Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-31

'Perhaps shall stay TO Aunt Appleton's
to tea," she said to her husband Mt the din
ner table. "You will como for mo If do
won't you ?"
He reflected n moment.
81 told you last night Georgy, that
should have to be away from home an hour
or two this evening. There is meeting
of the officials of the mill at half-past SOW
en-; I should be too tired to dress and 20
up to your auut's afterward. ~
81 had forgotten" she said quietly-so
quietly that he thought she did not care.
When he was gone, she went to her room
to arrange her toilet for her call. She put
on the best she had, of course. She had a
genius for dress; and, despite the mondod
gloves looked as stylish as she did pretty.
Just as she approached her aunts gate,
| old Mrs. Halliburton, in her velvets and sa-
blos, and steeliest of steel colored silks, was
being handed from her carriage by her son.
The Haliburtons were the owners Of the
mill In which john Randall was otnployoN
Stephen, the only son, had just returned
| from n five years residence abroad. These
| two facts caused Georgy to scrutinize the
mother and son somewhat closely; and
doing so, Stephen Halliburton raised his hat
| to her.
"A pretty face" he remarked carclessly
TO his mother. 81 suppose it is some one
have known, or should know"
Old Mrs. Halliburton, with her keen eyes
and beak nose, glanced sharply back to-
wards Georgy, whom she had not perceiv-
ed, and nodded slightly.
"1t is that young person whom Jane APP
pleton brought up. She is married now to
one Of our men, believe"
Georgy found Paul Appleton and his
bride holding sort of informal rece ltion
The rooms where her own wedding had
been year before, were quite filed with
guests. A very dainty and graceful bride
was the new Mrs. Paul, in her lavender
train and point-lace shawl. Georgy tried
to feel the least tingo of envy as she looked
at her.
Aunt Appleton had always a sense of
gratitude towards her protege, for having
foreborne to flscinate either of her own
four marriageable boys; and this gratitude
cropped out in active kindliness, under the
exultation she felt over Paul's match.
Georgy moved easily about the we'll
furnished rooms. Somehow she seemed
just fitted for such surroundings. The
subdued, well-bred manners, the faint
perfumes, the refined faces and rich dress
es, were like a stmulant to her. She need
ed such quickening to be fully herself
Her composed delicate beauty unloded to
perfection in this atmosphere.
She had been talking with one and an
other, taking in shapes and trimmings
with her quick artists eye, and, in pause
was just rejecting upon the hang of the
new curtains, when voice said, near her :
~ seem not to be able to recall you at all q.
Mrs. Randall. Yet / must have known
you before l went away. My mother has
just told me your name, and have come
to reclaim acquaintance, if you will per-
nit me-"
81 remember you, perfectly, Mr.. Hall
burton" Georgy returned, quietly. az
was hardly grown up when you left us,
five years ago.
give years? All, true enough! Won't
you take this chair? What n lovely lily
Why, it is not real ~
mo; these wax-fower are very like ma =
ture, though, almost a plagiarism; don't
you think so, Mr.. Haliburton?"
"Why, yes. 1t must be quite difficult to
make them. dare say they bring good
price"
Under her serene smile, quick thought
went through Georgy Randalls mind.
20,
fore her with interest.
Stephen Halliburton was n gentleman by
habit, and a man of the world by force of
circumstances. But nature intended him
for diligent, panstaking, persevering
man of business.
If he was not IL great or very good man,
ii was because he had so much time, so
much money, so much fattery. He was
spoiled by his opportunities, yet he needed
only the right touch to elevate him beyond
himself. lie was thirty years old now he
was past the age when man disdains TO
be led by a woman. But Stephen Halibur-
ton had never dsdained il. He had al
ways been led by the keen-eyed, beak-
nosed woman, in the steel silk, who as
Georgy talked with the heir, sat holding
her wine up to the fire-light, not far Off
The heir seemed TO like Mrs. Randalps
talk perhaps because there was so little of
it. In return he was rather unreserved-
gossiping about his plans and his prospects.
lie said that he was glad to get home.
He meant to settle down at Millville now I;
look after his factories and the operatives ;
introduce some improvements. He want
ed better class of work, more tasteful de-
signs. He hadn't seen pretty print from
the factory. Didn't Mrs. Randall agree
with him?
Yes; she agreed with him. 1t was a
strange basis for parlor gossip-oils, chen,-
icals, designs for calicoes. He was surpris-
ed to find how much she knew about it !;
and she-she was a little surprised herself
The delicate pink began to flush her cheeks,
the irises of her eyes grow into great black
flakes, full of luster All at once, at last,
she turned casual glance without the
window.
"Why," she said with slight start, ait
is almost dark. And l believe il is raining.
| must go at once"
She stepped towards the window. Great
plashing drops were falling upon the flag
stones. The dull November daylight was
almost gone.
Mr.. Halliburton rose also.
"Did you walkP" he inquired. "Let us
take you home. My mother will be going
| SOON"
The little stir attracted Mrs. Appleton,
who-most of her guests having gone-was
devoting herself to Mrs. Halliburton.
"Stay to tea, Goorgy," she suggested.
"John knows you are hero-does he not ?"
"Yes but it is raining. l think l had
botter not stop"
81 have been asking Mrs. Randall Ia
take a seat with us, mother" intorposed
/ Stephen Halliburton.