Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-09-13

| Ject passed. INTO certainty long ago, l"uEh-
ed Lucia, abandoning her seat at the sound
of the rushing and Gathering of Molly's
feet below. But, someway, the laugh was
one that brought sigh from the tender
heart al the window.
"Most-so-outo o'breath-cnn'ttalk hard
lyW painted Molly, greeting the waiting
cook. "Takes me-good while-to get in
to hurry; but when do, it's the hurry
inest kind! Here's the sugar." depositing
one package, "and here's the-'clare If
haint forgot the cinnamon nowP'
When tiny clouds once begin to dim the
sunshine, Il is marvellous how rapidly they
pile up. The forgotten cinnamon was such
a trifling thing, Lucia could do without it.,
certainly, though it was the only flavoring
she cared for but IL was an added feath-
er's weight of vexation, even though sho
scarcely acknowledged ii. BY the time the
pies were ready for the oven, she was quite
prepared TO find that that receptacle would
not heat properly; that the fire wasn't
much inclined TO burn, and that the last
load of coal possessed more than due
| proportion OF slate. "Just what might be
expected" she commented briefly not stat
ing from what or whom.
Under Molly's vigorous examining and
poking, the oven finally exchanged its cool
indifference for fiery indignation that
was no improvement and course OF
turned dampers and open doors followed.
"Lucia /" called Mrs. Moore's voice at
the head of the stairs. Lucia ran up to the
sitting room again.
"Mrs. Doom is coming up the front walk,
dear" explained the mother "She'll be
at the door in a minute, and 1 suppose it is
you she will want 10 see."
Lucia glanced around the room, and
wondered why Mrs. Doom, of all persons,
must come? Why she must come on this
particular day, when the fire was out in
the parlor, and the sitting room carpet lit
tered with Aunt Samantha's cuttings? and
above all, why must she arrive at Just this
hour of the day, that found her with her
sleeves rolled up, and her dress telling
tales of the flour barrel? Riddles necessa-
rily left unsolved while she ushered the
lady in.
Mrs. Doom accepted chair, and placed
her delicate buttoned boots upon the fen
they had just rested upon some astonish-
ing sight, so that it was with only usual
amazement that they surveyed the little
apartment; but Lucia never could get used
to their expression.
Saturday is a leisure-not leisure-that
is, busy day with you, Miss Moore?" re-
marked Mrs. Doom, graciously taking note
of tn e -four spots.
every" answered Lucia non -commita-
81 should think 1t would-must be so
quite naturally indeed. l thought must
steal few moments-a few precious mo-
ments-to run down and advise-consut
that is-welI, advise, I might say-you're
so oyoung-comparatively with you,
Miss Moore.''
Mrs. Doon's utterance of sentences was
rather ierky and hesitating accompanied
with a little deprecatory wave of her gloved
hand-"as If she were trying to draw neri
words out of well by means of very
poor chain-pump," thought Lucia, waiting
for the promised advice.
"a mother feels-must of course-and
no one can feel so much as mother. Don't
you think so, Mrs. Moore? 1 wished to
speak-just the merest hint in the world
that is, TO request your care for Evelina."
"Why, what ails ber7" interposed Aunt
Sa mantha, pausing, shears in hand, with
gen uine, kindly interest. "There seems to
be good deal of sickness amongst children
now-mumps, measles-and l did hear
some Of the Smiths had the whoopin
cough but don't know as it's so. 'Taint
none of them she's got, is it?"
"Oh, no! really nor' calculated Mrs.
Doom, her round eyes growing rounder.
az was speaking of her sensibiities. There
is difference, you know-very. She is
peculiarly constituted--delicately
"Shes a leetle round-shouldered, but she
don't look sickly," insisted Aunt Saman-
tina, cheerfully. "Mebbe she'd be healthi-
er if you'd let her romp round out of doors
more"
Lucia bit her lip 10 hide a smile.
81 do not think she's studying too hard"
she remarked, remembering the daily re-
curing annoyance of Miss Evelinas un-
learned lessons.
81 presume not. 1t isn't finding fault in
the least--y -you-indeed, no! You do re-
markably well-considering Mr.. Doom
has observed it, and so have land Mr.
Doom, too. But Evelina's temperament,
you underestimate was so anxious you
should co comprehend it. l think she needs
so-sympathetic-"
Lucia grew nervous. She began to feel
more and more like a bucket set TO catch
the thin stream of words from Mrs. Doon's
pump. She scrutinized the rich lace that
trimmed the lady's velvet cloak, and spec
Mated vaguely whether the garment had
ever been turned and made over, or would
ever have to be. She fancied an odor of
burning pies began to steal family up from
the kitchen. She wondered what 1t was
that she had done or left undone, in her
role of teacher, and what the effect would
be If Mrs. Doom should become really dis
satisfied with the school. She felt des-
perate inclination to get hold of the pump
handle herself and see IL she could not
start the slow stream into something swift
er and more definite.
But, in placid unconsciousness OF 1t all,
the lady sat still, and kept up her pretty
little round of satisfaction, sensibilities,
sympathetic treatment, and mothers watch
fulness and, after long call, graciously
departed, having said nothing, but leaving
behind her, nevertheless, a vague sense of
unoasiness.
"If there were only law against peoples
talking when they have nothing to say"
murmured the young teacher, as she
watched the silk dress fluttering through
the gate and then straightway began to
wonder little anxiously, whether there
had been any idea bundled up in all these
words and If so, what II wasH
In the kitchen, Molly complacently an
nounced the baking done, and exhibited
row of pies that seemed, in complexion, to
be a tolerably successful representation of