Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-11-24

By ANNIE ROBERTSON NoxoN

'sPrudyl'
"Humph %
"Miss Treslaw.''
"Well."
CA silence of some seconds.)
"Pray, may ask how to interpret
your very emphatic, and not highly COM
plimentary exclamation a moment ago @
Il can't see the impropriety Of so SIM
pie an interrogation, y said Miss Treslaw,
nibbling at the ivory crochet needle,
held daintily between one fair finger and
thumb with half dozen red wool
en- stitches off. "Was I so rude as to
exclaim, Mr.. Layeton
The young gentleman by the window
made dash at fly, buzzing comforta-
bly, on the window pane, and looked
family annoyed.
81 do not consider it rudeness. sam
ply ask what am I to understand by you
SIMPLY replying Hunaph 2?
"What did you mean by calling me
.Prudy 2" Miss Treslaw answers, MAX
ing vigorous onslaught on the recreant
stitches with the crochet needle "Could
you not have said Miss Treslaw in the
first instance %
Il suppose [ could. Oh, yes; I GER
tainly might have done so.
Here was irony-not in the least con-
cealed either. Mr.. Layeton quit his post
by the window ceased to frown on the
dreary October prospect outside, and pac-
ed up and down the room, pushing the
hassocks with toe of his boot as he
passed, and sternly cycling Miss Treslaw,
who went on placidly knitting, appa-
rently not in the least concerned, look
ing as the moon does at times, prettier
through the hazy cloud which enveloped
her, than when brilliantly shining with
no atom or speck to mar her beauty.
How very pretty Miss Treslaw was
Her milk-White skin, with waves of
palest red ebbing and flowing in her
cheeks. A mouth large enough to be
expressive of her character, and eyes of
so deep brown as almost to seem black
at times. And then, for her worst ene-
my to have assailed the curve of her
nostrils would have been sheer malice
Could it be that Prudy Treslaw real
lied to the full how near her beauty
came to being perfect ? Perhaps; one
~ill-s-- -~;-r Of tho uallnw hair which
curled around her shapely head escaped
: confinement, and falling down against
her cheek, just hid a mischievous dimple
lurking there. No Miss Treslaw work
ed on faster and faster, and the wooler
marvel grew under her hands, and she
/ did not smile or appear conscious.
Once she flashed a glance toward the
chess table, by which Layeton stood
? playing at battledore with bishop, but
t looked soberly down again listening, i
might be, to the sonorous ticking of the
hall-clock, and little Mabel, singing Lit
tie Boy Blue to her wax doll without ;
!; nose, in the nursery upstairs.
O how loud the clock did tick i
made one apprehensive with its cease
lessly monotonous tones jerking out tn,
}. seconds with metallic regularity. Clock
n are nuisance, at least when one want
to forget time and think quietly.
Mr.. Layeton made grand sortie an,
pell-mell went half dozen chessmen i
mess under the table. He advances
y slowly until he stood within two feet 0
the low rocker in which sat the siler
e little woman accomplishing such worl
of work all in moment.
n 81 dare say you may think it unnee
essary to take my hand at parting, bu
y you will at least say good bye, Miss Tres
law %
Q Miss Treslaw looks up provokingl
cool, and disentangles the yarn from he
little finger. "Then you are really g
c. ing back to town, Mr.. Layeton, and NJ
going to make one of our party Satu
At day? How very sorry Laurie will b
and I'm certain that Mr.. Bertram wi
~ hold us all responsible for your appea
- ance at his picnic
10 Mr.. Layeton attempted faint smil
and smothered something under h
Mt breath very like "Dash Mr. Bertram
e. ''Since with me does not go the vel
life and spirit of the party, I am sure
ne be forgiven by everybody, not exceptir
y Mr. Bertram. shall leave my excus
with Mrs. Elgin, who [ am. certain WI
I'd exonerate everybody from any charg
whatsoever, she alone shall be respons
n ble."
er Mr.. Layeton looked out once more
the brown lawn, carpeted from the cri
sW leaves blown from the oaks and mapl
:, - forming double avenue to the wi
stone gate through which he had be
of- driven by that same villain, Bertram,
sys few weeks before, wholly unsuspectil
ou and unprepared for the fate which ava
lh' ed him in the comely, red brick hou
behind great cataracts Of snow-balls a.
an locust blossoms. Confound it why b
are not his reckless driver overturned h
eet against one of those ugly grey stones
the dusty road. and made an end of h1n