Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-11-28

BY HARRIET PRESCOTT spoFroRD.

grounds had southery exposure, and in
June they were region of roses
roses and honeysucklcs and ozaleas, all
heir bloom and brilliance accented by the
dark background of hemlocks and here,
on Anslice's birthday, we had our garden
party.
Anstice was so pretty herself-with her
long hair that was not quite yellow enough
for gold, nor quite dark enough for chest
nut, and was full OF short glistening rip
pics, and her soft brown eyes, and her col
or like that of the roses themselves-I was
oking at her from my place for | had
been so i'll that L was not one Of the party,
and they had only drawn my chair TO the
W indow above and l remember thinking
that Anstice was so pretty herself that, as
Ralph said, she could MAKE sunshine in q
shady place. When he said ii, Stuart May
nardier turned with quick look that said
he resented the liberty Ralph took in maxi
ing the quotation at all; for ever since
Ralph had come into the neighborhood
Stuart had assumed certain proprietary
right in Anstice that was amusing to us
who knew how she detested him, and had
observed how eagerly she listened whenov-
er Ralph was speaking, and how she had
pressed and kept the flower he chanced to
give her.
Ralph was quite alone in the world,
| though he came of good stock, as DR.. Sterl-
ing used to say; and he was in our art of
the country with all invention of his own
"a marine torpedo, l believe, which was
| d, l,o Lon ,0'
the cape and, if the government accented
it, it would make him such rapid wealth
| that he could afford thenceiorth to do moth
| ing-nothing but pursue his studies in sci
ence. DR.. Sterling had introduced him 10
our house, and he had proved an invaluable
companion; and 1 don't know whether
| Anstice really cared more for him than
mamma or l or any of the rest of us did,
though l suppose hers was different sort
of caring; for one spring twilight l saw
them in the garden, slowly sauntering
| down walk TO the terraces of the violet
beds, and his arm was about her then, and
they stopped to put their faces into pink
| almond bough, and the iaces were so close
| together they kissed each other, and had
no doubt tn at they had done it before, and
had no doubt, either, that Stuart May
narder had seen the same for he was com
ing in under the grape arbor at that mo-
ment, and he suddenly turned on his heel
and went softly out. So it was to all in
tents and purposes an engagement between
Ralph and Anstice; but, as they told NAM
| ma they had sentimental feeling about
his work, and didn't want the engagement
announced till the day his torpedo was
tested and named success.
Well, that was TO be, as it happened, on
he morning Of Anstices birthday, and so
it was decided that our garden party should
| take place in the afternoon. But when the
day before arrived, owing TO some illness
of the commander OF the chosen gun-boat,
| the test was postponed day. However, it
was too late to put off the garden party, and
the guests began to come as early rs noon
gentlemen and ladies, and lovely girls in
all manner of bright dresses, like animat-
ed flowers themselves, as they floated about
under the blue sky among the opening
| flowers in the sunshine. The strawberries
and creaIn were set ont under the marquee,
and the target was up on the lawn iorarcE-
erv; for one Of Anstice's delights was in
the archery just then beginning TO be pop
ular, and she had coaXed mamma over to
what mamma had at first thought very un-
ladylike, and she had imported a bow a lit
tie taller than herself, a magnificent thing
made of some polished and hall-transpar-
ent material, and boxes Of bowstrings from
India in rolls and coils, and arrows of all
devices known; and she had become fine
marllswoman, and her example had been
followed till archery parties were all The
fashion about us.
Ralph had been detained and had moi
arrived when it was time for the archery
that afternoon, and Stuart had been busy
ing himself with the bows for one and an
Others and having given Anstce hers, hi
ran down 10 make surn that the target OF
the fence that bounded the grounds there
on the edge of the hill was all right II
that moment he must have seen who wa
conf ing; for, as he ran back, he cried out
"Ouick, Miss Anslce! They wait for yol
TO lead off! Quick y And An>tice, stand
ing in position, drew her bowstrng, ant
Just as | was feebly crying out from m,
| WINDOW, WIlcTO L tOulu SSt II an, lllt Ut
row was flying, and Ralph's head was ap
nearing above the fence at the target
Ralph, unaware that the archery had be
gun, and saving time, as usual, by bound
ing over a hedge in his agile way, Tia
instant she saw what she was doing, to
late TO help it. The arrow had left th
/, string. But probably that desperation i
which she had unconsciously tossed he
bow upward detected it from its course
for though it flew, it flew far on one side
I and struck Stuart, and he fell at the sam
moment that Anstice threw herself on th
ground, hiding her face. Half ofthe thron
=, in the garden, in less time than you coul
tell il, were clustering round Anstice, an
half of them round Stuart, and Ralph ha
dropped instantaneously from his danger
# Gus perch, and was dashing round the Ion
n way to the gate. But in breath Anslic
+, was on her feet again, and running towar
o tho other group. She never thought
r Stuart Maynarder; her mind was full {
+ the horrid thought that she had kille
Y Ralph, and she burst through the peop
g seeing only form, face down, upon ii
+ ground; for DR.. Sterling and another pc
+ son were bending in such manner thi
j. they rather hid the head, and she had fun
d herself beside ii, calling out "Oh! M
! darling my darling, have killed you? O
@ speak TO me! speak TO your own Anstice
l. And as she spoke, Ralph was hurryir
!, down the path, and saw and heard it al
k and stopped, stupefied, unable to belie'
n his ears, and yet hearing her address the
, | Al
20 bend above him, and fall senseless in