Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-08-05

Eliva, passionately. Lawrence wi
think it insulting to introduce him int
such rude company and he will loav
us III the morning in disgust"
I,et him II has stuck-up cha
like that |" muttered the cruel Samue
"It's my opinion this amt any plac
for him. He'll spot his shiny boots
But if he wouldn't like to soc the folks,
Sam added, pitying Eliva's distress
"why he needn't, you know. Let hir
go to bed. l say, Cousin Lawrence,
he cried, as the young man made hi
appearance-" we're going to have
little sort of dig here tonight -
"a sugar party" said Eliva. blush
ing at the vulgarity" of her brother
phrase ga sugar party, for the enter
tainment Of some boys and girls that W
have to be civil to-livipg in the sam
town.
"Good hearted, jolly fellows, ant
nice girls a. you can findl" adde,
Samuel. "But perhaps you wouldn'
fancy visiting with them. 'Liva wa
saying you amt used to such, and i
would be kind O. letting yourself dow
to mako one OF our party"
"Oh l am sure Cousin Lawranc
would laugh at our country--friends,
stammered Eliva, crimson with confu
sion. "Their manners are SO odd-they
are 80 rude
81 beg that you will make no apollo
gies, interrupted the young man, who
was too much of gentleman in his feel
ings not to be pained by his fair cousins
embarrassment. "Nothing will please
me better than to meet these people
and l assure you shall bo able to make
all allowance for what may appear to me
singular in their manners. A sugal
party I shall be delighted I"
This frank declaration should have re-
assured Eliva. On the contrary, it in
creased her perplexity. She feared that
her city cousin would rank her with hel
country associates, and charitably over
look the simplicity of her manners.
But she could think OF no alternative
but to get through with the odious party
as soon as possible, assuming q patron
izing air toward her old friends, in
order not to lower herself in her cousin &
estimation.
When Eliva 8 mind was IN this con-
fused state, Helen Snow, who had pre-
viously promised to come over in the
afternoon and assist her in her prepara-
tions for the party, made her appear
ance, tripping along the dooryard path.
Lawrence enjoyed glimpse of the rus
tic beauty-for such she was-and felt
considerably hurt that Eliva did not
bring her at once into the sitting-room
and introduce her. But Eliva, who
thought formal introduction of her
fine cousin to little Helen Snow would
be absurd, did nothing of the sort.
She kept Helen in the kitchen; and al
though the latter had occasion to pass
through the sitting-room, her friend
scarcely deigned to notice her in her
cousins presence.
I said Lawrence felt hurt. No won
der. Picture to yourself a plump little
creature with charming figure, azure
eyes Of crystal clearness, fair hair, fall
ing in curls around her neck. cheeks
rosy red, and lips of tempting ripeness;
also imagine these charms adorned by
the most simple and tasteful style of
dress, without q single jewel except
diminutive gold pin that fastened
pretty neck ribbon-and you have
faint idea of the exhilarating freshness
of Helen Snow. To mind like that of
Lawrence Gray, such simple beauty is
like volume of true poetry, drawn
from the pure and cooling wells of ma.
ture.
But Lawrence was a man of infinite
tact; and more than half suspecting
Eliva's motives, he made his way into
the kitchen, to her unutterable dismay.
There sat Helen pairing apples for pies;
not for the party, but for Lawrence
being anxious that there
should be something in the house " fit
for him to eat."
The young man apologized; said he
did not like being alone; and wished to
be considered one of the family. He
desired to make himself useful, too; and
before Eliva could realize the extent of
his unheard of audacity, he was helping
Helen with the apples Then he began
10 talk to the latter in the most polite
and agreeable manner; and Eliva was
shocked to hear her answer him plainly
md unaffectedly as if he had been no.
body but a mere country acquaintance.
And afterward, when Lawrence was
gone to see the sugar bush with Nicho-
as, his cousin took occasion to reprove
Ter inexperienced friend for using such
freedom with city gentleman, assuring
Ter that he wonld make fun of every
hing she had said.
Helen opened her blue eyes. Then
'he shook her curls, smiling cheerfully.
" 1 don't believe that" she said. elf
le is gentleman, he wouldn't make fun
If anybody, that way, em sure. Per-
laps he thinks me simple but sup.
BOSE he will excuse it; for he knows
,eople in the country are different from
hose in the city,"
Eliva commisserated her unsuspect-
ng friend, being thoroughly convinced
hat her cousins only object in convers
ng with her was to amuse himself with
ler simplicity.
Well, the evening came; and so did
he invited guests; and likewise the
greatest trial of pride Eliva had ever
experienced. Lawrence having pre-
'iously requested her to introduce him
o her friends, in order that he might |
,e on familiar terms with them, she |
vent through the ceremony like mar.
yr. How awkwardly the young men
bowed and shook hands How the
,irls blushed at meeting, 30 uuexpect.
dly, fine young gentleman from the
ity What q horrid calico figure Jane
Fairfield wore and what a graceless
mot was that into which her brothers
ravat was twisted What clumsy boots
lizzie Wyman tramped abont in-she
vas so fearful of their soles! How
mall were the pretensions to fashion
displayed by any of their guests! What I
must Lawrence Gray think Of all these