Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-09-25


is lucky that we were not talking OF any one
you know"
YES, very lucky" said the young man
dryly. "But may really come home again
Mrs. Parsons?"
"Nottie can have your room ready in five
minutes"
"Then will como tomorrow. l must go
back to tho hotel tonight. to see about my
baggage; but tomorrow will come home"
no said, with nm emphasis on tho last word
There was long chatting after this, the last
three years coming under discussion. Wal
ter wanted to know more of his old friends
illness and death, and the worldly affairs of
the widow and daughter.
The house is ours" Mrs. Parsons said,
"thcrc is small life insurance that secures
us against actual want in case Of sickness,
but will not entirely feed and clotho us.
Still we have good customers, and pretty
steady work. You know Nette went to
school with Blanche Alton and several others
of that rich set, aud they nearly all patron
izc us now. Miss Alton has funny reason
for her share
nat Is tllat!
"Sho is exactly Nettic's figure, and never
has to have her dresses fitted. make them
to fit Nettic, and they are just right, with the
skirts little short, rs Nettiu is few inches
taller
"Is she Nettie's age too?"
look sixteen"
Walking home, Walter Irving soliloquizcd
something after this fashion:
"What chain of ialsehood have dis
covered, and just in time! One more inter-
view, and | am morally convinced that
should have offered myserto Blanche Alton.
Seventeen she told me was her age, when
she so neatly limited for birthday gift, and
got the bracelet intended for Nettie. So |
am TO pay her bills, am |? | wonder hew
many more there are? Aud Nettie actually
bushes ut the want of maidenly reticencc
with which she talks about me. Well, WE'LL"
and Walter ended his solloguy, with the
usual deep breath.
The next day Nettie welcomed her old
friend, her adopted brother, rs she had con-
sdered him for ten years. At once the
young man settled down rs if the three
years absence had never been. Every day
he was out for several hours, and Mr.. Par.
sons always asked with friendly interest
about his success in finding employment
Every evening found him in the little sitting
room, talking TO Nettie and her mother
Sometimes he coaXcd them out for drive
MS the summer faded into autumn, but Mrs.
Parsons rather discouraged such eXtrava-
gance, though he assured her that he had
saved on his three years salary, rs Mr.. o.
mond's clerk and companion.
lie took an odd interest in the dresses
Nettie was making for Miss Alton, insisting
upon the trimmings ordered being pur
chased, and giving laughing hints regarding
their cut and finish. He led Nettlo to talk
ing about the beautiful blonde, and learned
that Mr.. Osmond had purchased II house il
Fifth Avenue, which he was furnishing su
perby for his bride; that he sent Occasional
boquets, but no very expensive presents ~
yet.
But" said Nettie one evening, rs sh
made fine quilting for an overskirt. "Wha
do you think? Miss Alton said to-day tina
she wished she had known him in Paris, 81
she could have ordered Il trousscau there, to
be paid for here after the wedding. Did yoI
cvcr?"
Never" was the reply. at is pity sh'
could not cross the ocean once more. Per
haps she might meet even richer man next
time
II guess not. The house is all ready now
and she expects her offer every day"
"Gracious, Nette!" cried Mrs. Parsons
hasn't the man proposed yet?"
ut seems not. don't think that piece o
information was intended for me though.
heard it accidentally"
"Things have changed since was young,
sighed the widow. Young girls did no
talk about their lovers ut all till they wer
engaged and discovering that she had lei
her thimble up stairs. Mrs. Parsons went t.
find it."
When she came down, she stood IN amaze
mcnt at the door. Walter had drawn Netti
, into his arms, and Nettio was hiding blush
ing face so that only one red ear could b
seen. MAY / have her?" Walter asked
S looking over the brown curls on his breas
ut the astonished mother. II love her, an
she loves me. Will you trust her to me?"
BLESS met gasped the widow, 'it's awfr
D sudden, Walter; but you have boon like
son so long, that | suppose that really fol
got that you were not Nellie's brother. q
3 course you may have her, you dear boy
. There, am easily upset nowadays" and
few tears fell from Mrs. Parsons eyes.
+ "And now" said Walter, when they wer
all quietly seated once moro, 81 suppose 20
e want to know mother, how | am to supper
9 n wife. You have heard II great deal latel
It about Louis Osmond. his house on Fifth Av
i enue, his horses, his large income"
;. Now, Walter Nettie cried intcrruptin
: him. "You know very well was not eny
I Gus when talked of such luxuries."
n II know; but you would enjoy them
they were yours would you not?'
IL never thought OF such II thing"
:, please think OF it now, for | am Lou
Q Osmond."
n miss Atoms lover"
& Louis Osmond, but not Miss Alton
:. lover except in the vivid Imagination Of Il
1t young lady, who laid too much stress upon
g passing admiration Of her beauty and sin
d plicity When Mr.. Lewis Osmond, my en-
y ployer, died, without n relative. and but fe
" friends, he loft me his entire fortune on COZ
G diton that | took his name. And now, Ne
tie, you will please finish those dresses f
G Mrs. Osmond, but not for Miss Alton, and
n white one for wedding dress.
a Nettie obeyed as meekly rs any Griseld
and Miss Alton saw the bridal party emit
g the splendid house where she had hoped
II reign, and Tor the first time realized tn
2 her tongue had run too nimbly to the lit
ID dress-mnker who never sent home her nc
dresses, but for consolation, never ask
ct again for tho old bill. And in Nettie's we
/ ding gifts were the many pretty things Va
ter had selected for her abroad, but viii
he kept hidden while he cOurtod his lit