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

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ultimately knocked down TO him. AS for
Annie, she, during those intervals, gazed
far away into vacancy with the air of one
whose thoughts are occupied with by no
means the pleasantest Of day-dreams; and
she plucked the while leaf after leaf from
a rose she held, as II she were silently test
ing her fate with the well-known alterna
tions of Gloves me, loves me not" When
the last leaf had futtered to the ground and
the stalk had been listlessly dropped after
It, she rose wearly, and said coldly to her
companion:
"My head aches; shall go in"
"Ohl thought you were going to ride"
rel ej0iued Tomkins in tone of surprise.
"I feel unequal to riding, driving, walk
ing, croquet-playing, talking, laughing, or
crying" said she a little pettishly.
"Crying - exclaimed Tomkins. with
blank face, as he prepared to walk with
her to the door; "what Is there to cry a
bout ?"
"Nothing that know Of" answered An
ME, with little sigh; and they sauntered
into the house without another word.
They found Mrs. Maddox, Annie's moth
er, in a state of that peaceful serenity
which results from the performance of du-
ty. And that duty, to Judge from appear
ances, was performed by means of writing
materials and an exquisite little note which
lay upon the table before her. Annie gave
one quick glance at the superscription
and the gleam of satisfaction which passed
with blush over her face was speedily
succeeded by an expression of regret and
the paleness OF suppressed emotion.
"My dear ANNIE" said her mother, "you
look far from well; you feel the heat, I
fear"
II feel something, mamma" replied An
ME drearily; "but doubt whether it can
be the heat, for hot weather, you know, al
ways agrees with me-"
"Don't you think little brandy and so
da-" began Tomkins, but he was inter-
rupted by an exclamation from Mrs. Mad
dox.
Annie had sunk with moan and shiv-
er into an easy chair, where she reclined,
white speechless and motiohless.
Tomkins stood the picture OF horror, and
was incapable Of anything beyond an en-
phatic and general prayer for the blessing
of his SOUL and incoherent remarks about
a doctor, which were no doubt an offer 10
go and fetch one. But Mrs. Maddox, who
had flown to her daughters side, was per-
fectly cool and collected, smiled as pleas
antly as ever, and said, in sharp and de-
cisive but playful manner:
"Don't be silly; give me that scent bot
tie on the little table, that's good man
now go aud have your ride, and when you
come back you will find her quite well
again; she has only tainted that is all go
-go-go;'' and she gave him gentle
push.
Tomkins went for his solitary rides and
his thoughts were far from cheerful. He
appeared to himself to have got into what
he called in his phraseologya ''iolly mess
IF these things were done in the green tree,
what would be done in the dry?
In the mean time Annie had recovered
from her swoop, and she and Mrs. Mad
dox were conversing freely.
"If he writes to me as usual" the for
mer said, "I shall feel bound for another
year.
"He'll not write,' was the confident re-
ply.
Annie looked wistfully at her mother,
who smiled in the sweetest possible man
ner.
at would never do to fall betwixt two
Stools" said the mother.
Annie sighed.
zone can't despise eight hundred year."
resumed the mother.
"Got by drugs" muttered Annie dispar-
agingly.
"My dear" rejoined Mrs. Maddox,
''you speak as if they had been noxious
drugs, and he had poisoned his father with
them."
"He is dreadtully vulgar" observed An
ME. with his brandy and soda, and all
that sort of thing. heard what he recon-
mended for me-"
"My love-" rejoined Mrs. Maddox, "rec-
ollect that the refined wife polishes the un-
refined husband"
ut will be very difficult task, mann
ma"
"Patience, perseverance and eight hun
dred year will surmount all difficulties
1t is not as il he were hideous in appear
ance, or likely to be rebellious.'
"Annie laughed and rejoined, "I could
put him in shafts and drive him with a skein
Of silk"
"To be sure, my dear" replied Mrs.
Maddox in a tone of intense satisfaction !;
land that is a great thing. 1t insures do
nestle peace If not happiness
Int m,
Mr.. Bushby might in year or So
"Procrastination, my darling Annie, in
such matters is most dangerous. / always
think Of that foolish King who refused the
Sibylline books, and was afterwards oblig-
ed to take portion OF them. You might
find yourself at thirty years of age accept
ing an offer of three hundred a year, or get
ting no offer at ALL"
"At any rate, Mr.. Bushby is gentle
man." said Annie with a sigh.
"Mr Bushby's only drawback" rejoined
Mrs. Maddox, warmly, sis inability to
maintain a wife. But that, you have al
ready allowed, is fatal"
"Quite so, mamma" assented Annie, dis
consolately 'poor Mr.. Bushhyp'
The last words smote upon the ear OF
TOnkins, as he entered the room on re-
turning from the ride, and made him feel
little uncomfortable. For he had seen
the superscription Of the note which had
been written by Mrs. Maddox, and that
fact, coupled with Annie's exclamation,
| had caused him to conceive sentiments OF
suspicion and hatred toward this unknown
| Bushby, whose name was beginning to ap-
pear portentiously upon the scene. How
ever he was received with so much cor
diality by both mother and daughter that
his perturbed spirit was soon at rest and
la i11Alz llLliia Laaiinnl ai1zhI .lanX.