Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-01-31
THE FIRST STOOL.


"The question is what to do with that hor-
rid Mr.. Bushby."
These words were uttered on certain
day, about two years before Bushbv's emil
grafton, and the speaker was particular
ly amiable-look,ng lady Of some forty Ave
years of age. She was speaking to herself,
as she gazed with a well-satisfied ar at an
arbor Of which she commanded full view
from the open window at which she was
seated. For 1t was lovely day In June,
and the weather was eminently suited for
the occupation Of an interesting couple,
who sat upon two wicker chairs under
shady, leafy roof, In the garden gay with
roses. They were, In fact, doing nothing;
unless carrying on conversation in low
tone may be considered doing something.
They both were young and of different
sexes. He was about six-and-twenty, one
would have said, and she was five years
younger. She had face and figure which
were pleasing rather than pretty; and the
former wore an expression such as is fire.
quently the result of recent illness or men,
tai trouble. He who sat by her was not
yet her accepted lover; and the lady at the
window was her mother. The daughter
suddenly rose up in obedience to a sign,
and stood before the amiable looking mat
ron Of forty-five.
"Annie, darling" said the latter, al think
your birthday is some day this week."
Eyes, dear mamma, on Friday"
"And this is only Tuesday. There is
plenty Of time. That is all wanted, darl-
ing"
Annie went back to her seat In the arbor,
and the amiable-looking woman look ed
more amiable than over, for she had hit
upon satisfactory plan. She now knew
perfectly well "what to do with that hor-
rid Mr.. Bushby." She was an excellent
moth6r-which means that she had at heart
her daughters comfortable settlement In
life, and was ready to do anything short OF
felony to secure 1t. She had constantly i'm
pressed upon Annie that in matrimonial
matters young ladies have nothing to do
with affections until they have ascertained
that he who might be the object of them
can make suitable provision for a wife,
and afterward they may bestow them free
ly. She had even gone so far as to main
tain that love is all nonsense in these days
Of civilization; that II was quite enough II
the young lady proposed to, did not actu-
ally dislike the proposer that there was
nothing so likely to promote conjugal affec-
| ton az the possession of nice little in
come-which was her way OF rendering
"sine Baccho et Cerere Jri0et Venus." She
was also fond of inculcsting the wisdom of
that proverb which says that "a bird in the
hand Is worth two in the BUSH" She held
| II to be the height of madness TO refuse q
present certainty In the hope Of future con-
tinRencies to decline what Tomkins OF.
fered on the spot. in the expectation OF wha
| Bushby might some day offer.
That was Tomkins OF course, who was
sitting in the arbor and he had already
offered his hand, bis heart, and eight hun
| dred year. He was to receive a definite
| answer In week and there was upon his
features, as he sat and conversed in desul
| tory fashion with Annie, an expression
which might mean either that he consider
| ed he had already made fool OF himself
or that he expected TO be made fool OF IL
the course OF week. In fact he looked
uneasy and anything but confident. II
the pauses, which were many and pretty
long, between the different portions OF th,
fragmentary dialogue, he took furtive
sidelong glsnces at Annie, aner the fashion
OF one who Is examining an article 70