Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-01-10
The Leisure Hour.
AN ENGLISH STORY.

The exclamation was mental one, but
was none the less hearty for being suppress
ed; and readers will own that it was only
named and excusable under circumstance
es.
Rupert Holmes was Woodworking bar
rister, and was looked upon as rising
man that is, although he was only two
and-thirty, he was making an income of
nearly five hundred year. He had, beside,
some little fortune Of his own, and was,
therefore, far better Off than the great ma
jority of men of his own age in the profess
sion.
1t was the first day of vacation and as
he threw aside his legal book and started
for his holiday, he felt for the first time
how his hard work had told upon him, and
how glad he was that he was going away
for awhile from his close chambers and the
weary work of splitting legal hairs.
Generally an early riser, he had break
tasted late-so late that he was obliged TO
hurry through his packing in order to catch
his train for Chichester, where he was GO
ing to spend fortnight with his friend
Jack Wilmot, before starting for long
ramble upon the continent. He had, how
ever, reached the terminus with five min
utcs to spare; he had found an empty car
riage, had tipped the guard TO retain II for
hint was before the happy era of smok-
ing carrages-and was looking forward to
the placid enjoyment of his .fter-break last
cigar.
The bell rang, the train was upon the
very point of starting, and his ci9ar-case
was in his hand, when there was hustle
on the platform, and porter hurried up to
the carriage with two ladies, looked in, and
unlocked the door.
snow, ladies, look sharp, please; the
trains starting"
The ladies entered, tho door was slam
med to, and the train moved out of the sta
ton.
II must be allowed that It was excusable
under the circumstances for Rupert Holmes
to relieve his feelings by this mental excla-
nation of "Confound itv'
The ladies were evidently mother and
| daughter. There was strong resemblance
between them, although the expression was
different. The mother was fair, placid and
| quiet looking, rather tlurried at present by
| the hustle consequent upon being late. The
| daughter was brunette, with a demure
| look through which the fun rippled out at
every movement of the lips and eyes; and
| ii was at once evident by the little anxious
glance that she shot at Rupert Holmes as
| he put his cigar case back into his pocke OF,
that she understood his feelings quite "a
well as If he had spoken that silent Soon
found itr' aloud.
Rupert caught the look, and could scarce
ly hell p smiling in return. lie then exam
ined his Bradshaw, ran his finger down
the list; and having resolved upon chang
ing carriages at Reigate, determined TO
make himself agreeable, and enjoy him
self as much as he could till he arrived
there. lie was in high spirits, which even
the little contretemps which had just hap
pened could not damp for more than min
ute or two; and he gladly availed himself
of the opening, which the elder lady by ro-
questing him 10 lend her his Bradshaw,
made to enter into conversation. This was
at first supported almost entirely by tho
mother and himself; but little by little the
daughter Joined in, and before tho train had
leil bOnuon brluReh quarter oi an hour,
Rupert Holmes had changed his seat for
one opposite the ladies, and was chatting
away as familiarly as II he had known his
fellow passengers for years.
Presently the elder lady took out from
her travellng-bag some knitting, at which
she began placdly 10 work and as the
pattern upon which she was engaged was
somewhat complicated one, requiring
much attention and counting OF stitches,
she gradually fell out of the conversation,
which, however, was carried on none the
less vigorously by the others.
Rupert Holmes was far too busy man
to 90 much into society. His evening re-
Taxation consisted in n visit 10 quiet liter
AIRY club to which he belonged, and a talk
over the last new book, the latest art gos-