Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-05-09

inclosing your photograph, and proposing
correspondence with view to acquaint-
ance, and, perhaps-future matrlmony-
not mentioning my name, of course, as
proposer of the scheme?"
at seems indicate, Mrs. Grant, with all
apology to you for the remark. 1 have too
much respect for the sacredness of mar
riage to-"
"To enter into IL is mere matter of ex-
pedcncy, you would say. My dear Fred,
don't ask you to do that. I would not
for the world have you marry woman
If you did not love her. But since be-
lieve your heart to be yet disengaged, l re-
ally believe that an acquaintance with
Amelia Fanshaw would ripen into love.
She is really so lovely, that am only able
TO account for her single blessedness on the
ground of her extreme fastidiousness.
"Fastidous, is she? Then l suspect my
chances would be poor" said Upton, with
a grimace.
"Of course l can't admit that doubt.
knowing you so WE'LL" was Mrs. Grants
fiattering reply.
"I declare, Mrs. Grant, wish you were
lMGulN NtdIo VbuHEtl, Niiu y Bt'hs E'"'S-
fully. "I shouldn't have to look far Tor a
wife them" aud he gallantly kissed the
cheek of The handsome old lady whose
widows cap had not lost an iota of its Sc
verify in all the years she had worn it.
"You will scarcely find more apprc-
ciative wife, my dear Fred" said she, with
Il gratified blush. "But now TO return to
Amelia, have set my heart on this match,
because love you both as If you were my
own children, and because really believe
you would make each other happy"
swell, my dear friend" said the doctor,
after he had sat a few moments in reflec-
ton, with, il must be confessed, rather
auizzical expression ON his handsome face,
~ would not take anybody's advice but
yours in such matter, assure you. But
if you really and seriously recommend
it
81 do in all truth and sobcrncss, was
the lady's answer.
"Thon | will write" Aud the reader
knows how the letter was received. Two
days after its receipt hy Amelia, Mrs
Grant received the following letter from
her
4, September, oath.
My DEAR Mrs GRANT, have Just been
favored with very curious letter, a copy
of which enclose for your psrusal. Some
how ] cannot help connecting you in my
mind with this most singular procedure
of DIR. Upton's-in fact, have no other
friend in Auburn that / could forgive for
conspiring in plot TO interfere with my
future independence. Ofcourse / must re-
gard the whole affair as q joke-and to car
ry ii out to perfection, | have enclosed Ii
ma Edwards photograph in my answer to
his letter. Please do not uudeceive him
let him continue to imagine the picture
minc then, if he should happen to fall in
love both with my letters and Llna's pic
ture, we shall be able to verify the fact that
mans heart possesses one of the common
properties of matter-dvisihlitv.
Yours affeclionately,
AMELIA FANSHAw.'
Il don't like slang. as a general thing"
said Mrs. Grant TO herself, rs she folded up
this note, after reading il "but the most
expressive thing l can say now, is, that
have decidedly put my foot in it this time.
Well, the only thing that remains for me
to do is to keep my mouth closed and let
matters take what course they will
81 have received the lady's answer, Mrs.
Grant," said Upton, with a smile as he
seated himself that afternoon on her tcte-d-
tete.
"Well, and what does she say?" asked
the old lady demurely, as she picked up
some stitches she had dropped in her knit
ting.
ooh, her answer is very nice and lady
like, indeed -exquisitely worded in fact
She has handled the extremely peculiar
circumstances as few ladies would have
done. admire her epistolary gifts extreme
| ly.
"And how about her face? Hasn't she
sent you her photograph" ?"
"Yes-bul I was going TO reserve my
judgment on that. The fact is, my FIRST
impressions Of the face are unsatisfactory
There is an inconeruity between it and the
letter which puzzles me-"
"Not so obtuseas they imagine" thought
Mrs. Grant. Bat she merely remarked
Faces cannot always he understood at the
first reading
"That is very true. But some faces arc
harder to read than others. | should i'm
agine, for instance, from the letter, that
| Miss Fanshaw is a sort of Beatrice; and
from the face that she is Hero. Now a
Hero she would make too tame and senti-
mental wife to suit me. l never could
| love woman however amiable she might
be if she had no sense of humor. And the
face depicted here lacks the virtue of that.
am surprised that you have never noticed
this yourself, observant rs you are"
OF course he misunderstood the snilt
that played around Mrs. Grants feature,
at this remark. "You think l am hypo
critical" said he, 81 know. But assure
you that have no disposition to he 50.
am altogether anxious TO be pleased will
Miss Fanshaw."
"Ah, WELL" said Mrs. Grant, ~ think
you will he pleased with her; photoGi aph'
are often deceitful" The good lady haC
been revolving in her mind plan whicl
she now resolved to carry out.
Accordingly, about two weeks a(lerwart
she sent for DR.. Upton professionally
There was a young lady at her house, sh
said--one Miss Lima Edwards-who wa
suffering from severe headache. She hat
arrived from the city only the day before
and having a short time to stay in the vii
lage, was anxious to he as well as possible
so as not to lose her anticipated pleasur
in her visit.
When the doctor called. in the course o
the morning, he was ushered up stairs Il
the best room, and introduced to his pa
tient. She sat in an easy chair with
handkerchief lied round her head, whic