Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-09-06

arch will send Jack back with IL immedi-
atoly.
"Certainly," replied Ellen, "but do not
make Jack come while II rains as furious
ly rs It does now. There Is no particular
hurry for am going to stay here until the
shower is over. That is If Miss Grove
will have me-"
"You know I shall be delighted" an
swered that lady, and so with merry thanks
Mr.. Haughton ventured out again, and FL
lon followed Miss Grove into the kitchen.
Miss Grove was the milliner of the place;
a brisk, bustling old maid, who, with her
widowed sister kept house in the little cot
tage where they were born and bred. The
front room was the show room, and here
was displayed the modest stock of flowers
and ribbons, hats and bonnets.
Miss Grove aud Ellen sat in the kitchen
chatting, wheh Mrs. Stack, the sister be-
fore mentioned, who was nurse by profess
sion, entered the room bonnetcd and cloak
ed. "IIow IL does rain, to be sure, and the
cars leave in half an hour, SO I shall be
Obliged to go If get wet to tbe skin. I
only hope it will hold up a little by tho
time I am ready to start. Is tho tea Kettle
boiling, Asenath? Iwant cup of tea be-
foie CO."
"lIore it is, all ready TO pour out. It's
dreadful bad time to go, but 1 spose it
wouldn't do to wait till tomorrow"
"Massa on me, no. Mrs. Squire Dun
stan down to Podgersville has had stroke,
and the Squire sent right off for me. /
must start If have to go through fire and
water TO git there. And there'll be purity
considerable deal of water If it don't hold
up. Hallol who's that2" as violent
knock sounded at the door.
"Only Mr.. Haughton's boy with Miss
Raymonds umbrella" said Miss Grove,
returning to the kitchen. snow If you
want to look at that lavender ribbon, Ell
len, we'll go into the shop"
While they were deep in the discussion
of the different shades, Mrs. Stack put her
head in at the door and said, "Well, good
bye. I'm off. 1t don't rain as hard as il
did, but I'll take the old umbrella" These
partings were so frequent that tho sisters
had long since ceased TO take sentimental
farewells of each other so Miss Grove on
ly looked up and said, "Good-bye, come
back as soon as you cam" A moment lat
err the front door slammed, and Mrs. Stacks
tall figure marched down the street, and
over her head was spread Aunt Poppy's
umbrella.
After a while the rain ceased falling, the
clouds gradually dispersed, and the sun
shone out dazzlingly bright. Then, resist
ing Miss Groves pressing invitation to
stay to tea, Ellen rose TO go.
"Why, where is my umbrella ?" she said
in surprise, as she found IL was not in the
entry.
isn't it there2 I put it!in the hat rack"
Miss Grove looked somewhat dismayed as
she found tho umbrella really gone. "Bet-
sey must have taken IL by mistake, she's
dreadful short-sighted. Never mind, she'll
bring it back all right i + she don't forgit
and leave ii in the cars, she's so absent
minded" Which, it must be conceded,
was rather doubtful consolation.
BY strange coincidence Mr.. Haughton
had dispatched his urgent business, and
when Ellen left Mr.. Blakley's shop he was
just leaving his Office, which, by the by,
was exactly opposite. But such coincid-
ences are not unusual among lovers, so we
shall not stop TO accompany them home as
they walk entirely too slow to suit our
ideas. Aunt Poppy's sorrow at the loss of
the umbrella was genuine and inconsola-
BILE. "Betsey Stack will leave it in the
cars, l know she will; she never remem-
bers anything but her nursing"
"Why are you so much attached to that
umbrella, Aunt Poppy ?" ask ed Ellen, to
divert her thoughts somewhat. But she
was surprised at the vivid flush that dyed
the wrnkled check, and at the abrupt
manner with which her aunt parted the
subject. Meanwhile the thing she feared
had come to pass Betsey Stack did forget
and leave the umbrella in the cars. II was
not until some time after the train started
that she discovered her mistake. "Bless
Inc ~ she exclaimed, elf haven't brought
Miss Poppy's umbrella instead of mine.
Now s'pose she'll fret like anything till
she gifts it back again. I'll send it the fust
chance | have"
Aftera ride of an hour Mrs. Stack reach
ed her destination. Peering through the
car window she saw Squire Dustans car
riage waiting at the station. Gathering up
her bundles she quickly made her way to
the platform, and in a moment more was
on the road TO the Squire's, leaving Aunt
Poppy's umbrella quietly reposing on the
floor of the car. 1t so happened that it was
the Through" car, as Mrs. Stack denom-
mated it, and therefore went quite through
to the terminus OF the road. That night
Aunt Poppy's umbrella spent in W,
one hundred miles from home.
Az Mrs Stack vas eotira s,nnor sbe
suddonlv en-, down hor ,oo.o,,n viii, an ox-
cla,nation or dismov
.What,s the matter, hnrnt vour mon,h,u
oueried the sonire
"Heres n nret,v Kettle of fish Ibropgbt
Miss ponnv,s nwhrella viii mo hv mis-.
| take. and then come Off and foroot n. and