Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-12-26

| '"'S '''' WI Ol'lOoSuhis
Eyes, Jack, I remember 1t well. and, II
my memory serves me further you found
that Amelia was in such demand about
those days, that you soon made up your
quarrel and got married year sooner than
you would have done, but for Sans ap-
pearance on the stage"
"Doubtless Sam was the means of hur-
| rying up the affair aud should not much
care if some stylish lover should come
along and pay just so much attention to my
girl as would arouse Phil from his con-
founded apathy
"But, jack" Mr.. Ravenel quickly re-
sponded, "it will never do for us to allow
that experiment to be tried no; | say,
keep out all intruders. for If our young
folk fail 10 fall more deeply in love with
each other than they are at present, they
| will probably fulfil their engagement, es-
| pecially with two such persevering old
coons as we are 10 back them up; but,
should third parry appear on the scene,
there is no knowing what change might be
impaired to the programme"
Mr.. Gourdine laughed heartily, and re-
marked "that he was sometimes surprised
at himself that at his age he should appear
in the role of matchmaker, and especial
ly IN enoeavoring to work off his own
beautiful daughter; but, Tom," he rejon-
ed, IN more serious tone, "ihis scheme
you well know has been the favorite dream
OF the last ten years Of our lives, and few
di1arpointments, I am persuaded, would
be more affecting to either of us than TO
have our plans thwarted.'
Conversing further on various topics,
they at length parted, laying on each other
tue strict injunction to hasten proceedings
and to report progress frequently.
While these anxious parents were in Sc
crct consultation, how was it with their am
anced children? No sooner had they got
together than Philip, in the most mirthfu
manner, related the conversation he had
had with his latber; and as the young folk
contemplated the great app. ehension of
their fathers, lest some adverse influence
should frustiate their long cherished
schemes, they wrought themselves up to a
hish pitch of mcriiment.
"What injustice they do u.s." says Phil
"to suppose that we have any such inten-
ton rs to quarrel and part"
YES, indeed" responded Hattie, at is
an Insult 10 my taste and judgment to sup
pose that could ever marry anybody but
my good, honest, old Phil. Why, Phil,
whu but you could have taught me all the
| tricks / knoN in managing and subduing
| the vicious horses that pa has about the
| plantation? who but you could have taught
| m N sbn1i nyipr ,rb lt,i IL
| have taught me TO parse those hard lessons
in Latin? who but you--"
"Oh stop. Hattie" shouted Phil, "that is
quite enough; if you are going 10 trans
| form me into Il schnolnasier, am afraid
| Cupid will spread his wings and be Oft to
| dead certainty. But what has your good
! father said OF our afTal rs along back ?"
"Oh, Phil" replied the merry girl, in a
natural burst of laughter, ait would really
make you blush TO hear how you are eulo-
| gized in this family much beyond your
deserts you would admit yourself; and
what do say, you ask why for sheer love
of argu nent, l keep talking you down,
and say all manner OF wicked things against
you; and the other day / suffered my
tongue to run on so, that pa at length threat
ened If said another word against Phil
Rivenel, l should not have horse to ride
for week.
IAN there you stopp' short, l don't
doubt, Hattie, for l know your love Tor
horses throws your hatred for your old
Phil, as you call him, quite in the shade /;
and as TO placing your love for me in com
petition with your love for horses, why /
wouldn't think of such presumption"
at is all well enough for you TO have a
moderate concet of yourself, Pail" re-
| sponded the beautiful girl, land shall not
attempt to disabuse your mind on the
subject; bat how about Christmas, Phil !;
you are aware that you are all invited to
spend Christmas day aud evening With
us?"
ayes, know it well, and no little vexa-
tion has it given me; for TO say nothing of
our respected malnmas, those two roman
tic gentlemen, your father and mine, will
watch us with lynx eyes, for their enthu-
siasm in uniting the two houses of Ravencl
and Guurdine, AS they express it, savors in
my opinion somewhat of the folly OF the
ieudal ages"
"ro be sure ii does. Phil 1t all sounds
to me like conlounded nonsense, and if we
did not love each other in the most ardent
and ai1eclionaIe manner, why we would
not get married, if it were the means of
uniting forty distinguished families, would
we, Phil p
"No indeed" replied Phil land as il is,
don't see that there is any particular hur-
| nj, ii,,fr ioI f,,lI
derstand and conlidc in each other, and
some two or three years hence, aller we
have both seen little more of the world,
will be gu te time enough for US 10 assume
the responsibilities Of housekeeping"
THAT is just what l told father few
days ago, only | said three or four years
instead of two or three, at which the dear
old gentleman seemed wonderfully discon-
certed, and muttered partially TO himself
that We were better fitted to have been born
a"ong the cold lava rocks of Iceland, than
in The sunny South. But Phil, think
this courting time is just the most pleasant
part of getting married, don't you?'
Phil laughed at The peculiar tone in which
his Intended put this comical question, gave
it his hearty assent and took his leave, not,
however, before they had each given the
other very particular charges in regard to
the circumspert department they were 10
assume on the approaching Christmas vis-
it.
II.
Extensive preparations were made at the
Gourdine mansion in view OF the approach
ing wedding festivities, for in times gone
by Christmas was the grand holiday of the
year among all classes in South Carolina,