable to noy'
or speak.
Are you hurt p he inquired, anxious
ly. A gesture answered him and he con
tinued, the color mounting to his forehead
but with the unmistakable tone of a gentle
man l ought TO ask your pardon for no
letting you know before that l was here
but the truth is, ! came as you did, viii
the intention ofwatching the Hietsoric shoss
ery and when found there was a lady o.
the next roof, | thought it a shame to an
noy or interrupt her by coming forward
I'm afraid, though, [ have frightened you
by appearing in this sudden way; but
really couldn't help it when | saw you
fall
Pray, don't apologize any further said
the soft voice, with a perceptible tremble
in its tones.
Good Heaven = cried Fred you are
hurt You can hardly stand. Pray, sit
down again. will 20 away directly if
you say so, and if you are sure you are
able to get in alone.
No. please murmured Tina, sinking
again into her seat, for the poor child
could sustain herself no longer. am
not hurt only startled little; it will 90
off in a moment.
If you are quite sure, perhaps | had
better 90 mutterod the unwilling Fred,
making slight movement in that dircc-
tion.
Tina held out her hand to stop him.
Don't 20 away You will be sorry to
miss the meteors and l am going in il
rectly, as soon a am little rested, 50
that you can do 80 without Interruption
Thank YOU; but you must not let re
drive you away
Not at all replied Tina
And then silence fell upon them.
Not long one. Two meteOrs flashed
simultaneously and in their mutual ez-
clamation, as they noted them, much Of the
embarrassment of the occasion evaporatoi.
What wonderful things they are said
she; but didn't you expect there would
be a great many more by this time -
HIM docking at his watch,) Well, yes
but il Is carly yet-the exact time was no.
indicated. you know
Is it so early inuocentiy
Early for meteors, evasively. In fact
he was in no haste to have the night pass,
and from this moment carefully rcfralhed
from consulting his time-piecc.
Another whIz-two more bright oo1ccte
shot in view. That makes five said
Tina.
i don't feel s1re about those, replied
Fred, or the first two They don't seem
to me exactly right
Don't they Why, what could they
be p
Rockets. In fact, twas proved extday
that the boys at the Seminary had amused
themselves by occasional fireworks during
their watch.
Rockets" " with a laugh. Well, I
hope everybody who Is keeping count has
seen them, or l shall feel a if l cheated if
| WIN my wager.
Did you have wager tao p
Did You p
Yes, pair Of gloves.
Ours was chocolate
That's funny They both laughed
grew more and more easy.
What lovely old town this Is = said
the young lady.
Have you been here long
Only a fortnight this time but long
ago, when | was little, l spent almost two
years with my aunt, Miss Perkins.
Two years /" cried Fred, with flash of
Why it cannot be--no 4!
you're not little Christie
Yes | am, though, Mr. Binney didn't
you remember me? ! guessed who you
we're right away.
What stupidity" slapping his fore
,
Yes, that Is Daisy's name for me; but
| am Chrissie still TO everybody else.
And it is not at all strange that you did
not find me out for, you see, aunty has
been telling me all about you since L was
here, and how you were expected home
from colege-indeed, | caught a glimpse
of you the day you came, from the window
so was prepared to end you grown up,
while YOU Of course remembered me as
little Chrissie, who used to play hide and
seek with you in the asparagus bushes
And tag subjoined Fred and dolls
funeral in the garden. Do you not remem-
Der our walking in procession with black
shawls on, chanting Mother Goose behind
the coffin ?
Yes, and your hanging Dolly on the
pear-tree, and my coming at the last gasp
to cut her down? And do you remember
the big swing ?
And so on. All these don't you re-
members were so interesting that time
few by uuperceived. Tina said, two or
three times, It must be getting late.
am afraid | ought to CO. But Fred, who
was in a state of bewitchment, and only
wished the present hour would last forever,
arrested her flight by torrent Of remlnis-
cences, and she fingered Artlessly she
told him about herself-her life since their
her mothers death, their quiet
home in her grandmother's house, Daisy's
cunning ways, and the tie which bound the
motherless sisters ogether-revealing IN
her innocent condolences such a sweet
blending of child and woman that Fred
was inexpressibly touched and captivated.
With similar frankness he unfolded his own
plans and hopes, waxing into eloquence un-
der the candid eyes lifted to his so fear,
lessly Now and then meteor interrupted
the flow of conversation, bat only for mo-
ment, and still the promised shower de-
layed.