Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-09
A Domestic COmprOmlse.


crumpled up mass Of what appeared to be
waste paper but was in reality material
coiued from the sweat and blood of the
brains of some raw recruits from the vast
army Of unsuccessful writers, aud threw It
ruthlessy in the waste-basket.
Then she leaned back in her well-wom
chair, and took one loug breath of relief.
Her eyes half closed, the muscles Of her fine
face relaxed, and almost a smile crept about
her firm but kindly mouth.
Her work was at last in such shape that
she could leave it for a short holiday, aud
20 up to that wonderful farm Of her brother,
the professor
Visions passed before those half-closcd,
weary eyes of windblown submits amidst
purple hills, where high in the blue ether
hoated white, heecy clouds, or, dipping lazily
down at sunset, they bestirred themselves TO
wonderful phantasmagoria Of brilliancy
and color From off the southern porch
could be seen many time tits at tourna
ments, ships in full sail, the scampering of a
herd of buifaloes-all in the same patch Of
sky. In fancy she wandered through or
chards of wide-spreading, gnarled old trees,
silently ripening into such luscious fruitage
that it seemed 10 Miss Minerva here alone
could be found the golden apples of the Hes
perides. Her weary feet, shaking off the
dust of this dingy old office, already sank
deep in the meadow grass, shayen into vel
vety moss for the shapely hoofs of the three
Alderneys. Around and around spun the
gilded weather-cock Of a jockey on the top
Of Mistress kitty's milk-house, as if he were
drunken with the treasures OF cream and
butter within-such cream and butter as no
mortal ever tasted in however well appointed
l.. Al A.
here she delighted, over and over again, in
the thought Of her brothers wife, dear, little
Kitty Terhuue The most wonderful OF
women Never were there such Graham
biscuits for dyspeptic mortals, such bran
bread, such connecting of dishes 10 mend a
broken appetite and poisoned digestion, in
order to tempt them TO the enjoyment of the
full felicity of the culinary art How did
the child learn all she knew2 Where under
that golden, brown hair lay concealed this
gastronomic lore The port-wine imposed
upon a long.sutfering community sank to its
proper level when compared with kitty's
juice of the common ederberry; the catsup
which CONCEALED 10 the sides of that one
bottle in the boarding-house caster was an
entirely different article from the pungent,
red liquid under kitty's own cabalistic seal !;
the pickles and preserves which Miss Minerva
summed at all other times, were shifted and
delighted in at the farm as partaking of the
aromatic odors of the gardens of the blest.
The very next night Miss Minerva reached
the farm; and, as it was late, and she was
trayel-worn, she went straight TO bed, sink
ing with luxurious ecstasy into the snow
white drapery taking into her nostrils that
intangible perfume Of clean linen that lay
in the folds of Mistress ktty's sheets and
pillow cases, and pinning the muslin curtains
back from the chamber windows, gazing her
fill upon the soft luminous light. All the
southern consultations We're ont in their
fullest splendor, and shone down tenderly
upon this paradisiacal home
Miss Minerva was up betimes, aud went
down the back stairs TO the kitchen with
cheerful alacrity. Everything there was as
usual, spick aud span the floor secured
skillfully the tin and copper ware reflect
ing the somewhat rugged features Of our
literary friend with impartial severity.
Chloe was taking the Graham biscuits from
the capacious oven, while Mistress Kitty her
self dexsrously transferred the smoking steak
to its pretty porcelain plate. Could it be
the savory steam that made her cheeks burn,
her eyelids red Could the handle be too
| hot, that her little hands trembled And
what made that little shake in her voice. as
she bade Chloe be careful with the coffee
/ Miss Minerva's keen eyes fastened them
| selves upon the face of the young matron,
aud coming 10 the conclusion that something
had gone amiss, she slipped out Of the kitchen
again.
Some little experiment in gastronony has
| failed" she said 10 herself, "or anew recipe
has proved drlusive. Time will soften the
] snt 4.
meeting her brother in the corridor, she
found herself in his genial embrace.
These two, Professor Horace rerhune and
his sister Minerva, were the last Of theiI
race, and though devotedly fond of each
other, had drifted apart, each in their own
way.
They spent about one month in the twelve
together, and exchanged letters as often
but the sluggish blood in Miss Ainerya's
veins qnickened as she kept the long, slim
hand of her brother in her clasp, aud the
handsome blue eyes of the professor glistened
under hia spectacles.
Z" You are pale" said Miss Minerva, sean
ming closely his patrician features. You
look worn, Horace. Are you well :"
"Quite WELL he said but his hand grew
colder within her own as he spoke.
The breakfast table was so pretty a sight
that it served 10 engross the attention Of oui
city friend for a time. The white damasl
and sparkling crystal the dainty devices o
flowers here and there the juicy steak, fresl
from the deft fingers of the wonderful Kitty
the fragrant Mocha fit for the palate Of al
Oriental; the crisp sliced potatoes the deli
eious mullins; her own little side dish o
Graham rolls the high-heaped pyramid o
fruits, with the golden apples of the llesper
des shining at the base--all these, aud more
drew her keen eyes away from her host an'
hostess.
But it suddenly seemed TO Miss Minervi
that she missed the prattle of Alistres
kitty's voice, that Ikea musical brook, ha'
been wont 10 90 on and on forever an'
the husbands proud, fond glance OF happ.
ownership not once fell toward the head D
the table.
The meal went on in silence, Kitty eatinl
little or nothing, her brown eyes bent To tn
empty plate, aud the professor picking dain
tily at a morsel of meat which Miss Minerva
had seen upon her former visits disappea
in the twinkling of an eye. All this spoile,
the appetite of good Miss Minerva, and In
three left the table in fine order for Chloe
who, after all, preferred TO eat from the dea
shelf in the kitchen and the pretty break
fast was quite thrown away.
All the morning Miss Minerva wandere,
about from porch to porch, from room d
room, till she began 10 feel lonely and uncom
Portable Her brother and Kitty seemed /.
avoid her and avoid each other. Sometime
had gone wrong, and Miss Minerva began
with heavy heart, to fear that she was
perhaps, an unwelcome visitor. She knew
that dear little Kitty had will of her own
and though the warmest-hearted of littl,
women, could not bear 10 be crossed. Sh,
also knew that her brother was firm and un
yielding 10 stubbornness. II might be tina
this visit of hers was inopportune in som'
way that Kitty might have wished IL TO b'
deferred, and her brother rebelling at thii
measure, Miss Minerva was unwittingly tb'
cause of all this trouble. How II panied The
heart Of poor Miss Minerva ltwas shocl
TO her TO find that she could be such nui
sance as to put this sweet landscape out oi
tune. II was better that she should go bach
TO her dingy office that always yearned fol
her coming, and welcomed her with rather
| tnfruatVa 1a.I