Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-03-08

Rchley came toward him.
81 am very tired, Captain Kerr" she re-
marked "and the seats here are all in the
sum-"
1t was fair challenge, and Philip ac-
cepted it. He was a hdbitue of the house,
and he knew of shady walk he could do
no less than offer his arm to the heiress
and take her to it. And there they sat, the
sunlight just playing through the branches,
and the river ripping by. There was
certain luxury and ease in all this which
struck Philip.
A vision came across him of the dull gar
rison town and the troop-ship and the for
eign station and then the contrast: homo
in England, huntinga and shooting, London
in the season, and the moors in August;
and the thought shot across him, "One
word, and this may be mine" Then came
fitting thought of fair young face, with
its rosebud bushes and its trusting look.
He put IL away as too costly bargain, asG
turned TO the woman at his sidp.-
Now he had certainly paid great atten-
tion to Miss Richey. They had been much
thrown together, and prudent relatives had
impored him not to neglect so golden an
opportunity, and here II was at once. He
had but to speak, and dare his fate. As
well finish the matter now. Poor little
Louie! well, no doubt she would find a
better fellow than he was and so his reso-
luton was taken.
Truth to tell, Theodosia was expecting
an offer from him every moment. 1t was
I 4.
too well arranged under her tightly laced
silk bodice to indulge in futterng. She
has gone through the same thing some fif-
ty-one times before; yet to-day she is puz-
zed. "Phlip dear is the handsomest
darling she has ever seen, except those
Italian loves, the gudrdid mobile, and they
are useless; and then his father is a baron,
who married lady Alice Somebody, and
his second brother is clergyman, who
married the widow of dean, who was the
daughter of an arch bishop. Yes, dear
Philip Is on all sides so well connected
yet Theodosia was puzzled. A friend had
only that day spoken to her of Scotch
barone who desired an introduction, and
then she would be lady, if not in her
own right, at least in right of her husband.
Yet the friend had said Sir M'Gregor
M'Gregor had red hair, splay feet, and an
irritable temper! and dear Philip was so
good looking, and with such sweet dis
position; so what between Philips charms
and her own indecision, she listened when
he spoke of his "devoted love" with a
pleased smile, and he felt that the day was
won, and that they were engaged.
No, not engaged.
She was too good a daughter for that
not engaged till she had spoken to her dear
papa, and smoothed the way for Philip to
appeal to him for his paternll blessing
Phil would have dispensed with the bless
ing if the settlements had been all right
without it, but he had no choice he tried
to throw a lover-like ardor into his voice
as he said, "Do not keep me too long in the
agonies OF suspense, dearest!' but ho felt
a certain sense of relief in the fact that, not
being formally accepted, he could not be
expected to imprint kiss on his fair ones
cheek. There was not much of rosebud
blush, and a good deal of poudre de riz
there, and ii look ed dusty to say the least.
Miss Richley had strict sense of pro-
prety, or rather a de ire TO avoid its being
known to the world at large how ia mat
ters had gone in any little affair of this
kind, therefore Phil was not called upon
for any display of devotion and when he
put his heiress in the carriage which was to
convey her back to the mansion in Mar
quis Square, where the family resided dur
ing the season, the farewell on either side
was so studiously courteous and common
place that the acutest of chaperons could
not have detected anything particular.
Phil chartered hanson, lighted cigar,
and drove back to London, pondering on
his present position, and wondering lazily
how it would all turn out; but as he dis
missed his vehicle at the club door wo-
man offered him roses for sale. He stop
ped and a shade came over his handsome
insouciant face as he gave her a sixpence
and took pale tea-rose from her stock.
81 wish was rich man fer your sake,
darling" was the thought that flashed
across his mind; but the Rosebud to
whom that thought was dedicated was far
away across the seas, and Phil dismissed
the passing cloud, and went up the steps
humming gay air.
Next morning, however, his courage
slightly failed him, when he went to his
necessary interview with the senior part
ner. If he did not succeed he would prob
ably have the pleasure of making the ac-
uuaintance of the Commissioners in Bank
ruptcy; and If he did But the life that
such success entailed offered prospect not
too agreeable to the we'll born, thorough
bred Philip Kerr.
Apparently the visions of the night mad
not presented the Scotch baronet, red hair,
splay feet, and ALL. in to- delightful view
to Miss Theodosia Rchley; "besides," as
she mentally observed, "aiter all, dearest
Philip was an Honorable" So, dressed I'M
most elaborate morning costume, all
white furbelows and blue ribbon, she well
coined the handsome riaeman with one OF
her most fascinating smiles.
Mr.. Richey, though only shop keeper,
was at heart true gentlemen; his daugh-
ters welfare and happiness were his first
consideration.
"Let her future husband" he often said,
"be gentleman, and, above all, good
man, and I'll find the money for house
and home such as she has always been ac-
customed to-"
Under these circumstances Phil's honest
acknowledgment that he had nothing to
| offer in the way of settlement was no bar
to his respects His handsome face, his
kindly, genial manner, won Mr. Richley's
heart, and the acute old tradesman read his
character truly. If he had no very strong
points about him, at least he had no very
weak ones. His virtues and vices were all
of the negative order, except that he pos
sessed splendid temper.
The paternal consent and blessing were
soon given; and then appeared on the
scene Mrs. Richley, who duly prompted
! l.