Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-10-03
Selett Storp.
Prom IlarpctN Balar.l
BERT'S MONOGRAM.

We were just fairly eSla5lish' d At aunt
Rebbic's for the summer. and was wait
inc ior Rob to come down on the evening
train from the city my hands folded in
delicious idlcpc>>. with nothing io do hut
watch the evening shadows darkcn over
the fields Of blue timothy Aunt Rchhic
uodded over her kni,tiu. in The corner,
while the Kitten played with the ball ol
warn. aud Rite sat at the table slowly
shading the Urul Mountains on map
she had drawn for the geography lesson
al school next day. There were voices
ont on the ycranla at The end where the
trumpet.rrccper grew thickcst and, d,mov
iug my chair a little. | could see Bert
Morley lounging lazily on :. bench. with
Miss Kate Dcyinr. At distance of about
tvo feet Of moonlight, entertaining him.
Bcr, was smoking his cigar; but some
grls seem To take pride in making a man
hce to lo that after an hours acquain-
taucc, and Miss Dcvinc was NO piu'le |
smiled when though, how becomingly
she had ariayed herself that morning.
after she heard that Bret Morley WAS ex-
pcc,cd by the stage. with rifle and fish
iug tackle, TO spend two weeks vacation.
She had previously confessed to me that
she found the country horribly dull. And
a., Ton Bert, fancicd look of not un-
pleasant surprise in his eyes rs he bowed
10 Miss Deyiue, for he hal heard Of her
in society. and need not fear stupid even
ing, with town belle. ami no other man
for rival
1t is a case of diamond cut diamond, "
said to myself; and just then the step |
had been listening Tor aouuded on the
walk, and ran TO meet Rob. who came
in with his pockets full Of magazines and
papers, making me feel as if | were not
in the country, after all
Next morning Rob WAS off TO the city
again by six O'Clock, and even before that
Bcr, Morley had taken himself to iOe
lake tor long forenoon of fishing |
heard him whistlu. as he went down
the lane. Miss Devine and | met about
nine at a delicious late breakfast; aud rs
we slipped our creamy coffee together,
gave her al the glauces could spare,
admiring her little slippered feet, the
dainty futing ON her white wrapper, her
magnificent hair and long laShes, and
her languid grace. Aunt Robbie was
busy in the kitchen, and Rite had gone
off TO school. 50 we had all the cool part
OF The house To ourselves, reading little,
praclicing little. and talking little.
Miss Deyine WAS very afable; but after
wards thinking it over, tried in vain 10
recall any charm deeper ihan the charm
of manner, of attitude. of glance and in
ilection.
But am not very brilliant myself" !"
| thought. land, of course, she wouldn't
shine out in full radience on little gray
moth ike me-"
In the afternoon she put on a bewitch-
ING gypsy hat. and went strolling down
the lane. while | wandered out among
the raspberry bushes, and stumbled upon
Rite, who was there studying Il long re
view lesson in history liked Rite she
was such bright, honest little school.
girl-so sat down by her. and by-and-by
took the book to hear her lesson. Ii was
Roman history, and Rite reciled in her
own words. with original comments. !
really felt for the ilst time in my life,
that | was getting clear idea OF the
stately line of Caesars. We had just
gone down to Constantine when there
was the sound of laughing voices in the
lane. and looking over the raspberry
bushes, we saw Bert Morley and Kate
Deyine coming home. She had met him
and TUNED back with him. He had had
good luck, as the long string Of fish he
carried bore witness.
.Oh dear do think it is too bad, "
said Rite. with frown, 80 many pretty
perch and mulet dragged out OF the blue
lake in an agony. just to make sport Tor
man -
And far below, in the coral grove,
The purple mUllet and gold fish rove"
sang Bert. in triumphant tenor, as he
came through the gate and laid down his
trophies. There was no coral grove,
but am sure that these are the genuine
purple mullet, Mrs. Hathaway; for look
at the splendid colOrs :"