Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-09
VOL. 71.--3643. NO. 43.

brilliant slant Of light, and burst into tre
mendous carol Of Joy and thanksgiving.
II was more than Horace could bear. lie
walked sadly over 10 his own den across the
hall There il was iust as his fancy had
painted 1t 80 vainly and 20 often The cold
gray mating covered the floor the windows
of plate-glass were undisturbed by drapery
OF any kind the busts Of his idols sat solid
aud severe upon their pedestals the faces
OF distinction in their plain, flat frames, il
seemed 10 Horace, looked ferociously upon
each other, and remorsefully upon him.
Shelf after shelf Of bouks-some stifily erect
some lying prone upon their faces, others in
drunken attitudes OF negligence, reminded
Horace OF q catacomb he had seen some
where Of demoralized deaths heads. lie
shut the door, and went out in the kitchen
TO watch Kitty can her fruit Minerva was
already there, sitting in an easy-chair in the
doorway, with that placid look of comfort
on her face that it alone wore when with
Kitty at the farm.
In the tender light Of the waning after
noon. it seemed to Horace he had never seen
that rested look so plain in the dear face Of
his sister As for Kitty, with a dainty
dimity bib brought mp close 20 her chin, and
her rounded arms bare above the elbows,
look of pretty prim Importance upon her
rosy flushed FACET was all like one Of
Greuze's best efforts-and Horace fingered
long 10 enjoy the artistic effect.
But at night when they thought he was
safe among his favorites in the library en-
ioying some abstrlse thought when the as
trail lamp was lighted in the bright little sit
ting.room, and Pip was sound asleep ON one
leg, with his head under his wing when
Kitty, all daintily dressed in white, with rib
bons in her hair, and flowers at her neck, and
one of Ilorace's stockings impaled upon
mock orange ready for daming, and Mi
nerya, in her best black silk and softest laces,
was telling her Of Tennyson's drama Of
Queen Wdry--they saw shadow upon the
wall, and looking up found Horace standing
in the doorway, looking like an intruder,
guilty and confused, but pleadingly, as the
Peri at the gates of Paradise
Would you mind reading us bit of Ten
nyson's Ndryf" said Minerva, mercifully
Kitty wants TO hear about it, and Tenny-
son tells it so much better than can"
Horace fastened away 10 his cold, grim IL
brary, and without disturbing one of his
musty tones, going out again softly, as II
not TO hinder the repose Of the great com
pany there, went away with Tennyson to the
sanctum of his wife. The bit of Tenny-
/ son lengtneneu ltseil 10 the whole little vol
ume. The stocking remained impaled upon
the mock-orange, kitty's hands lay folded in
her lap, her eyes kindling with enthusiasm
or fearful with pity, We're fixed upon her
husband.
Poor poor queen she said at last. "ld
rather be Kitty Ierhuue."
Minerva, as she went up to her bedcham-
Der that night, smiled significantly.
Wen give you warm welcome, Aunt
Minerva, ran the last letter of the profess
sor, who, since the birth of his boy delighted
to add this little honor to her name. "Your
easy-chair is in the sunniest corner of Kitty's
sanctum, right under your friend Pip, whose
songs you profess TO admire It's the same
bright little snuggery as of old, only few
book-shelves are in the corner now, aud Kitty
has her friends Charlotte Bronte and Fred
rika Bremen over on visit from the library.
They look as though they were having a
nice time, though Uncle Joshua beams be
nevolently upon them both from over the
mantelpiece. Between you and me, don't
blame them bit the library, find, has,
as Kitty says, q very cold light"
When Minerva folded the professors let
ter away she still smiled significantly
HdTper's Weekly.