Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-09-01


the door were his fishing rods. Huldy, the
"help," was up chamber, and the smell of
something scorching came to Aunt Patty's
nose. She remembered that she had left a
raisin cake in the oven, and hurried back
to the kitchen.
Annette had gone past the well with its
curved sweep and messy brink, and past
the open barn door, A brood of downy
chickens she had been accustomed to feed
ran out of the bushes, and a frsky black
and white kitten jumped down from the
limb of a tree and joined her train. The
feathered tribe kept close behind her until
she reached the harvest apple-tree-a wide
spreading, clumsy old veteran of the or
chard Annette seated herself TO rest a
moment by its trunk, where, through the
boughs she could see the sky curdled with
white clouds. The kitten, dappled all over
with sunshine, was playing with its tail.
Annette had just taken up little fluffy
yellow and white thing in her hand, and
was cooling. TO il softly, when somebody
who had ridden along the near highway
unnoticed, tied his horse to the fence and
sprang over into the orchard.
"Miss King, this is truly rural"
Annette rose to her feet, and dropped her
little playmate back into the grass. A faint
blush of surprise or pleasure overspread
her check.
"What an unexpected pleasure, Mr.. Muir
dock r. murmured she.
81 hope it is pleasure" he returned, as
he extended his hand and looked at her
with undisguised admiration. He was Il
tall, slender young man, with "A dark,
well-cut face, and a slight mustache that
veiled, without concealing, the somewhat
supercilious expression of his mouth and
he had what Aunt Patty called "cityiied"
| air.
81 was obliged to come as far AS Bards-
town on business" he said in explanation
of his appearance, $50 | thought | would
take a horse and ride over to your retreat.
knew your father would be glad to re-
ceive my report, and-well--I won't say
any thing about myself What queer old
place this is to be sure-so one side of ev-
everything should think you would geta
little bored with the dullness."
"I like it very much indeed returned
Annette, simply. "Aunt Patty-she's the
lady live with-is very good to me, and
I'm getting attached to the old place.
"What pity TO waste your Affections
returned Mr.. Murdock, looking more than
he said. They were walking toward the
house now, through the grass and daisies,
and the young man was carrying the bas-
ket of apples, and switching the clover
heads with his riding whip. Don't you
long to get back to Dover street, or TO see
something OF the gay world at Watering
placer"
"No, indeed" replied Annette, shaking
her curls. ~ often think if father were
with me l should like to live always in the
country"
"Then your friends in town would be in
consolable. | ann getting jealous of Aunt
Patty and the ducks and chickens already"
Annette laughed, and that was all. They
were on the quaint little porch, shaded by
luxuriant trumpet-creeper, and set out
with an army of splint- chairs.
"Wil you rest here or walk into the
front room ?? inquired Annette, opening
the door, and giving glimpse Of a pleas
aut antique apartment, with carpet of
Venetian stripe, and spider-legged chairs
and tables.
"rll stay here, in the open air, thank
you. I haven't much fancy for these old
rookeries. They're apt to be musty."
"Everything about Aunt Patty's house
is clean and sweet" returned Annette. 81
must 90 and tell the dear old lady that you
are here"
"Why not sit down yourself, and let the
old lady rest? | dare say she is an angel
in cap and spectacles; but should scarce
ly have come all the way over from Bards-
town to pay my respects to her."
Annette was not pleased with Mr.. Muir
docks tone in spite of the covert compli-
ment. "Aunt Patty would feel hurt if
neglected to introduce her to my friend.
You know country people are more sensi-
tive about such things than we are"
~ spied you coming down the orchard
path together" cried Aunt Patty, as soon
as Annette appeared, "and mighty fine
looking couple you were too. | thought
them young chaps down Boston way must
have eyes in their heads He's handsome,
that's fact; but Of course, nobody looks
quite like Hubert to my eyes. / thought
I'd slick up alittle and go right in and ask
him to stay to dinner. We're going to have
a pot pie. Don't you smell it? l sent 10
Stubbins to put the horse up. You know
it don't look well to see horse eating post
meat when young man comes a-sparking.
l thought wouldn't stop to change my
dress; but I'll just slip on my black silk
apron and false puils."
Annette tied "A bow, and pinned a collar,
aud then, with many "kerchies' and
smiles, Aunt Patty was introduced 10 Mr.
Murdoch.
81 hope | see you well, sir" said she,
with all her old-iashioned polteness. "Of
course you'll stay and take dinner with
us?"
"NO, thank YOU" returned the young
man rather coldly 81 must get back to
the Scupper Hill station in time for the two
o'clock train" .
"Now what pity that is But | cant
let you go away without taking bite of
something to brace you up. l shall always
be happy TO wait on Miss Annette's friends
and now I'll bring you out some of my
raisin cake. II got little scorched on top,
but hope you'll excuse it. HuboIt-that's
my boy, as call him-is coming home to-
day. I'm so happy must tell you about
it. Now, would you like glass of milk
to 60 with your cake? Hubert says that
milk never tastes anywhere as it does up
here on Scuppers hill"
mo, madam returned, Mr.. Murdock,
with ill-disguised impotence, ~ never
take mix. was weaned some years ago."
Annetto's delicate cheek Redeemed with
anger, and Aunt Patty stared through her
honest old glasses. I'm afraid I've been
officious, sir said she; "but you must ex-
cuse it, in an old woman. Miss Annette
puts up with all my ways; and dare say
fret her sometimes
mo, you never do" broke in Annette 1;