Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-03-13

down stairs and not be trembling and
flushed 1" when was stopped by what fol-
lowed.
"I suppose you are thinking" Rosaniond
said, looking up at him over the back of
the chair, "that you have saved my life ~
81 WISH" he said, so low that guessed
rather than heard til wish mightthink,
then, that II belonged 10 me-" And almost
before he finished, as IL he could no more
help it than help breathing, he had bent
and kissed that white upturned forehead.
And Rosamond's face was crimson then,
and she was murmuring, "How can you
take so unfair an advantageH" And just as
was on the point of dropping everything
and running away TO let them settle it by
themselves, the bell rang and DIR. Ran
dolph stood on the other side of the fire.
place, leaning ono arm on the shelf when
Mr.. Irving came in.
Rosamond was too weak for many OF her
old airs and graces but she had recovered
herself Instantly, and was looking up at
DR.. Randolph, where he stood glowering
down at her, and was laughing in her be-
witching Irresistible way and she truned
graciously end greeted Mr.. Irving, and in
quired for his horses and his dogs, and be-
came so delightfully."- interested in his racy
account of what his Belleophon could do,
that thero was nothing for DR.. Randolph
but to make a stiff bow and come away
only to be called back by Rosamond, as,
holding out an imRlorlng little hand, she
said,
"But you will come to see me, again ?"
~ hardly think you need e,".he said.
"Oh, do, DOR she said, and her lip
was trembling. And he did not reply /; but
when he dropped her hand, he had pressed
il so close that 1t was white.
So DR.. Randolph came again and En-
ma just then had a sprained ankle, so that
his visits had an excuse for being. But 1
hardly think he vexed Rosamond with an
other word or sign she could repulso-
whether he felt he had han" -r'Ong IN agl-
iatinc - patient, and was waiting for COM
plcte recovery, or whether he was one Of
those who can take No for an answer.
81 can see how it's all going TO end" said
Emma to me. "Rosamond is going 10 be
Mrs. DR. Randolph, and I'm only going 10
be Miss Smith It's horrid to be Miss Smith
Miss Emma Smith, It's so digni6ed to
be Mrs. Anything! You're OF so much
more importance somebody's chosen you
out of all the world. Oh, wish was en-
gagged, and with something romantic in it
10 the real affinity! What do you think,
Cousin Jane?.
Emma" said l, ~ think you are a
fool"
Meanwhile Rosamond evidently did not
know what 10 make of DR.. Randolph's be-
havior; and whether it was the effect Of
diptheria or Of love, she was losing all her
gay spirits, and becoming a moody little
wretch.
One evening after Emma's recovery the
doctor entered without knocking, and not
observing me on the sofa, he sat down by
the fire, when Rosamond opened tho door,
not knowing he was there, and came in.
"Oh,' said she looking through the twi-
liaht."T SnppoSA ynu don't want 10 mo-"
still coming in, though.
81 came u inquire for your sister," said
he.
at seems to me-" said she, standing be-
fore the fire, THAT you never ask about my
health now."
lie looked up at her, standing with her
clasped hands dropped before her, and her
head little downcast in a detected way,
but he did notspeak at once. "And don't
believe you care anything about me-" she
cried passionately; and then he saw the
tears spring, and just as she was flinging
herself away he caught her, and drew her
down to him, and hid her face on his bro asst
and under his kisses-and the life he had
saved belonged 10 him.
"It's beautiful. isn't it2" said Emma, af-
tcrward. but it makes one feel so solita-
ry Cousin Jane, I've half the mind to
tell you something. II don't know but
what shall be engaged myself. 1 rather
think have found my affinity. l know he
is fond Of me; he picked me up when
fell that day and sprained my ankle, and
he le0 that bay-waler at the door for me.
And I've met him o often since. ri show
him 10 you some day."
But If Emma thought /. was beautiful,
that was apl arently more than DIR. Ran
dolph did, when, after his first beatitude
and months engagement TO Rosamond,
he had not been able to see her twice alone:
for, secure in her possession, Miss Rosa
moud was playing with it, according to her
wont, and he never came in but he found
her old lovers angling about her in low
er-like way that was terribly exasperating.
He thought he would put an end to It all
by an immediate marriage; but Rosa mond d
had no idea of being Gagged so early. He
remarked on her conduct and she laughed
at him he demonstrated, and she shrug-
ged her shoulders at him he was angry,
and she told him plainly it was too soon 10
play the Grand Bashaw. And poor Ran
doPh. loving her fervently, and totally un-
able TO master her, instead of being raptur-
ors, grew daily more unhappy.
But the attendant of them all to whom
DR.. Rudolph most objected was Mr.. Irv.
ing.
"Isn'l enough for you" said he, when
Rosamond pressed him for his reasons,
"that don't like himP 1 consider him a
companion unfit fora young lady. And ]
think, Rosamond, that / really have the
right TO forbid your associatlng with him.
That very afternoon a couple of riders
dashed by his steady going gig, and one o
them was Mr.. Irving, and one was Rosa
mond upon Bellerophon.
DR.. Randolph turned about and came tC
our house and waited there ill Mr.. Irving
left Rosamond at the door, and then he me
her and demanded to know the meaning o
| 1t.
"Really, sir" said Rosamond, "this is &
surveillance l cannot submit tor and she
drew the gold ring from her finger, ant
dropped il in his hand, and went on III
stairs.
1t was n fortnight after that that Maurice
met DR.. Randolph in Boston.
81 came up to see about my change" III