Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-12-15

II don't intend to tell her of Il till 20 to
New York this fall, said Belle. "Perhaps
her brother will CALL" ...u
But in this supposltion Belle was wrong.
The month passed, and she saw no more Of
the golden headed Richard.
And she carefully separated the yellow
lock in the little Keepsake from the dark
tress Of Jenny's and put ii back into its
place alone, while another loclSet held the
bit of Jenny's. Aud somehow Belle looked
very, very often at the wee, golden curl,
and she never did so but the rest of the
handsome head sprung up beside the lock
and she would sit and contemplate the pic
ture her fancy wrought for her, little
dreaming the interest she was allowing to
grow in her bosom for Jenny's brother.
In the fall Belle and her father went TO
New York, and the first day after her arri-
val, found her sitting with her old friend,
who, after the first ELUSIVE meeting wss
past, sat down to empty her soul.
"Pm so glad you are here this mouth"
Jenny said, "because / am to bo married
In October, and I have always been crazy
to bave you for bridesmaid, and Dick is to
be Harry's best man." Belle blushed.
But Dick has fallen hopelessly, madly
In love-" Belle turned pale.
"Yos, was so dreadfully provoked when
he passed through st. Louis and never
went near you. But he went wild over
some lady he met on that fatal trip. He
will talk to me for hours of his Angelica.
And when 1 have spoken of you he has
been positively rude, and asked mo to have
done bothering him about my freckled
school friends-you know your picture
shows freckles but, bless me, you haven't
any now! And your picture don't look
any more like you than it docs like me, not
n bit"
"Bul tell me-" said Belle, sis your broth
er engaged to this lady?"
Engaged? Why, dear heart, he don't
know her name. He has found some of
her old clothes somewhere. lie has got
her old slippers under a glass case; he's
got her gloves stuffed under another; he's
got her night-gown done up in lavender;
he's got her gold thimble hung on his
watch-chain and do believe he has got
hair-brush and some hair-pins next to his
heart. Oh, it's folly to Interfere! He's be-
yond all hope! did think the excitement
of my wedding would wean him from it
but not a bit. He looks at my new things
as calmly as an oyster, and only said-irs
not kind Of me to repeat it, though" broke
of Jenny,
"What was it he said? ?" inquired Belle,
laughing now heartily. Don't fear for my
feelings"
"why, he said, I'll stand up with your
friend Belle, and see you safely married,
and then I'm off to winter in Paris. I'm
done with love on my own account It's
positively awful"
And so Belle thought as she looked at her
old sil per and glove lying beneath globe
on either side the faithful Richards man
tel.
"And," said Belle, "siuce he desires on
ly to meet me on the morning of the we'd
ding, so it shall be. 1 will be only intro
duced as we are leaving the house, and he
can do as he plcases about continuing the
acquaintance alterward."
Belle was radiant with happiness when
size returned to her father, and delighted
his fond heart with the change, for Belle
had been very quiet of late.
Jenny and Belle shopped and talk ed and
visited together for the next few days, and
when the morning arrived, and amid q
bevy of beautiful girls, Belle shone like a
queen, the bride was eclpsed, and delight
fully acknowledged it.
so, Belief" she said, 81 long to have old
stoical Dick see you. Hark there's his
step. Como into the next room now, and
be introduced. Don't wait till the carriages
come-its an hour yet"
And Belle swept through the door with a
beating heart, and stood even as Dick first
saw her, only, in place of the gray travel
ling dress, magnificent white satin fell in
rich folds about her, and upon her lovely
white throat lay the turquoise locket that
held Dicks golden curl. Ulon the beau
tiful head, crowned by its chestnut hair, a
coronal of pearls added TO the grace and
beauty of an image that, shrined in Dicks
heart, was already an angel.
Belle did not look up, but she felt the
presence, as Richard Marcy came up and
was introduced to Jenny's old schoolmate.
Then, as he held out his hand, she raised
her eyes, and laid her tiny palm in his, and
said:
'I think we had better rectify that mis-
take about the travelling bags, Mr.. Mar
cyr'
"Good heaven, Jenny" said Dick Mar
cy, "why didn't you tell me that your
friend Belle was my Angel of Mcrcy?'"
"Becauso I didn't know till last night,
and then Belle made me promise not to
tell And besides, you didn't want to meet
the freckled school girl TIL It was positive
ly necessary" returned Jenny, mschiev-
ously.
It would be hard to say which of the
four that made Jenny's bridal party was
the happiest that day.
Dick did not go TO Paris that winter. lie
found that st. Louis contained more at
, fractions than any foreign city.
But the next fall will see Dick and Belle
on their wedding tour, and he VOWS he will
have the two old romantic travelling bags
brushed mp for the occasion. DR.. Towns
end, who is to go along, says he knew Tho
minute he saw that girl she would one day
be Angelica Marcy, as he "felt 1t in tho
air."
Is OUR Moon INHADITED.-But here th'