Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-11-27


old, grandpa gave a sueeze, followed by a
snort peculiar to New Hampshire noses.
Using his handkerchief vigorously, be ad-
vanced to the nearest counter aud took up
pair Of hose
"sazy, slazy,' quoth he, "but made ior
women's wear, expect"
Ladies smiled. Jack Mcfarland at the
hosiery counter, slyly winked at Charles
/ Foster at the trimming counter. Miss E.o-
lse fixed her black eyes upon Jack McFar-
/ land. They didn't fash as do the black
ewes Of romance, but she threw into them
| that please to-remember-yo -your-position ex-
/ preston, which in real life is more eilec-
/ tive than much flashing.
my grandfather may wish your at,eud-
ance, Mr.. Mcfarland said she, in tones
that would have cut smoothly through ice.
CO. no, no." said the old man, throwing
down the hose. II was only looking. Your
father don't keep mems wear, does he. Lo-
is?"
no, sir; and hardly know what will
most interest you. Perhaps you would
like to look at these elegant shawls, and
then Mr.. Murphy shall show you the silks.
Papa has some lovely silks this season."
Eloi~e went sailing down the room with
the old man, as if shC was conveying a
whole frigate Of moral worth. and clerks
and customers were but the insiguticant
tautogs Of the bay. Mr.. Mcfarland aud
ilk looked grave and respectful. The lady
customers followed the pair wiki interest
ed gaze. II young lady with that figure
and that width OF lace on her suit openly
endorsed such au old man, why, really, be
must be somebody distinguished
Arriving at the Office, ElOise found her
father engaged with Mr.. Runnynede, IA
miliarly known As "oId Runnymede," a
stately gentleman near grandpa's age E.
thu. with manner Of extreme de.erence,
unconsciously caught by him from his
daughter, presented his father, and imme-
dietely after was called out, leaving grand
pa tete-a-tete with old Runuymede.
"Wa'al. take the hull thing from top To-
bottom, it's quite a concern now, said Mr..
Hardenberg, senior, wipins the moisture
from his brow.
Runuymede smiled, and inquired f This
was grandpa's irst visit TO the city.
II Amt been here for nineteen years. not
since E.ihu was doing retail business in a
little shop down on Canal street. Is Won
derful how that boy has riz in the world"
Indeed ,"
That ere boy has had to hoe his own
row. never helped him. Always lived
up in New Hampshire, where the land !
poorer than jobs turkeys. But Elihu wa,
always master hand for business, knew
how to get on the right side Of womsu
folks.
From the retail s@0p suppose he work
ed his way up here" observed Runuy-
mede.
"Jes so; ; never moved his business place
but once, sir. 'TIiut Elibu's way 10 be
his,in' around from place to place, trying
first one thing and then another. Hes
just stuck to one business, and he's been
mazingIy prospered-' mazinglv."
"And you-i suppose you still grub away
on the New Hampshire farm, said Ram
nymede, sOmew hat sharply.
20, no, no; that amt EUhu, way.
Mother writ to him, ali he came aud SET
tied ~ our atfiirs, put the money whore
can get al il any time, and brought Us
down here. Here we've nothing TO do,
but live in clover, and enjoy ourselves
Now 1t happened that Mr.. L ihu Harden
berg was at this time ambitious to enlarge
his business. Whether or no be could do
| it, depended upon the accommodation of
! old Runnymede. Runuymede was in a
state Of indecsion touching that accommo-
| da,ion in which trile would turn hin. Ell.
| ther way. Il happened, also, That Runny-
| mede, whose two sons were prodigals OF
the most miserable type. set high value
upon filiIl respect. Wnen Mr.. Harden
berg returned the accommodation was un-
hesitatingly prof1ered. What the tribe was
that had turned the scale in his favor Eli
hu never knew, but he enlarged his busi-
ness, and still continues to 'mazngly pros
| per.
A few days ailer this incident circum-
stances made it Incumbent upon Mrs. Eli
hu to give a dinner party. The afternoon
before the party the lady stood trying on a
new dress before the mirror in her private
apartment, when with characteristic free.
dom. in walked srandmG
"What am going to welr?' asked the
latter.
Mrs. Hsrdeuberg turned herself about.
"You? Surely, you are not coming
down."
Why, of course grandma was comm.
down. Why not, she should like to know
at wouldn't he proper, nor suitable, no.
anything replied Mrs. Hardenberg, eI
plosively.
Mrs. Hardenber-, senior, would like t'
know why it wouldn't be proper.
you've always objected to our Dime
hour. We shall dine an hour later thar
usual Tomorrow - said Mrs. Elihu.
80, don't care about dinner can al
ways get enough 10 eat, and what's goo'
enough in this house. lis the company
want to see."
But you wouldn't enjoy the society O
those people; I'm sure you wouldn't,
pursued Mrs. Elihu.
II don't know about that; l amt 5
mighty particular about the company
keep as some folks are"
Mrs. Elihu began to be frightened. &C
you can't come down; indeed, you can't,
cried she.
"Cornelia," said Mrs. Hardenbeyg, sen
ior, calmly raising her spectacles upon be
forehead, I'm not going to stay cooped u
, stairs as if 1 wasn't I'll TO be seen. If 20
= never have anybody worse than Amir
, Hardenberg to be ashamed OF, you won
: be badly dsgraced."
2 Mrs. Hardenberg flew to Eoise. Elois
: was reading German, and when she rea
2 German. Eloise was a trifie cooler, an
, more imperturable than usual.
= "Well, why not?" asked she, after he
B | mother bad hid The clse hnlnre her.