Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-10-15

sentence or other. The conversation was
eflectually checked, and Jack, perplexed at
the effect, for which he could perceive no
visible cause, rose to take leave.
"Will you mention to your father, Miss
Thorne, that l shall call TO see him about
this matter tomorrow morning?" he asked.
All the moss-roses in Mr.. Thorns's rose
garden could not have rivaled the hot glow
on Mary's cheeks as she fled out of the
room without a word of reply.
"Very singular family this" muttered
Jack, slowly drawing on his glove and
walking down the broad garden path. "But
she Is an uncommonly pretty girl-and 1
shall certainly take an early walk through
that grove of cedars TO morrow morning.
before breakfast"
He dreamed of blue-eyed Mary Thorne
| that night, and rose decidedly pleased that
he should have a reasonable excuse for call
ing at her fathers house so soon.
| 81 certainly can't be in love !" quoth he
mentally. "But how Minnie would tease
me If she thought 1 was in danger Of suing
for not only a farm but wife"
Old Jabez Thorne was busily engaged
nippng the dead leaves off his pet laurus-
tinus with gigantic pair of garden. scis-
sors, that morning, when young Lacy
sprang over the hedge and saluted him with
a buoyant good morning."
"Well, sir" he went on gaily, II have
seen the property, and am perfectly delight
ed. A fine, healthy investment-no dis
ease about it, I'm convinced"
"Iem y said Mr.. Thorne, dubiously.
"And would like 10 take a second, more
thorough inspection in your society, sir, if
| you please"
"Really, Mr.. Lacy" said the old man,
sharply, "my daughter has not yet come
down stairs, and"
"What the mischief has his daughter to
do with the matter ~ thought Lacy, but he
said politely
"Of course l will await any time that may
he convenient TO you, sir. l observed a
! god deal Of native roughness, but can
not doubt that there is very great suscep-
tibility 10 improvement. a little judicious
cultivation will accomplish wonders
"Let me tell you, young man." began
Mr.. Thorne in towering rage, but Lacy
saw that he had unconsciously committed
some arch blunder, and hastened to say:-
'In short, sir, am determined TO secure
this rural gem at any price. What is the
sum You demand?"
Mr.. Thorne fairly sat down on the gravel
walk, overpowered with tue avalanche of
wrath which he found impossible to shape
into words.
"Upon-my-word-sirr r. he began; you
talk as il this was u mere matter of busi-
ness r.
Jack was puzzled enough. "It is the
way in which l have always heretofore
been accustomed TO treat such affairs, SIR"
"Heretofore-you have been accustonedi
and pray, sir, how many such little affairs
have you had on your hands2" shrieked
old Thorne, growing purple in the face.
"Oh, several, sir. am not so inexperi-
enced as you suppose" replied Jack, smil-
ing.
"Are you not ashamed 10 confess it?"
mo, why should be?
''Get out Of my garden, you young rep
robaie!' screamed Jabez, leaping up with
lightning rapidly. "To come here and Of
fer to buy my daughter, as if sue were a
patch of potatoes! Go, sayW
"Your daughter, Mr.. Thorne r.
"Yes, my daughter, you Jack -a-dandy!"
"But Pm not bargaining for your daugh-
ter. I'm bargaining for that land across
the river"
Don't tell me r calculated Mr.. Thorne,
tugging away at the fastenings of his pock-
et- book, your uncle's letter has Informed
me of your atrocious intention"
"Will you allow me 10 see the letter,
sir?"
Thorne jerked it out of the compartment
where it lay, and tossed it angrily towards
Lacy. He opened it, and in spite OF his an
noyance and modification burst into laugh
ter at the sight of Minnie's dainty hand
writing.
"Irs nothing 10 laugh at, sir" exclaim-
ed Thorne.
MY dear Mr. Thorne, we are all The vic
Tins of ridiculous mistake, said Lacy.
"My uncle never wrote this letter; it is the
work of my mischievous cousin Minnie.
The genuine document must have been
left behind"
"And you didn't come 10 look for a
wife,"
| II CAME 10 purchase Tedl eSldlt.
"Whew-w-wr - old Jabez Thorne whis-
tied loud aud long, then offered his HAND
to his guest with'a hearty laugh.
"Well, my boy, I'm heartily sorry call
ed you SO many opprobrious names, but
Mary and supposed you were after her.
must 90 and tell the little mink what a
blunder we've made"
"Stay a moment, sir" said Jack, laying
a OBTAINING hand on the old gentleman
arm, as his quick eye detected the distant
hutter of Miss Thorne's light dress among
the trees "will you allow me to make the
necessary explanations myself am not
at all certain that, after l have selected a
home, shall not enter into business-like
negotiations for a charming young wife 10
preside over it,"
"As you please, my lad,' said the old
gentleman, chuckling. "Pll give my con-
sent, If only to atone Tor my villainOus
treatment of you a little while ago."
He resumed his gardening operations,
occasionally pausing 10 laugh all 10 him
self, while cousin Jack sprang up the path
10 seek Mary.
They were absent a long time-in fact, as
old Jabez thought an unreasonably long
time, before he discerned through the
dense foliage of the acacia hedges their ad-
vancing forms, Mr.. Lacy looking exceed
ingly proud and self-satisfed, and Mary
leaning on his arm, with her pretty cheeks
flushed, and her lips wreathed in tinid
smiles.
"What does she say ?" roared the pater-
familias.
"She says she'll consider itp answered
Jack demurely.