Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-11-22


it a lovely frame for beautiful faces anC
graceful forms? Can you wonder TIE ole
home was transfgnred under the magic o
such influences, and that a proud hostess
greeted the new corners, as by twOs and tens
they all gathered under the rOof-tree? Every
nook was filled, from the great .'spare
chamber double bedded for the occasion
to the old mahogany crib for baby Maud
Well, all went on finely, till just as VIZ
were about TO march in grand procession tc
the Thanksgiving feast, the door burst open
and to our great surprise, merry Rollie Hay
don, my youthful nephew, in all the pride
and promise Of nearly attained majority
walked in, with
- How are you all, good kinsfolk, and my
blessed Auntie? | was determined to come,
if it took leg, and though it was hard to
get off, | did it and here s my chum, Mr.
Richard Delamore, who insisted upon bring
ing to see a genuine Thanksgiving. lie pro.
tested, but | knew you'd give him hearty
welcome, and we could find a shake-down
somewhere, in barn or cellar. So make
| yourself at home, Dick" Whereat the
audacious youth piroutted across the room
and demanded a Cousins right from all the
! teminines present, young and old in the
midst Of which confusion | went to greet and
welcome our new guest, who was a self
| possessed, handsome fellow, with a singu-
| larly attractive expression.
lie was soon on an easy footing with all
and we were delighted at the pleasant ac
cession TO our numbers. His conversational
powers were brought into exercise at table,
and a very merry feast we had, Tor our young
! people were many, and the elders were reluve-
mated by the spirit of the day and hour
| Rolle and Mr. DelamOre were studying law
in the same Office, ard seemed 20 feel greater
stone and Barbour. There was no end Of
! jokes and repartee and when all rose from
the table. Rollie caught blushing Miss KITTY
about the waist and waltzed down the long
dining room into the parlor. Dick looked
very much as though he would like 10 fol
low, but contentci himself with Offering
his arm TO a fair neighbOr and walking rap
idly alter them.
d" / say, let's have "a walk" said Rollie.
Come, girls, get your wraps, and LETT
have a tramp TO settle our dinner We
gentlemen can't smoke here, and we don I
care To lose your charming society, 50 it is
but 'air YOU should JOIN US. Aunt Jeanette.
| speak for you and kltty for my escorts ,
who'll follow my lead - The proposition
was met by general stampede for wraps
which was evidence plain that 1t received ap-
proval and after keeping my nose 80 long
i4tiE NliE hAAtl1ii Aiits htiS E4dA enough 10
sniff the crisp, clear air. So We strOllcd of
by tw1s and threes, wheresoever We listed.
R5llie ahead, with Kitty IN a bewitching
little turban, with its saucy red wing perked
on one side, and the most jauntv Jacket Of
glossy seal skin, while sober | hung on for
ballast To this gIddy young couple.
e" Oh, Aunt Jean, this is perfectly Jolly
and the dear daft fellow evidently thought |
tancicd it an all-broad remark. referring 70
earth and sky when / knew verv well IL was
solely stimulated by the bright brown eyes.
the glowing cheeks and dainty mouth Of the
charher beside him All, dad not | see the
Soit little hand that nestled OF bis arm drawn
closer as the frosty brcc1as blew the 1eecv
chestnut curl- against his coat, and for one
look at me Kitty tad three score and ten.
But | enjoyed 1t all, and wondered if the
trio behind Us we're getting On a. well, for
Dick had lady fair on each arm, and was
skimmiug on after us. A. We turned sharp
corner ! heard suppressed exclamation
ahead of me, and looking up bcheld Chrls-ie
Mar-tOne rfS q rs. looking straight through
me, apparently at some one in the rear. Her
diIatcd eyes and flushed checks astoni-hcd
me but she quickly rallied, and after greet
ing Us. SAID EuTriedly, in response 20 Kitty
invitation to JOIN US, 90 can't IN gong to
grand fathers on message. e But,
t4tlA lH ~ a. ANt E'lllE ~ rA"il at DAA Ehlt
and ask you 70 come up this evening We
are going to have lots of fun say YOU will. ~
After a moments hesitation she consented
and left US. / was somewhat surprised 70
see her frequent glanccs at Mr. DelamOre
while Kitty was speaking, and almost feared,
from the conscious blush and dropping eve
lids, that our sweet Chris was an incipIcn:
Airt. R0llie. too. seemed struck with it, for
as she disappeared he said, d. Dick, my hoy.
1 fear You We smitten that beauty, whoever
she is. ''-' Exactly my query responded
Dick, ignoring the first clause. =. May |
ask who your beautiful friend is, Miss
Coles -
"' Certainly; She is my dearest friend, and
l IN glad you ike her. for she Is lovely was
kitty's enthusiastic reply.
'' Well, 1 must say that either black is
very becoming ktO her, or she Is an
uncomm only handsome girl, though / am
not 81 partial u blondes as my friend there,
affirmt R9Ilc.
&c My friend seemed lost in thought, and
I fancied bis ladies fair were rather dIsgusted |
at the turn things had taken, and were |
ready enough to face homcward.
Most bad arrived before US ana the re |
hours of the afternoon were spent |
In chatting and music. After tea, ROllie |
and Kittle started off for Chris label, and / |
was rather amused to hear Mr.. Dclamore's : /
offer In the ball To accompany them - just
TO even matters coming home, chum, he 4
explained. | smiled when they had gone,
thinking he would prove Monsieur de Tlop. \
ana fell u spcculating over Chrlssie' 5 odd 1
manner in the afternoon. She was favor
ite with me. and alter the death OF her
some years back took the child
close to my heart. for she had very little /
Iu the cold, still house where be
ing the only child. she had no companion
but her father, who was absorbed in his |
boz ks, and her grim aunt, who hadn't a /
thought beyond Der housekeeping. Chris
tabel's nature was as quaint and sweet as her |
name, and very wOmanly, wIthal, and she
elung to KITTY and me with iervOr that
seemed odd to one who did not understand |
the force of her character. But since the
night of the Halloween mystery she had |
seemed dreary and preoccuped and al
though she never referred to it again in my
presence, seeming to avoid the subject, | still
Ielt sure that she brooded over it. Meditat-
ing thus, | strolled back 20 NY room, and
was putting the finishing touch to my Golf
fure, when Kitty 5 voice started me from my
revery.
She burst into my room, dragging Chris
sic fairly off her feet, and, closing the door,
clasped my waist, and whirlng me about the
room exclaimed 30 Aunt Jean, Aunt
Jean, isn't it grand-I'm 50 happy-So hap
py." When l recovered my breath | held
he crazy witch fast, and said:
- Child what possesses yOu-what IS the
s'Oh, do sit down here, and III tell you
all about it. Chris, come here and hold her
other hand You see, auntie, Mr.. Dick
loould come with us, and kept asking me
about Chrissie all the way and when we
got to the house and they were introduced,
they acted 50 funny | was completely puz-
lied. Chrissie kept turning red and white,
and Mr.. Dick looked at her in kind of daze.
II Mas such an evident case of love at first