Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-06-14

''''h tN' iA"''f M li's t1t'h
pie Crisp as frost, foaming white, except
where heat had kissed it into brown, with
edge 80 trinity, so exactly cut, and middle
adorned with wondrous twirl of paste, en-
bodyng the initial pa marvellous piel--
a pie to make the mouth water, and put an
appetite under the ribs of dyspepsia. Long
and lovingly did Polly gaze on this chef.d'-
cure before committing it to the topmost
shelf in the pantry, and then rapidly restor-
ing all to its pristine tidiness, she fed up
stairs for there was a hat to be trimmed
housckeepcr though she was, Polly was no
less a grl-a girl Of eighteen, and what was
more, the prettest girl Of eighteen in Cohasset
Something was due to this eminent position.
So, shut into her room, she sat adjusting
the killing little feather on the new turban,"
turning now and then to survey the effect in
morsel Of a looking glass and by.and.by as
the driited gold began to gather round the
sunset, o sound came on the wind-the dis
tant shrek Of a locomotive The train ar
rived at The Junction" four miles away.
Far above the woods she could see the dim
blue smoke. Down went the new hat, and
lovely smile parted her lips. That shrek
meant-Phi and question If Beethovens
finest sonata could at that moment have SEEM
ed more musical--so true is it that at time.
we listen with an inward ear to which all
sounds are mclodious if they suggest things
we love
Phil had come The thought awoke with
her next morning aud lent its spring to the
many small businesses which ushered in the
day, II was for him she rubbed the crimson
apples till they shone, heaped the grape clust-
ers so tastefully, and crowned the vases with
chrysanthemums and gay leaves. The candles
she inserted in the tall. plated branches, should
brighten the room when he entered, the no.
Bile hickory logs should warm, the polished
andirons please his eye. She lent her whole
heart to the icing-.Phil liked loaf cake
And if ever the spirit of Lady Mary Wort.
ley's sentiment was carried out--if ever
room ceased to be a room, dinner a dinner
1t was now, when, Transmitted by tender al
chemy, the old farm house took on a higher
meaning, and Mrs Pursalls nuts and apples
became indeed the refreshment provided for
beloved one
All things in order at last a merry party
set of for church-Father, mother, brother
james, his wife and chid--frst instalment
Of the family gathering-and in the midst
Polly. The sun shone crisp leaves rustled
under FOOT in all Cohasset was no blither face
than that crowned by the new turban, as our
little maid took her seat in the gallery front
row as one of the village choir How every.
thing seemed to smile She loved the world;
she loved the governor for arranging this de-
lightful day day which made so many
people happy.
1t was early. The melodeon was playing
low, droning voluntary the green curtains
were half drawn-plenty of chance for the
choir to peep out and to whisper, thing that
all choirs like to do.
[ say, Polly, where did you get that
feather p asked her neghbor. =" | only
wish somebody would give me one. It's just
elegant
Mother bought it," said Polly, her eye
on the door.
"Who are you looking for, Polly? Your
mother There she is now What good
looking woman James wife is, isn't she e9"
" suppose you have heard the news,
Polly ?" broke in another whisper from be-
hind. 4" The news about Phil Ralston ?"
" No. What do you mean?" (" with sudden
interest.
d" He came up last night you know; and
what do you think he brought with him but a
T wife The old folks didn't know n word
! about it. Wasn't it a fine Thanksgiving sur.
f prise ?"
"How did you hear ? asked Polly, faint.
y, with white lips
A." Steve saw them-our Steve, you know
He came in the same train, and there wa:
Phil getting out with his wife, and the old
Squire meeting them, and looking so sur
prised and Phil, he said, Father, I've got
a new daughter to introduce to you And
/ then some more in low voice, which Steve
couldn't hear and the Squire he almos
, cried, and he shook hands, and said, Your,
e welcome, my dear. That was all Steve saw
. for he had to come away but Uncle ReubeI
was up to the Squire's in the evening about
e load of hay and Phi's wife came in, and tn,
Squire introduced her My sons wife, h,
said, and looked real pleased, for all he hadn'
been told beforehand. Here they are
5 Look, Polly, just coming in"
For a moment oil swan before Polly
A eyes Then the mist cleared again, and sh
y saw Squire Rastons white head passing u
: the aisle, followed by his sister, a dear oil,
lady who kept house for him then Phil, ant
:. by his side lady. With unnatural FIRE il
+; her blue eyes she scanned the stranger, notinl
!. the clear olive cheek, the graceful, undula
ting walk, the gait, which even to her mex
perienced vision, seemed something rich am
i. foreign. That, then, was Phil's wife, th
3 woman he preferred to all others. And wit
Q sudden power of hatred, Polly felt that sh
/. hated her All the sweet, even pulses Of he
noble nature seemed turned into bitternes
e and fire
"She looks old for Phil, doesn't she ?
il whispered the other girl.
:. She did, but how beautiful And still, a
d the service went on, what a mockery it Al
G seemed-the prayer iu which she did not joir
! the sermon which spoke Of people as thank
e tul, happy! She rose with the others, sh
q bent her head, and all the time somethin
Q tangled in her ears the one phrase, " Phil
!. if she could not bear Il. Long afterwar,
n when she was happy again, that wretchs
D. morning would come back to her as visions
l. fever to returning health; little things 81
h was unconscious of noticing--a late csnk
r worm walking up Mary Jane Oaks bonn,
I string; the scrap of newspaper left on De
}. con Bunkers face from his morning Shawn
r. and on which could be plainly read, " Lost al
.e Strayed,n with the after clew Of heifer" ju
Q, below. She remembered the exact positit
n in which Phil stood rs he held the hym
1, book open for his-wife Once he half tar
/. ed and glanced at the gallery. That was :
Il much Polly drew tight the green curtai
il and looked no more.
+ You're pale to-day" whispered the frieu
ID y gossip in the rear, or else your hat isr
ID becoming"
If This reused her pride. Bad as it was to
r miserable, it was worse to be pitied; she bit
lg lips till they were red, and taking advanta
ne of the last prayer, am sorry to say) iuaici
G. upon her cheeks a series of fnrtiye pincl
lis which restored their bloom. Coming do,
or stairs with the rest, she saw, she was sur
as Phil lingering as If to speak. Cruel insu
!, ing, she would not see Leaning on Jane
ld arm, chatting, laughing, all bloom and amin