Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-07-03

rescue, losing her own brilliant color In
the meanwhile, aud clasping her hands In
graceful dismay.
lie was carried into the house, aud some
hours elapsed before he was even aware OF
this felicity; but when he did al last open
those blue eyes, and open them to the con-
sciousness that near him knelt Miss Clara
Burton, her taper fingers busy In helping
the doctor mend his unfortunate head,
which had been rndely handled by the jag
ged edge Of Tue stone pllar-when he found
himself within bands breadth of her
shining hnir--when he could almost feel
her fragrant breath upon his cheek, his soul
became 40 completely surcharged with
rapture that he closed his eyes with sigh,
and actually lost consciousness again.
But joy don't KILN fact, II must have
some healing procliVities; for speedily, all
too speedily for poor Phil Fairfield, came
vigor and strength again, and bad II not
been for lucky sprain OF the right ankle
he would have been compelled to get away
from that enchanted palace In the course Of
the afternoon. How he thanked his pre-
siding star for that comfortable sprain that
few nasty accessories, a severe twinge ev-
cry little while that wrenched his whole
being, a heavy sodden ache Juggling con-
tiDually at the muscles Of his whole right
leg; but what were these compared to the
unsalistied yearning pangs Of an unfed pas
sionf Now vt least he was near her. Con-
stantly he heard her clear silvery voice.
He could distinguish the rustic OF her dress
as il foated past the corridor. Twice, three
times that day, perhaps even more fire.
quently she came to the lounge where he
lay, and once (it was toward exening) she
let hor hand fall lightly on his broken head,
and ask ed if he were better.
Betteri oh, Phil Fairfield, but once In a
lifetime comes that soul-thrilling rapture,
the first mingling of the material with an
adolescent spiritual assion. Never again,
never again, charm they ever so wisely,
can all the women you are lated to behold,
give you one 1.-THE of that ecstasyl 1t was
a rambling old country. house, inhabited
only by an old widow lady and three grand
children her only son had lost his young
| wife here some two years before, aud had
leil children and mother, home and coun-
| try, aud had gone abroad for redress from
grief.
The children's education was intrusted
TO the care OF this young relative OF the
family-distant, but acknowledged; and
although Miss Burton called herself by the
somewhat disparagng title Of governess
she would have taken great umbrage tc
have been called thus by another. She wa,
virtually the queen of the household, mere
ly by the presence OF the proprietor, ole
Mrs. Mason, getting rid OF the irksomt
part of domestic cares. The eldest child, 4
boy, had been sent to a neighboring school
and the two little giils were really taugh
| by the upper nurse. She carefully super
inisnded their wardrobes, and prescribed
the course of knowledge which the nurs'
was able and willing Ia impart. She als'
walked in the grounds with her young rel
atives at n stated hour every morning. 81
that, although the household seemed 4
hang upon her control, her life was really
an easy and pleasant one. As far rs drudg
cry went, her position was a sinecure, anC
IL should have been-a thousand pities L
have IL otherwise.
So there was time and opportunity an
every adjunct necessary to render her fas
einating. Aud from loving her outside tn
gate, Phil fell to adoring her inside tn
spiked enclosure.
Being really a handsome, wel.-grown lad
his only drawback that hobbledehoydon
that comes with first love, Miss Burto
easily forgave that as a natural cOnse
| all harualf I think n a
rious.y grow fond Of the boy. So did th
other members of the household. Mn
Mason had known his dead mother; b
was Of that catholically courteous natur
that always wins the servants aud hangeri
on of an establishment and as for III
children, the little orphan girls (for the
father was the SAME as dead TO them), 1t b'
, came matter OF study TO keep them OF
of the way long enough to put his passio
into words. Which he did before his ank
, was sufficiently strong to allow him to
without a cane.
Walking down the familiar road, OF Il
very dust of which he had been yearninl
Iy fond, leaning heavily upon his cane, au
. lightly but raptui ously upon Miss Blu
+ TOMS arm, he suddenly saw the very pilli
a upon which his body came TO grief, but
a soul To ecstasy. A few discolored streal
q thereon Phil declared to be his blood.
: "Shed willingly for you, Miss Burton
r he said aloud to her.
g "For me r. she exclaimed; "why, VIII
g nonsensep'
q "For you," he repeated, "always for yo
;. II 1t were my life-blood, and every DIR
wrung from me by the direst agony,
o would shed 1t all for your
Then he dropped into garden-seAt, a
/ she stood irresolutely by, while he pour
N out his soul in rhapsody Of madness Il
10 at last had its way with her.
"a "You foolish boy" she cried, look
" down upon him caressingly, 'you v
"a make yourself i'll again. Get up this N
ment. l command you'll entreat y
do get off your knees, Phil, l beg of yC
p you'll take cold r.
a. mot till you give me your hand-yC
IN heart"
A. "Well, take my hand and help yours
a. up with 1t this moments Pm so afr
is you'll be i'll"
y "And you do love mo-just littlef"
nj ~ love you a great deal, you silly la
IA ever so much. OF course doP'
er "And you will marry me when-wl
-
of "When you are old enOughf" Here
M laughed long and merrily. "That
he what you were going to say you kno'
is was. Now think for yourself what m
IN ness it is on your part. Your are N
Dw boy yet, Phil dear; and I-why, am
gs ready almost an oiu woman Am '"e'
his three"
rly So Miss Burton ridiculed the depth
m intensity Of this passion which her yo
lover declared was not = matter Of Ii