Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-04-28


eyes. Then the mist cleared again, and
she saw Squire Ralston's white head pass
ing up the aisle, followed by his sister,
dear old woman who kept house for him
then Phil, and by his side lady. With
unnatural fire in her blue eyes she scan
ned the stranger, noting the clear olive
cheek, the graceful undulating walk, the
gait, which even to her inexperienced Wis
Ion, seemed something rich and foreign.
That, then, was Phirs wife, the woman he
preferred to all others And with sudden
power of hatred Polly felt that she hated
her. All the sweet, even pulses of her ma
ture seemed turned into bitterness and
fire.
''She looks old for Phil, doesn't she Y''
whispered the other gif.
She did, but how beautiful And still, as
the service went on, what mockery it all
seemed-the prayer In which she did not
join, the sermon which spoke of people as
thankful, happy She rose with the others,
she bent her head, and all the time some
hhiS tangled I'm her cars the one phrase,
'Phil is married Phil Is married |" till It
seemed as If she could not bear 1t. Long
afterward, when she was happy again, that
wretched morning would come back to her
as visions Of fever 10 returning health; lit
tie things she was unconscious of noticing
"a late cankor-worm walking up Mary
Jane Oakss bonnet string; the scrap of
newspaper left on Deacon Bunker's face
from his morning shaving, and on which
could be plainly read, Lost and Straye,"
with the after clew of "heifer' Just below.
She remembered the exact position In
which Phil stood as he held the hymn
book open for his-wifel Once he half
turned and glanced at the gallery. That
was too much; Polly drew tight the green
curtain, and looked no more.
"Youre pale today" whispered the
friendly gossip in the rear, "or else your
hat isn't becoming"
This reused her pride. Bad as it was to
be miserable, it was worse to be pitied.
She bit her lips till they were red, and
(taking advantage of the last prayer, am
sorry to say inflicted upon her cheeks
series of furtive pinches which restored
their bloom. Coming down stairs with the
rest, she saw, she was sure, Phil lingering
as if to speak. Cruel, insulting, she would
not see! Leaning on James's arm, chat
ting, laughing, all bloom and animation,
she brushed past. "Polly," he half ex-
claimed then paused. Backs are some.
times expressive as faces. Polly's said,
distinctly as back could, "Don't speak to
me- Phil looked after them a moment
then, suppressing a low whistle, he plunged
his hand into his pockets, and took the OPP
posite direction. But soon, relenting, he
was sorry TO have done so. "She didn't
see me-" he said to himself; "that was it,
Well, I'll go over this evening at all events,
and find out what it means.'
oh what miserable day it was All the
little, carefully prepared for pleasures were
as so many goads and stings to poor Polly.
The turkey choked, the children's merri-
> ment stunned her. And there were all the
relations to be seen to-Aunt Elmira and
Uncle Jacob, Cousin Jane with her family,
and the new baby. But for all her heart
ache the little maid was true to herself.
Only Mrs Pursall with mother instinct,
OWNED that something was the matter.
To the rest Polly was her usual self, pret-
tier than usual, if anything, and gayer
with that deep flush on her cheeks and the
saucy tongue which, barbed with inward
misery, had smart answer ready for all
and each.
At last the long dinner ended, amidst
praises loud and high. The fire was re-
plenished, the candles lit, evening and a
general romp set in. Amidst the hustle
Polly could slip away for a moment unper-
ceived. She has found thing to do" as
Mr.. Browning says.
Climbing a chair in the dark pantry, she
felt about. Yes, there it was. Just so she
had meant to come and lift 1t down for
Phil With tight-set lips she carried the
dish through the hall to the back door,
where Jowler, a faithful beast of monde
script breed, was wont to lie on conven-
lent doormat.
"Jowler, Jowler-poor fellow" she said,
"here's something for you," and she held
out PhiPs pie
Never was dog awakened by daintier
morsel! 1t was not a very heroic ven
geance that, but somehow it suited Polly's
feelings, and there was certain tragic
quality in her manner as she stood looking
at the demolishment which would have
struck an uninterested spectator as infin-
itely comic. As the last crumb vanished,
howeyer-the last twirl of the "P"-a diff
ferent mood asserted ITSELF She put her
head in childish fashion against the door,
and with the empty pie plate in her hand,
began to cry-a silent miserable crying,
with little dumb m6or running through
it like a child's.
1t was just then that somebody passing
up the walk came upon her-somebody
who in his haste had come "cross corners"
and leaped the garden fence in his way. A
fall, brown haired fellow, with merry,
kind eyes, in which wonderment shone as
as he took in this astonishing spectacle.
"Hallo - he began "why it's-bless my
soul! Polly Why, Polly-what is the
matter, dear?'
At the sound of the voice Polly started,
as if stung. She gave little scream;
then, recollecting herself, would have DASH
ed past him into the house, but strong
hand held her back.
"What is the meaning of ths?" said
Phil. "You here, and crying, ON Thanks
giving night-the night when we were go-
ing to be so happy! Tell me what it is
Polly, darling Can't l help your Aren't
you glad to see meY"
"Philip Ralston'' said Polly, too furi-
Gus to weigh her words, ''you ought to be
ashamed Of yourself"
"Why? ?"
"Why? You ask me that Because''-
suddenly remembering what she implied
-"because you have no right to speak to
me-to anybody-in that way any more,
now that you are married 1"
"Eh ~ calculated Philips "and who
says am married ?"
Polly with diIating eyes perused his face.
She could not speak.
HIm not married - went on Phil "who-