Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-05-22

Her mothers surprise could not express
itself more strongly. Miss Clarkes pale
blue eyes CLEANED behind her speclacles as
she calculated,
"What on earth has happened9"
Nix shook the bits Of paper through the
window with trembling hands. Half of
them went on the carpet, but her eyes were
too full Of tears TO note it.
81 don't care. The impcrtinent wretch |
How did he ever dare lie claiming to be
a gentleman, tool I'll make him sorry for
this, or my namo is not Eunice Bateman !"
Nix went on with a perfect nOod-tide Of
words, utterly disregardng her mothers
attempts to check her, and Miss Clarke's
supplementary exclamations. 1t was not
until the latter rendered inca utious by ca
gcrness, asked, for the third Ii nc, But
what was on The paper, anyway, NiX?' that
she stopped short in her angry speech, and,
tossing the muslin uress on the floor in a
heap, ran ou. of the room without word
of answer.
Poor Nix Her feelings were not amia-
BILE as she sat down before the mirror in her
own little room, dashed away the tears,
pushed away the curls, and took a long
look at the dimpled face that had seemed
so satisfactorily pretty an hour before. The
brow, the bridge of the nose, and the
checks wcrc slightly freckled; there was
no denying il, though the color and the
dimples were enough to make one forget
the defects. Beside the left ear, half hid
den by willful short rnglets, was small
brown discoloIation. Nix was too angry
to cry again. She just opened the bureau
drawer, took out formidable Pile OF let
ters in the same bold and careless hand
W iting, and shut them in a box, muttering
to her self, "Freckles and blotches, in
deed -
The next Saturday morning Molly Bate
man danced into her sisters room, where
the latter was still prolonging her nap, and
exclaimed,
"Siy, Mkt The doct9r's homer
No answer from Nix, save that contained
in toss of the pillows.
"Camo home yesterday, they say. l
don't know what's tho matter ~itn MIN. lie
wuul dn't 50 much as look at me when I
pa scd him on the street. Have
"Molly," interrupted her sister, lake
that letter that's lying on the table, and
carry it 10 the Doctors office, will you? Go
quickly, and be sure that he has it, please =
and Nix fell back on the pillows with some.
thing suspiciously like sob as Molly
closed the door. She had spent the night
writing that letter, and now gave way to a
passion Of tears because she had written ii.
Molly, n bright lille damsel of ten, did
IL i,,. 10.
way to Dir. WentwOrth's office. In the
midd lie oi the street She met Elijah, the
doctors office boy, racing as il for dear
lie, holding his cap on with one hand, and
swinging letter in the other.
"Where are you goins?" Inquired Mol
ly, arres;ing his progress.
ITO tour house. THIS here letters for
your sister.
as it! Why, look here; I've 90. letter
Nix sent the doctor"
"Very well: all right. Iou take this,
and I'll take that said the practical Elijah,
elIecting the exchange without ceremony.
"Tm in desperate hurry. He's as cross
as all f. Osscssed this morning"
as her said the sympathetic Molly.
"Su's Nix been cross for we X. Won
der what's the matier?"
Elijah did not wait to answer this ques-
tion, but dashed of again furiUusiy. Mol
ly went home with the letter, which her
sister received in some arnazemen,. This
second letter was as folloNs:
"MIss BATEMAN,-AS learn from vari-
Gus and trustworthy authority that YOU
have said publicly that l am i'll mlnnered
and impairment, and MS the report has been
confirmed Ivy your silence during INV alb
sence, there are but two courses open ONE
to ask an explanation, or 10 dispense with
the necessity Of one. HoI have chosen to
make your newly formed opinion OF me so
unnecessarily public that 7, from sheer
modification, prefer the latter alternative.
| am not conscious of having done any
thing to offend you, and If you wished to
end the relations between US, YOU might
have done so in gentler way. l shall re-
turn your letters at the earliest possible
date. | beg to say, in conclusion, that If
you wish, you may always command me a.
a friend. Respectfully,
JAMES WENTwoRTH."
THAT wrcichcd Miss Clarkcw was Nix's
indignant comment as she tossed aside the
letter; then she added, with quick COM
preston of the llps, "Wel, it doesn't mat
ter much"
Meanwhile the doctor was peruslns in
his Office note Of three or four lnos
"MR. WENrwoRTH,-We will consider
our engagement ended with the reception
OF this note. To explain the reason to you
is 81 entirely unnecessary that | shall not
attempt 1t. You will excuse me If do
It even sign myself your friend.
EUNICE BATrMAN."
The day of the parish picnic arrived In
due season. 1t was beautiful June day,
and every one was out-among others, Nix
and the doctor, who were the tax OF the
town, and therefore did not dare TO stay at
home. Nix put on the muslin cress and
her brightest ribbon, rubbed color into her
checks, and rode to the picnic in a defiant
mood, which was not softened by the sight
of the doctor, who was already on the
ground, paying his best attention to young
lady at his side-one of Nix's rivals in vii,
lage society.
"IIell soon find out that two can play at
that gamer thought Nix; and straight
way she commenced violent filtration
with one of her old admirers. Dance sue
ceeded dance, and Nix and the doctor ri
vailed each other in gaycty, until refresh
ments were announced, when both volun-
teered as walters. Amidst the hustle of
passing provisions Nix awkwardly enough
spilled a cup of coffee on her dress. Con-
sternation among the Mattresses followed,
bnt Nix was equal to The occasion.
Don't mind me, size said, haslilyi "Fn
rim down to the pond and wash il OIL" So,
taking the nearest way, Nix ran down the
hill, through the pne-trees, and, in her
haste, came in violent contact with some
one coming up hill and carrying pitcher
Of spring water. That some one was DR..
wentworth, who looked from the frag-
ments of his broken pitcher to Nix's amaz