Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-06-02

predicament, but did not fairly realize 1t
till we were several miles in the country.
What was 1 to do to make myself present
able? Such words as Katie Davenport rang
in my ears. You see my shirt was torn,
and my coat split across the back, to say
nothing Of blood spots on my vest and
sleeves. Surely, must change my clothes.
While yet l was at los what to do the
driver turned his horses from the road, and
halted them beside lovely spring that
gnshed from great ledge of rocks.
"What are you going to dor ] asked,
opening the door and looking out
''Water de hosses, sah."
A bright idea struck me. II was lonely,
wooded place, among the foothills of the
mountains. would go into the woods and
change my clothes. So, taking a shirt and
full suit o. clothes from my trunk, went
into pretty grove, and proceeded TO make
my toilet. The driver grinned when he
saw me taking the garments from my trunk.
The wind roared in the tops Of the towering
pines, odors of wild flowers greeted my
senses. and if ever birds rioted in song, it
was there. The last years leaves lay deep
on the ground, but everywhere the tufts of
wild grass were struggling through, and
with starry blossoms the woods Haunted
their green spray, whereon the linnets
swung and twittered.
| had just got on my pants and shirt and
was buttoning on my collar.
"Whoa! ho! sir" 1t was sweet, low
voice. looked up. Before me, mounted
on beautiful coal-black pony, sat the very
queen fairy of the woods. She blushed red
and tugged at her little steed's reins, but
the animal seemed to be fascinated and
stood gazing wildly at my plug hat which
sat beside my oots rod from me. He
arched his fat neck and puhed the breath
loudly from bis clear nostrils. My cast-oh
shirt and outer clothes lay spread on the
ground where | had let them fall. felt,
and no doubt looked, >heepish. Presently
the horse became manageable, and obeying
the tiny gloved hand Of his pretty rider,
turned and disappeared in the depths of the
grove. As / proceeded to finish dressing
myself, some of the sweet conccits of the
'old poets got into my head, aud wondered
from what blessed tree this pretty sylvan
I
wind and the birds sang in chorus.
At length / was again in the carriage and
ere very long looked out and saw, crown
ing a considerable eminence, the old brick
mansion of Horace Naylor, all among the
fruit orchards and fancifully clipped shade
trees. My old friend met me on the piazza
and taking both hands begged my pardon
for not coming in person to meet me at the
station, but he was suffering from gout and
wasn't able to get out. / was shown to a
dressing-room at once and left alone till 4
O'Clock, when dinner was announced. Now
my heart leaped savagely. Katie Daven-
h'portl But at the table Katiedid not appear.
Mrs. Naylor said the young lady had taken
a stroll.
| After dinner a game of chess with Mr..
| Naylor and then to let the old man take his
siesta, / asked to he shown to my room.
1t was cosy little place with a low win
dow and balcony delicatelv rallied with
iron.
Supper came on, but Katie was tired after
her ramble, and did not present herself
Once more in my room lit cigar and
went out on the balcony. The night was
clear and the moon was in the central heav-
ems. The mountains stood dirnly outlined
on the horizon, and the green foothills gilt
tered in the bright moonlight. The flower
garden lay below me. l was thinking of
the dryad had seen in the woods and won
dering if Katie Davenport would be half az
pretty, when a sweet, silvery voice down in
the garden found my ear. The words were
very low, but heard them distinctly
Had fight, do you say, Sam?'
'Iesm, Miss Katie, he jes fight world
'thout end. Him and anodder leller an
two dogs dey was jes fighting like de berry
nation, dey was, an dey skeert de hosses,
de dogs did, an den l ies run right kerdab
ober de men fightin. Oh! Miss Katie, l
tell ye what, de gemman's good grit, he
| is"
Don't speak so loud, Sam. What were
/ they fighting about?'
"Can't say dat, swa cant. Twas right
afore de whiskey saloon house, an de men
was all bout dar watchin' EN- an de dogs n
fightin'. Lor' bress ye, de gemman's on
/ de muskle, he is, an he's gritty as grind
stone, he is"
''ln front of a dram shop, say your Had
/ they been drinking, Sam?"
Don't think de gemman did drink any,
eos he's fine man, an all dat, but dat od-
| der feler 1 s'poso had swgged de half gal
| Ion pot full, mebbe.'
! At this point in the conversation / was
/ leaning ont over the wire railing, trying to
| catch every word. The railing gave way
] 81. 4. -,
/ breast, and then down, down, down, thrash
upon the ground, and | knew no more.
saw enough to now remember that l fell at
! the very feet of the two persons talking be-
low. When l came to myself l was on a
soft bed, with a doctor examining my brok-
en- arm and my four fractured ribs. such
was my luck. For three mortal weeks
was confined to that bed; meantime, of
course, | did not see Katie. Finally, how
ever, ! was able to go TO the dining-room,
and lol right across the table from me
stood my wood nymph! | started, and she
blushed scarlet. We went through the for
mality of an introduction awkwardly, and
took our soup in confused silence. l mas
tered myself, though, before the wine came,
and she, too, slipped the purple muscadine
and talked freely.
After dinner the siesta and then music.
Katie sang like mocking bird, and forth
with fell in love.
Four months later found me at the
station once more, but l was not alone.
Katie was with me, my wife. We stood on
the platform waiting for the cars, My old
friend Naylor had just walked across the
street, and was now talking with a tall
man in plaid trowsers. Suddenly the two
turned and came up to us.
Captain Hunter, allow me to present
my friend, Mike Dixon, &C., &C., &c."
Mr. Naylor went ON TO introduce us.
We shook hands and bowed formally.
Ia candidate g,r al.