Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-10-16
4 SITUATION.

4 SITUIT TION.
She stood at the crossing of the village
street just as the shower came down. 1t
had been rainy morning, the drops filter
ing playfully through the clouds, inter
spersed with dazzling outbursts of sun
shine, but now pelting, merciless torrent
rushed sharply downward, gathering We
hernence from past delay.
And there stood Bessy in the midst of it.,
one pretty foot stretched doubtfully out
ward to feel for stepping-ston amidst the
torrent that swept over the crossing.
Quite by accident, of course, young
BrOwnley, dawdling at the depot, in doubt
whether to take the next train, caught sight
of this vision, as he drummed with idle
fingers on the gray-green panes OF the
waiting room. 1t was quite by accident
also, of course, that in a second after this
he was crossing the street a little further
up, armed with big umbrella. AS Bes-
sy, still doubtful, glanced ruefully about to
see il she could reach the nearest tree, or
had better brave it out, this stranger, pick
ing his way through mud and wet, stood
by her side.
Now we all know that il does not do for
a woman to overstep conventional limits;
She must keep TO the bars of her gilded
cage, and twitter happily behind them. To
allow gentleman to speak TO her without
an introduction, even if he were on ran,
white she hoated by, going politely to the
bottom, would be thing of very doubtful
etiquette. But down came the shower, and
there stood Bessy without an umbrella.
Under some circumstances, 1t must be
owned, conventionalism makes a poor
show beside savageism, aud young Brown
ley, having more or less of the savage lin
gering about him, proflered his umbrella.
1t was promptly accepted by the girl, who
had evidently far less regard for the pro-
| prieties of life than for her dripping dress.
"Oh, dear r. she said, "its completely
| spoiled, / suppose. This is the second time
I've started out to see poor little Tom, and
been stopped by the rain. / hope ii won't
rain this way evefy afternoon"
81 almost hope that it will" saId her
compaLion, glanciug at the bright, flushed
face beside him. "I always carry an UNI
| brela."
Now it must he confessed that this com
memdable prudence and foresight had
| sprung up in the young man within the
last ten minutes, But what of thatH Re-
forms must begin at some time, presume.
| | have observed that, AS rule, most he
roes of romance are well provided for. They
have higher sphere of troubles than the
mere harassment of looking for bread aud
butter. And right enough it should be so,
say /. II is a pity if we can not have a
place of refuge, between book covers at
least, where the contemplate common
place of life is not thrust upon us. All
hail to the heroes with rich uncles and old
aunts, and good-humored mole-eyed grand
mothers, and forthcoming legacies I'm
sorry can't place my hero among them
but he's an intensely every day fellow, not
tit for such high society. He hasn't even a
distant relative in India with one foot in
the grave.
The fact is, the youth had actually come
up to Evansville looking for situation in
the big country store of Wander q Co., and
what is more, he had been refused ii.
But here, however, with the incorrigible
hopslulness of youth, he walked along be-
side Bessy, and forgot all about it. He ex'
pecled to leave her at some cottage near by
and so lie did presently. A pretty low
rooted house stood just in sight, with d
row of red and white hOllyhocks nodding
up to its caves. A scarlet-runner, drip
ping and shining in the shower, half hid q
little window facing on the lane, wherein
a fantastic assemblage of spools, beads anC
jars OF confectionery looked out with al
eye TO trade.
The girl flung open the gate.
"Won't you come in ?" she said. "Aun
Polly will be glad to see you"
"No, thank you," said the young man
staring stupidity after her, as she disappear
ed among the hollyhocks.
"Lives there, does she ?" he said, con
templaIing the tiny shop window. "In
late for the train to-day. Guess I'll call IL
tomorrow. Wonder If they keep fishing
lines2"
The next morning, after lounging abou
the village, and trying vainly to get sens
of his situation, or rather want of one
young Brownley brushed his coat with ex
traordinary care.
"No signs of shower TO. day." he said
| aS ne StIollCu up tho iOdus w OuuoT IL 4
better take the train2'
And with that he turned up the lane to
ward the little shop. A clean old woman
in a wide-frilled cap and wrinkle face, sa
rocking herself in the doorway. She look
cd up as the gate latch clicked a great ca
purrlng at her feet rose sleepily, curling II
tail as the intruder entered. "Fishin
! linesP ?" The old woman set about fumb