Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-03
All day long, at Redwood Grove, mer.


riment was rife. Music, dancing and
various games, succeeded each other in
endless succession. Croquet at one time
seemed the all-absorbing amusement;
now and then weary player dropped
his malht and sauntered away to rest
under tie shade of a wide-spreading elm
while a fresh devotee took his place. Is
abel va, an enthusiast in the game, and
her sldlful playing elected the applause
of group of spectators, who were look
ing on he contest with interest.
Sylvester James sat conversing with
Mabel Lee on low, rustic seat; his at
tention was divided between watching
her ninble fingers gracefully twining
fowersin into wreath, and noting the
progress Of the croquet game, as if he
were determined not to lose sight of a
certain player.
Mabel Lees gentle and unaffected
manner made her favorite everywhere. |
Contrasted With her cousin, Isabel, Ma
bel was the white rose compared with
the japonica.
The last red rays of the rejoicing old
king Of day warned the tired pleasure
seekers to turn their faces homeward.
| = .
| The summer days quickly sped away,
and Sylvester James had been in Ken
dlevile six weeks; but one week now
remained for his visits, and then he must
away to business. Time, so quickly
flown On the wings of happiness, scarce
ly seemed gone; besides, was he not If
revocably in love with a certain country
beauty, whose flashing eyes, magnificent
form and vivacious manner had COM
pletely won his heart? Yes, Cupid's
well-aimed arrow had laid him victim
on the altar of love.
Sylvester did not tell his dear aunt
the condition of his heart +? Oh, no ! for
she wouldn't help on his love affair, by
any means. But his most perplexing
trouble, to tell the truth, was that he
couldn't quite make up his mind to the
fact that Isabel ent tertained any regard
for him. She could be so provokingly
cool, at times, and scarcely seem con-
scious of his devoted attendance. If Syl-
vester spent the evening at her fathers
house, Isabel would be all vivacity one
moment, and the next perhaps relax IN
to utter quietness, and declare that ii
was too oppressively warm to entertain
~~gnna IF he begged of her favorite
ballad on her guitar, she then pleaded
fatigue, and almost pettishly refused tc
play.
Mabel Lee was so different she coult
be agreeably conversational, no matte
: when and where they met; besides sh'
q was sweet tempered to fault. But Syl
: vester found, on weighing the respectiv
l. damsels in the scales of his affection
: that Isabel, in spite of her faults, ha'
the preference.
"Isabel," said Mabel, glancing u
y from her embroidery to her cousin VIII
was standing before mirror, arrangin
. her heavy braids of hair in coronei
/ 81 think that Mr.. James comes here yer
often, of late, and people already surmis
that you and he are
g @Why, Nab p interrupted 1sabe
n "You foolish. creature Do you suppos
'e that people always fall in love when Ell
T gagged in an innocent Irritation of tn
II sort? Can't you see that I'm not
Is earnest, and am only having a lit
fun Z? 1t is diamond cut diamond b
y tween Sylvester and myself SO let foil
'e sur1nise until they get tired, haughtil
7. replied Isabel, with flashing eyes, al
s. in the meantime surveying her image r
heeted in the mirror with immense sa
n isfaction.
il, Whatever Mabel thought of her cou
Of in's last remark she did not say, but qt
IS etly kept on with her work.
at
d. Mrs. Thorworth was making extensi
u preparations for party at her elega
"a residence, which was to be in all respet
VI on the grand scale.
ful The evening finally arrived for t
he elite of Kendleville to assemble in t
spacious parlors of the Thorworth ma
ce- sion, which had never before witness
such throng of youth, beauty and fai
ed, ion.
,ud The music had just commenced for
he waltz, and Sylvester sought the hand
cir Isabel Dana for his partner She look
ith up into his face with an arch smile pl
ing ing around her mouth, and blandly t
ow, him that she was so sorry, but she J
ties engaged for five dances ahead. An h
the afterward, while she was promenad
de- with Ned Franklin. she espied Sylyes
any sitting beside her cousin. Mabel
lace They were evidently talking on Sc
Sc pleasant topic. for ever and anon
py expression fitted over his face;
sat Isabel thought that Sylvester had nc
oat looked so handsome and noble before
ares remark from her companion recalled
{ on wandering senses.