Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-08-23


room window, where Mrs Weston met
them with much pretended anger and
many threats of cold tea, &c. IL was a
merry meal. Nellie was not much trou-
bled with sadness, and she and the Colone!
were soon excellent friends. Tho designs
for both church and manor were examined
and discussed. Colonel Hamilton was
much pleased at the artistic knowledge the
young lady displayed, her intense love for
warm, bright color constantly manilesting
itself Meanwhile Nellie was wondering
at the keen interest the Colonel showed in
the selection, imagining that he could take
no share in their enjoyment but, he too,
had the same love for deep glowing tints,
and was almost as much affected by dull
ness, or glare, rs those not suffering from
a similar affection.
Later in the evening ii continued so fine,
the Colonel proposed stroll. Nellie con-
sidered she had received full share of his
attention, and firmly declined accompany
ing the lovers, pleading her determination
of filling all the manor-house rooms with
appropriate notices before retiring to rest
they left her seated on the drawing-room
steps, nearly buried in ponderous Shakes
peares and other big books.
"Nellie goes to work with so much zest,"
remarked her aunt, as they sauntered away;
"she throws so much spirit into every
thing, | tell her sometimes that she will
have exhausted all her energy long before
she Is an old woman"
"Do not try TO quench her ardor, FANNY"
answered the Colonel "it will flicker away
soon enough"
"Ah yes; only wonder the household
burdens have not crushed il out already {;
there are nine boys and girls younger than
Nellie, she has not had such a very EASY
life. Domestic matters are a horrid bother
sometimes"
pray, madam, are those the views with
which you are going to rule the manor
house?"
81 shall like managing your house, Guy,
and will try TO keep little order; but
you do not think wives and daughters are
meant TO be nothing more than house
keepers?"
"lIardy, or / should not have chosen
Miss Fanny Weston TO be mine. Scotrs
ministering angel was beautiful concep-
ton, but agree with you in thinking she
is very often imposed upon, much more so
than intend my wife TO be-"
"Guy, do not talk like that. You know
shall want TO be always with you, to do
everything, nothing will he too much
Guy! Guy, my own p she exclaimed,
clasping his arm passionately, "would only
hat Il, In.
may find some outlet in action, fer words
will not come 10 relieve me-"
For a moment he was almost too surpris-
ed ut this outburst from the usually
quiet, solf-contained Fanny, to make an
swer; then he said, "Do you think / want
words 10 tell me, Fanny? We are as one,
not two: Ijudge you by myself"
81 know, l know" she answered "but
all the giving, all the strength is on your
side you are so strong, so happy, 50 in
dependent"
NAY. Fanny" he answered sadly,
"have l then deceived you too? If you
want work, my love, l shall give you
plenty; the blind man pretends TO himself
that he is very clever, but in truth he is
only a sorry wight. Do not fear, dear, but
what your eyes will have to do double
dirty"
at is not that either, Guy, at least not
exactly cannot tell you what 1t is,
hardly know myself think 1 would like
to die for you, Guy
at is oftener harder To live, Fanny /;
without you, my love could stand no hard
er test
Live have never lived till now,"
she exclaimed.
"Nor l." he answered.
They strolled on in silence, but silence
pregnant with deep meaning to each then
as the sweet evening air cooled their ex-
cited passions, they began to talk again,
and laid ont many plans for life, in the
years to come.
IIeedl,s IS of the distance, they arrived at
a more deserted part of the coast, where
the cliffs were much deeper than about
Chrome. Miss Weston remarked to her
companion, that the late heavy rains had
softened the sandy soil, and caused many
small landslips. 1t was glorious evening.
They stood on "a small promontory, mini
AZURE bay on either side. Fanny tried TO
describe the gorgeous Garniture of the dis
tant hills, as the setting sun caught their
crests, and crowned them one by one with
fiery coronets. Here and there the pewets
darted through the stiffness, a lad was gath
ering drift wood down below no other
human being was in sight. Just at this mo-
menta sudden breeze caught Miss Weston's
hat and carried IL o yer the edge of the cliff,
leaving ii caught by bramble, about half
way down. "Oh, my hat" she cried,
"what shall dor"
SIS it quite beyond reach ?" inquired
the Colonel. Fanny looked down.
at is nearly half way to the sands" she
answered, "but think l could scramble
to ii, il is quite easy just here"
Take care, take care" he demonstrated;
81 thought you said the cliff broke sheer
away"
THAT is little way of, several yards to
the rights ii is all safe here. Will you sit
down while try?"
"If you are quite sure you will not run
any danger, ] will wait here" throwing
himself on the turf.
""' 'o'i'ohceu her uesceht. III was very
easy for short distance, but every step
brought her winding nearer to the preci-
pice. From time to time she called back
tidings of hor progress; on each occasion
the tones came more from the right. AL
most without thinking, Colonel Hamilton
rose to his feet, and, guided by her voice,
moved nearer and nearer to the yawnlng
gulf, feeling each step, as was his wont,
with his walking stick. Fanny looked up.
"Gny, go back she shrieked it was too late,
the treacherous soil gave way, rush of
sand and gravel, heavy thud, another,
still more heavy, and then death like
stiffness, perfect hell of terror. For n
moment her peirified senses hardly took
in what had happened, then with wild cry