Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-11-21


stay at home, than have escort doled out in
such unpleasant doses.''
81 don't see why you make such FUSS"
said Edith. "Ips natural that women
should stay at home; 1t always has been
so; and you can't change the world"
swell, It's not natural selection on my
part, and that's what elevates the animal"
"Marcia, what languager interposed her
mother.
"You don't stay at home," continued The
Darwinian, addressing Edith, "because
you're soft and pretty, you'll marry and
perform the old poetical figure of the ivy
and the oak F.; but it's different with me, and
1 don't intend to be tied down by my sex
any longer, but am going TO have the rights
of a rational human being.'
Edith leaned back in her chair so as to
bring the soflened light on her face, and
folded her white hands on the black velvet
of her work, where they lay like lilies. It
was true, Marcia would probably never
marry; plain women were apt to act in
this way. Now dear, good little Susie, so
plump and rosy, would make an excellent
wife for some plain, substantial man, while
she herself would certainly be in her prop
er place at the head of Robert Thornton's
elegant establishment.
"Its pity you did not proclaim your
independence before the election" said
Mrs. Dey, with feeble attempt at scorn.
81 don't want TO vote" said Marcia, stop
| ping in her wa Tx on the floor. "Politcs
are too dirty"
''They might he reformed" remarked
Susie, quietly, looking up with bright
light in her eyes.
Marcia stared at her moment and con-
tnued:
"If you and Edith want to stay at home
| -
II don't want to-" said SUSIE
why, you are welcome to do so. Cou-
sin Edith mas lover who thinks she is the
only mortal in the world and as long as
my money lasts mean to go. shall hear
Lucca tomorrow night"
"Oh, don't ~ cried Edith "I would not
have Mr.. Thornton see YOU there alone for
anything"
"No Danger replied Marcia, shortly.
"What do you snobs in the five dollar seats
know of us music lovers toasting for dol
ar apiece in the top of the house."
"Not even reserved seat? Why tha; is
not respectable"
~ think I've got beyond the point where
men and reserved seats make me respecta-
| ble."
MARCIA, you don't reilly mean to go.
Some dreadful thing will happen TO you"
urged her mother. ASK one of yonr
| brothers,"
| "What, take a boy of fourteen, about half
as large as 1 am-away from his studies,
too ? And if ask George, he'll be sure TO
have some other engagement. No-I have
taken my stand at last
"Oh, dear" groaned Mrs. Dey.
81 will talk to her about it," said Susie.
"Wil your exclaimed Marcia, going 10
the window TO cool of, where in a few min
utes Susie followed her.
The result of their conversation was Mar
cas saying as they went up stairs:
"I'll do as you say this time, and you
see it will be just as 1 told you"
The next evening as the family gathered
about the table for dinner, Marcia exclaim-
ed
"Ths is Lucca's last night in Faust
do so want to co.
A silence followed this remark Edith
lifting her eyebrows in remembrance of
Marcia's declaration, but being too indifier-
ent to say anything. The door bell rang
and George sprang up, saying:
'That's Boxer! I'm off,"
"Are you going out, iathcr?" said Mar
cia.
"No, I'm too tired TO go anywhere TO
night. When man has been out all day,
he wants TO Fest at home sometimes"
Marcia made no reply, but her black
brows seemed to form barricade, behind
which some kind Of battle was TO take
place. She was ominously silent during
the evening, hardly civil to Mr.. Thornton
when he came for Edith, and sat long
time in the dark in her own room. There
was something in the steady energy of her
face that haunted Mr.. Thornton, as he look
ed at the pretty silken woman at his side,
and he remarked:
"Your cousin Marcia must be person OF
considerable character"
"Marca is peculiar replied Edith with
tone of artificial pity. "You must ex-
cuse her roughess."
"Ob, rather like it, Sometimes the best
gems have the most unprepossessing exte-
rior, but the skilled hand brings out untold
beauty"
Edith softly murmured Eyes," for her
feminine ear had detected note of feeling
in his tone which she seldom heard, but
her mind was occupied with the wonder
what he would give her for Christmas.
"Susie," said Marcia the next day, ~ am
going to the lecture tonight, and if you
want to go, I'd like to have you"
~ don't like to have you go alone, Mar
cia, so If you insist on this course, l shall
always accompany you"
81 am glad OF it, for you don't go out any
more than do, and we both need it,"
81 think So" said Susie, and here tho
matter ended-with them.
A fear III domestic storm ensued wher
the girls announced their intention.
"You are not going alone" asserted
George.
"Yes."
"No; I'll take you up, and come fol
= YOU"
at is not at all necessary"
"Pm not going to have my sisters rur
l over to New York in that way in the eve
:. &lng,"
a H~rhefes no use in talking about 1t
George"
=. "There's no question about the impro
n priety of it,"
ayes there is. Put it in this form: Cal
| women who have no escort quietly g
q abOut unmolested i'm New York In fba ava