St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-21


come until another day had begun.
You must he frozen. Pet, take Miss
Peel to her room, and bring her down
again quickly to have some supper.
And then | was shown to Il cOmtOrta-
bic room with a blazing fire. The heat
made my face glow. and the excitement
made my eyes sparkle, until | scarcely
knew myself. But my beauty gave me
no pleasure would Mrs. Morton think
me too pretty for govemeSs After
Il merry but haSty meal. found myself
once more in my own room. Mrs. Nor
ton. coming to my door. kissed me at
frctionately. hoped | should sleep we'll,
and told me not to get up until | was
called.
SO ended my first New Years Day.
As laid my head OH my pillow. tried
to pierce the veil that hid the future
from my view. What of joy or sorrow
lay before me in the untried days So
much warmhcarted kindness had won
my heart: and | already loved Mrs
Morton as though had known all my
life
The day wis what some people call
''wcll aired before made my appear
ancc down stairs. The beautiful view
from my window over the park. where
the trees. laden with SNOW. Sparklcd in
the bright sun. and the clear frosty air
eXhilcrating and hracing. made mr feel
happy and at home.
The morning passed rapidly in ar
ranging lessons fm the next day. and
in unpacking. | did not meet Horace
L..lt
and rhattcd inccS>antly forgot WAS
the govcrne>> and not the guest. The
fact was recalled to me when he said. -
'Do come ont and skate this after
noon. The ice bears beautifully. and
there are lots of people coming from
licNham.
WAS going to answer at1irmativclN.
hut rccullertcd that my time was not
my OWN. and appealed To Mrs. Morton.
He interrupted our conversation 10y
urging that in consideration of his be
ing at home. Pet should have another
weeks holiday. And then" he said.
1--WE shall he able To show Miss Peel Il
little of the ncighnrh"od before She gets
into harness.
Mrs. Morton good maturedlN aSScntcd.
and Pet went into ccStl>lr> of delight.
''lt Is such Il strange coincidence. Miss
Peel. that Nour father and mine should
have been such friends. said Mrs. Nor
ton. "llolacc has Just been telling me
that he recognized Nuu from Il portrait
he saw Il few years since.
80 began the haprir>t week of my
life. Horace. Pet. and were constant
" together Mrs. Morton wa> obliged
(, Il, H.
her husband WAS suffering from an at
tack of g"ut. and a> he did not approve
of solitary confinement. She had To he
with him. look back on that week
now. and do not wonder that il WIS 50
happy. Horace FELTON, WAS then about
thirty. tall. and we'll made. with clear
truthful blue eyes. and crisp. curling.
dark brown lair full of fun and good
nature. He had seen the greater part
of the world in his travels. and had Il
fund of amusing stories.
The frozen pond WAS on Mr.. Morton'S :
estate. about half Il mile from 1 he huusc.
The first afternoon We went down Mrs.
Morton was with u>. a> it WAS the pub
lie daN. " We walked across the ice
Horace FELTON, WAS at my side. and |
heard Il Young man short. thick sci =.
with Il great deal of sandy hair ask
''Nh" IS that girI with Horace FELTON, -
>iw - ruil on Horace Fcit"n> lip
hut hr made. nn remark. Presently We
reached an island in he middle of the
pum,i y here Mrs. Morton and Pet kept
rhcir skates. several people came up
to shake hands and wish Mrs. Morton
the compliments of the season. and
amnn" them the gentleman with the
sandy lair. who asked to hc introduced
to me. Mrs. Morton seemed much
pleased. say iug.
Miss prci'> father. Major Peel. WAS
an intimate friend of my fathers. She
i likely to lee with uS some time
How long he would have remained
II my side. gazing ut me with those
dreadful green eyes. cannot tell: but
seeing Horace At Il little distance. help
in" Pet with her skates. | gave him an
impioiimg glance. which had the desired
effect. and brought him t" my side.
when the gentleman lifted his hat. and
moved oil.
''lnu do not know our local cclcbri-
ties vet. Horace said THAT gentleman
is the richest man within Il circuit of
fifty miles. He has Il splendid place
called The Grange. and nn wife. and
no wife"
The way the last clause WAS repeated
made me color and feel uncomfortable /:
hut soon all di>agrccahlcs were fort rot
ten. Mrs. Morton lent me her skates.
and | was thoroughly at home in them
Pet. Horace. and | skinned along. the
cold air dycing our cheeks with ruby.
do not know how it was. hut from
that afternoon felt that Horace Eel
ton cared for me. Day after day the
conviction grew. until it only wanted
spoken words to render it il certainty
One the ice. or driving about the differ
ent places of interest in the neighbOr-
hood, Pet. Horace. and | were always
together. In the evening played his
accompanimcntS. or we S;ihg duets to-
gcthcr. or played a rubber of whist to
amuSe Mr.. Morton and make him for
get his gout.
SO the weeks holiday passed. The
last day Pet had Il few young friends to
spend the afternoon with her. The ice
still bore. and we repaired to take our
paStime as usual. tOI the first time with
out Horace as an escort. Mrs. Morton
had begged him as Il particular favor
to go with her husband for il drive
1t was getting late. and we were
thinking of returning. when SAW him
ut the farther end of the pond He
joined us. and say ing that. as it would
he light for another hour | had better
let the children enjoy the ice while they
might with safety, as he believed ii
thaw would set III very soon, he added.
And You come with me-: want to
show You the lichen | told YOU of last
evening"
He helped me to unfasten my skates.