Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-03-24

cants-a tidy, quiet girl, my pick, in fact
for Mrs. Darlnell took her at my favorable
impression.
liked the mistress, and liked the place
from the irst, and continued to like II.
did not find tho old lady 10 be as disagreea-
BILE as she said, and she never found fault
except in the mildest and most hesitatina
way. And so six months passed off, and
my mistress and myself began TO approach
familiarity. Tired of her loneliness, she
frequently brought her knitting-she piled
her needles with all tho assiduity Of a Ger
man Frau-to the kitchen, and would sit
there while was engaged about my duties,
rarely saying anything, but apparently
wrapped in reverie.
At length there was little change in my
monotonous life. One Sunday l was at the
morning service in church, and had boon
in pow in the gallery, taking my seat, as
usual, where could get it, and was a little
tardy in coming out. AS came to the ves-
thule, the rector came down the aisle and
passed by me, pausing at the door mo-
ment to speak 10 the organist.
"What was the trouble in the choir, Mr.
Eston2" he asked.
"Miss Patten, our contralto, has been
taken suddenly i'll, and l don't know how
l can supply her place at short notice for
the afternoon service"
THAT is inconvenient," said the rector,
aud after some other remarks, passed on.
stepped up 10 where the organist stood,
with knitted brows, and tapped his arm.
lie turned at once.
Excuse me for having overheard you
without intending it," / said "but per-
haps can get you out Of your difficulty.
have contralto voice, am familiar with
the church service, and sing at sight"
"Nill you come into the choir?" he said.
followed him, aud he signaled the other
members Of the choir, who were still there.
A very short trial satisfied him, and prom
ised TO come in the afternoon.
asked leave Of Mrs. Dartnell, of course,
telling her tho circumstances.
"Will you not fail ?" the old lady inquir-
ed.
smiled a negative.
"Wby, never knew you were musical
at is not the business Of house maids to
play on their mistresses' pianos"
VERY good but you have been some
thing more than a servant here. Will you
let me hear you sing now?"
My fingers had been long itching to touch
that piano, which was kept regularly in
tune, though mover used, and sat down 10
it willingly. l was out of practice, my
fingers were still; but excitement more
than made up for it, l suppose, for bad
never played better, and my voice was In
excellent order.
II foresee you will get that place perma-
nently."
"oh, no Miss Patlen will he well direct
ly."
"No, no! 1 see this will be your turning
point, and shall lose you''
"You shall not lose me, Mrs. Dartnell,"
said for The old lady betrayed in her
voice that she would really be sorry IL /
went.
My singing, that afternoon, was a sue
cess. Mrs. Dartnell was right about Miss
Patten. She never returned 10 the choir.
She had ruptured a blood vessel, was sent
10 Florida, remained there some months,
and came back to die. l was engaged in
her place at a salary of five hundred dollars
years little fortune to me; but / did not
lose my place in the house, which liked,
and did not find one occupation 10 interfere
with the other. To my surprise, Mrs. Dart
neil engaged another .housemaid, and put
her under my supervision, thus promoting
me TO be kind of housekeeper. / did not
demur TO this, but insisted on serving with
out pay and it was settled on tLat basis.
The old lady, whose confidence in me was
unbounded, gave me the keys, and we al
ways took our meals together. l was quite
happy, though somewhat uneasy about my
brother, from whom l had heard nothing
all this while, though my address had been
sent 10 our old rector with a request 10 for
ward any letters that might come.
One evening letter came to Mrs. Dart
nell.
"Betty, my dear" she said, Erred is be-
low in the bay, and is coming tomorrow to
pay me visit. He has promised to stay
week, and we must have the front room
above got ready for him."
"Very good" was the reply.
Erred" was her nephew, Mr.. Drury, very
rich, rather eccentric, and quite distin-
guished as a naturalist. Ihad heard enough
of him, his merits and peculiarities being
a standard subject.
Next day he came. could hear his noisy
greeting up stairs from where was in the
kitchen, experimenting preparations for
dinner; but it was "none of my funeral"
as they say, and 1 calmly proceeded with
my duties.
'Why don't you dress for dlnnerf" she
asked.
"IH 1 thought after so long an absence
you'd want to monopolizo him, - said 1, Civ
ing pudding its final stir.
sob, I'll see enough of him before his
visit is over" she replied; "and want you
to like him."
"Good gracious I" 1 exclaimed. "You
don't expect him to fall in love with The
housemald."
Don't go, Betty, for to put me in pas
sion," she cried, quoting an old play; and
up stairs she went in high spirits.
Just before dinner was ready, after CIV
ing final directions TO FRANCHISE, my Swiss
lieutenant, ran up stairs and freshened
myself up bit. was anxious to see this
paragon of nephews, and determined he
should not see me at my worst. made
my appearance In the parlor few minutes
before we were called TO The dining room,
and there Mrs. Dartnell cooed out, in her
soft way: "Miss Norman, this is my neph-
ew, Mr.. Drury."
bowed, raised my eyes, and 10 there
stood the bug hunter whom had seen near
ly year before.
But what shock to my vanity He had
not apparently carried away any vague pic