Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-05-29

| horse. Now, the BlackVille moon being
just at present at the full, iolliflcation Of
this sort had been arranged for the morruw
evening, and Charley cordingly took an
carly opportunity to make sure Of Miss
Adela Brent.
But, If the truth must be told, Miss Adela
was growing rather tired of this rustic
homage. Add 10 which, that her own par
ticular "young man" had just come from
town TO sec her, and it will easily be per-
ccivcd that Chailey's chances were not so
good as he fondly imagined. The pair
stood in the porch watching him as he ap
preached, and iudqging in comments
which, if there be any truth in proverbs,
should have made his ears tngle.
"Oh il is us Father Noah intends hon
oring with visit" remarked Mr.. Walter
Wilmington, when Caarley's "ark," a the
other had rrovcrently dubbed his carriage,
drew up before the gate. Am to leave
you 10 a tctc-a-tctc, Adeaf"
"OA, for mcrcy's sake no!' ans Scred
Adela, cor ho is such a bore"-(ppor Char
ley I-"ho would stay fureverr
50 Charley waited in vain for Mr. VIII
mington to 20 and give him chance to
make known his errand. At last, as il be-
came evident he did not intend going, aud
Charley could with decency wait no longer,
he opened the subject with an Introductory
remarl; on the finoncss OF the weather.
"Good weather for green things" non
chaauty observed Mr.. Wilmington, with
a glance at Charley easily Understood.
ESPECIALLY the carrot crop" returned
Charley, with an equally Ineligible look
at his new acqIaintance's pcrfumcd luxu-
RANT locks, which undoubtedly did bear
on the aubIrn. Aner which little exchange
Of ciyiItioS. Mr.. Wilmington retired into
the privacy OF his segar-smokc, and Char
ley proceeded to make his request.
"Wcll, / don't know replied Miss A
della, laneuidly playing with her fan, "Ihat
sort Of Thing is so apt TO be tircsomc don't
yoI think SOP Charley, who certainly
had not thought She found that or any 9TH
cr sort of Thing tiros9mc in his company,
remained spucchloss while She resumed
II am really afraid you must excuse me
this timc-bul dare say, Mr.. Dennis. Miss
! Florence Wells would be happy 10 if you
asked her"
The blood rushed to Charley's face at this
last riecn Of polteuess, and he took his
leave OF the young lady, inwardIy yowing
| that he would excuse her not only for that.
but for all future time that if she were 10
remain for the rest of her natural life in
Blackvillc, She should be troubled with no
more tiro~ome attentions from him.
"Florry, indced!' he said TO him elf. in
diguantly, "Sbe may sncer If she likes,
but she's not one-half so nice as Florry-
and, take away the frzzes and nounces,
DO believe not one-half 50 preityW
lie really did believe it, mono the less
that it was wounded vanity which had
opened his eyes 10 the perception. And,
with all his anger and modification there
was mingled an odd sense OF relief, which
would seem 10 indicate that II was nothing
deeper than hi, fancy which had been TAX
en- by Miss Brent.
"What if | wcic TO ask Tlorry ?" bis le-
Elections went on. "Ouly il is 50 long since
I've been near ler. But, thcI, she's such
a sweet tempered little thing. I've half a
mind TO iisk IT," And the end Of It was
that he did iisk il; and that was how he
came 10 give Julia willis occasion to quote
a very unnattering old rroverh on his be-
half And Low, Is be has waited at the
gate quito long enough. We will let him in,
ard see how he Jared within doors.
1t was an ab,urdly constrained inter
view. Neither Florry nor Charley felt
equal to bearing the burden OF the conver-
sation Julia could have done it well
enough, If She had chosen, but she would
not. So ihCrc were meaningless remarks,
iutetspcls,d with pauscs longer than the
code Of wcll-regua,od society admits.
at is quite a while since | was here"
bluudcrod Charley after one of these, in
sheer despair Of any thing better to Say.
II wonder what you are here for now ,"
retortcd Julia unable 10 keep silence,
while Flnrry stitched as If for dear life.
Charley could not very well answer the
truth, ard, not knowing what else to an
swCr he held his toucne. Julia, however,
had 10 scruples to hold hers, which, more
over, al the best OF times was apt to be an
unruly member, so She said in her down
right way,
81 suppose thlt Misg Brent has had
enough Of you, and given You leave 10 re-
member old acquaintauccs At last"
This hit the ca s. exactly, that il left
Charley without single word for himself
Perceiying which, Julia laughed in scorn-
ful triumph, and, Using from her seat, ad-
dcd ironically,
at is hard TO lose the pleasure of your
society now that il has grown such a rarity,
but have an engagement, so l hope that
you NilI excuse me-" With which parting
squib, and a whish per in passing-"Be firm,
Florry !" she left the room. Aud we eau
not do better than to follow her.
Having proceeded TO fulfil her engage
ment-thc rummaeins Of chest of draw
ers up-stairs-Julia, who guessed Charley
errand well enough, waited for him to make
it known and Ire gone. But never, surely,
had simple proposal for a drive taKon
such a while in the asking and refusing
Exactly how long she had to wait, Julia
could not say, but very long time, in
deed, measured by her patience. Just as
the las! thread of her patience was giving
way, she heard the outside door close, and, ,
dying to the window, saw Charley Dennis's
head bobbng in and out between the tall
hollyhock BORDERS. In less time than it
takes to tell ii, she was down in the parlor,
where she found Florry still stitching away,
as if the completion Of six-year-od Har-
ry's frock vas the one thing for which the
whole universe was waiting.
"AhW said Julia, exuitantly, as she ad-
vanced, "revenge is sweet, let the morallsts
say what they likel haven't seen you, l
don't know when, with such a nice color.
We'll, hope you sent Mr.. Charley Dennis