Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-04-08
Vixen OF. Angel?

is pretty nigh out of patience waiting. ="
"All right. father. Tell Dorothy II
be down in five minutes, came in sill
very tones from the blankets
And then the little figure turned over
and looked for full three minutes at the
fantastic tracery of old Jack Frost on
the window-panes. evidently lost in ad-
miration of the skill this gentleman had
displayed in the design of weird and fan
tastic figures, embroidered network, and
delightful curves, so far excelled by no
living artist Then the gorgeous winter
sun came smiling in at the little bare
places which Jack had left for a back
ground and the warm rose color min
gled with the cold white-like the kiss
of love on the face Of death.
Times about up, murmuled Mabel.
THAT is pretty picture; but, dear me,
how cold it is'' as, throwing off the
clothes she bounded into The middle of
the room. And there s no pleasure for
me to-day. How I do dread fathers
questioning when he observes that Hor-
ace doesn't come as usual. And Doro-
thy, too-they'll both believe me to
blame, Of course In their eyes Horace
Franklin is without a fault. | thought
him perfection once. l am glad found
him out before it was too late
So saying the young lady proceeded
with her toilet. First, she broke the ice
on the top Of the pitcher, went through
a thorough but Wonderfully hasty ablu-
tion, and in twinkling the short curly
hair was brushed out, and the little fig
Hre draped in becoming wrapper, edged
at the neck with soft lace, and tied with
a cherry ribbon, very becoming to the
brunette complexion and sparkling brown
eyes.
MERRY Christmas p laugh Mabel,
bursting into the kitchen. where the ell
slerly maid of-all-work, housekeeper and
almost mistress, stood, "up to her eyes
In business to use her own favorite ex-
preston, preparing the turkeys for the
Christmas dinner
| Merry Christmas back p cried Dor
othy, ''if it amt too late for stich a sa-
lutte There's yoar brown bread, and
there's your eggs, and this is a little
mite Of briled ham, placing the titbits
on the table before the young lady, The
cofee's spilled, of course but as long as
you realize it is your own fa,ilt, you
can't throw the blame ON anybody else -
Don't be cross, Dorothy Why, such
coffee as this wouldn't be bad to take if
a week ora. N0rnIng oI yours
ever spoils, you dear old soul and those
eggs are fit for the Prince Imperial.
Rotten eggs would be good enough
for him !" snapped Dorothy, to whom
monarchical institutions and crowned
heads We're subjects of the bitterest an
tagonism but if YOUR so we'll pleas
ed with your breakfast, why in creation
don't you eat it, and not make believe p
Il don't believe | am ever hungry
when l sleep so late as l have this morn.
ing | think | have often observed this
Dorothy" replied Mabel, trying hard te
make way with a portion of the good
things on her plate.
1t was no use; and moment after
she stood by the kitchen window, which
commanded a fine view of the main road
drumming on the pane In ali absent sort
of way, huinhihg at the same time lit
tie tune, which somehow seemed to have
the effect of making Dorothy extremely
nervous, for, after looking and frownins
while at Mabel's unusual occupation
she remarked:
"It seems to me, Mabel, you act very
funny for Christmas morning, and es
pecially when you know that Horace
will be here at twelve to take you sleigh
riding
And Dorothy drew the strings of he
white apron little tighter round he
angular waist, and appeared very busil,
engaged in picking out the bow; bu
this was only one of Dorothy's lodges
as Mabel we'll understood, for, whei
Dorothy was bent upon going to the bot
tom of anything on q eotaf Of inquisi
tive exploration no one, unless they ha,
lived with the woman, would for mo
ment suspect that she had the least in
terest in anything outside. of her owl
personal attire. Mabel knew better
and, thinking that the truth might JUS
as well come then as ah hour or two la
ter, TURNED quickly, and confronted tn
kind-hearted woman, who, with arm
akimbo, waited for her to speak.
, Dorothy, Horace and have quarrel
, ed, said Mabel, in low, qdisering tones
, only just glancing at the face of he
companion, as she blurted out the diss
, greeable truth.
Now, Mabel Lynn. that's likel
story. AS if anybody that knew Hol
ace Franklin would believe such yarn
If there's been any quarreling betwee
, you, you begun it, and you kept it g
ing, and you finished it. I've lived wit
r you long enough to be pretty well az
quainted with your lalyship; and Y
known him ever since he drew his fir
breath and you can't cheat me, neitht
one of you
: Dorothy's apron-strings were agai
: united, and from the vigorous see-sa1
ing OF the glngham ends, IL tWeuiu reals
seem as if she meditated severing he
: self in the shortest possible space
, time.
sYou don't deny this, Mabel Lynn
she continued, after seconds pause.
Dorothy always called Mabel by bot
0 names when she was angry.
q What the use of my contradicti1
!, you? If Horace Franklin should ki
g me, you would declare with your la
n breath that | did it myself in a fit
y temper. | am sure, Dorothy, that
G didn't want to quarrel. You remembe
e | suppose. that last evening he was
4 come for me to go and spend the evenil
e at the village; and you remember pro
: ably, that | waited with my duds
from seven o'clock till nine. | do,
e you do not and very distinctly, to
Y Well. at nine o'clock he walked in, loo