Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-06-11

lis, though the tailors were not the same.
Martin shivered at her glance, then he
looked back and gave her grave bow in
return for hers. He was melancholy, and
reflected upon what his mother had said
it was all true. The only way her father,
meaning Matilda's, would allow him to ap-
proach her, would be with money, and by
the time he had earned enough, somebody
else would be her husband More than
once Matilda had looked .in his direction,
and perceived that his heart was not in
his playing. He was afraid to look at
her; he might burst into tears if he did,
she looked so pretty, and he vas so far
from her. She danced every set, of course.
Once, when the company was marching
round the hall, she came with her partner
close to the sideof the platform, and stood
for moment near him. He heard her
say that she was tired, and warm, and
didn't think it so very pleasant after all.
Martln'felt so comforted that great gulp |
came in his throat, SO loud that the Flute
looked at him, and asked if that ere
ofcide wasn't pulling him down.
"Shut up, you fool" answered Martin, |
cor III pitch you headlong into the middle |
Of the next dance."
Matilda heard this and she felt better,
too. She admired pluck, and every time
she came near this little fellow he gave her
an instance of it.
The second party young Martin joined
as a dancer. Nobody knew where he had
learned to dance at all but no man went
through his PAGES with more grace.
"He learned on the anvil and old Mar
tin made him dance on the hot irons, 1
suppose" sueered Edgar Willis.
Down in New London, maybe" laughed
another.
a WISH" said Matilda Northwood to
Elgar Willis, THAT Martin Pell heard
your speech but there is no fence for you
here"
"Well, THY. if you are going to keep
on Furnishing me | must bear it fellow
can't always control his nerves, he answer
ed. Your preserver is close Dy, see
going to take him out
Matilda was stung. Martin kept aloof,
and she understood that the advance must
come from her. Martin was on the alert,
and at a motion from her, be was bowing,
and asking her for the next set. 1t was
an ordeal for him. Matilda was at the
head of the hall, above the salt which di-
vided those who worked for their living "
and those who had money enough to live
without actual labor. The male and fe-
male ancestor of every person in Tacktown
was laborer or tradesman of some sort !;
but there was not common sense enough
for anybody to blow those airs away, till
Matilda and young Martin did that night
When shall we take our places?
, asked Martin, very pale, and his lips
shut so tight, and his eyes so determined,
, that Matllda's heart beat with pleasure.
She knew that he could be tested.
+ " At the head of the first set."
There they stood, the first couple on
the foor-all eyes upon them. Matilda
kept her face toward him, and smiled re-
| olutely. Her spirits passed into his. He
I lgrelO. She was fitting her fan careless
ly.
Let me fan you" he said, and took it
= from her, and no polite dandy could have
D flirted it with more grace than our young
face, and then bestowed u Whit upon his
own.
e We'll, | never gasped the lockers. on.
r. Should think his face would burn Just
n like Matilda Northwood to amuse herself
e So"
| But Eig4r Willis did not agree to this
be felt she was in earnest. They were well
aware, Matilda and Martin, that they
; were the objects of criticism, AS the sets
. slowly formed, they ventured to look into
each others eyes. Martins face flushed,
e and he did not feel quite SO selfpossessed.
| Matilda was pale, but each knew that the
i look exchanged happiness. She wore a
| pretty bracelet.
I "How would you like to have me forge
+ you one " he asked, as she twisted it
round her wrist.
=, will wear it," she answered.
/" What if it be of iron. aud | could
give you ornaments of no other sort ?"
" All the same"
+ Oh, Matilda be careful, can bea,
' but little"
3 She took the fan now, and somehow
r their hands touched.
, Not from me, Martin l might ask
you to bear great deal from me-"
a The tender accent of her voice was un-
i mistakable. Sac kept her face concealed
o from the crowd with her fan aud handker-
It chief, and Martin stood very near her, al
most face to face; in fact, they were as
much alone as if they were in the wilder
4 ness which blossoms as the rose The
Il heart alone knows how to discover tha
: matchess solitude where love is first re-
J. vealed Again he began, and so did ths
v violns and flutes.
i {" The other day, when [ went over to
n Begham for this suit of party clothes,
:, made resolution. put something il
/ this vest pocket, and determined that il
e ever you would dance with me, woult
offer it to you, and that if you refused me
n | would never wear the suit, nor dance
,. again"
). He was SO nervous that he put his hand
to his neck-tie, as if he would denude him
1 self Of the Nessus apparel at once. NATL
IN da was never SO moved. Every demonstra
lr ton that this obscure little young Martin
I made pleased her more. She slyly pu
ID out her hand to take the gift. 1t was
1T ring, and he not only slipped it into he
W hand, but on her finger. 1t was prett,
,t ring, too-an emerald circled with pearls
10 g Yon know what | mean," he whis
pered.
n, "How becoming your suit is," she an
ID swered: " do wear it. The next dance j
7e yours-'Hull's Victory'-and the next
GAIL, Matilda ?"
a Every one."
70 "Balancez ~ shouted the conductor.
II
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