Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-07-13


to Albany to tea."
"The horrid old thing" said Meta, who
had been in the back parlor. "Why did
you not send him awayP
"Twenty dollars a week." 1 replied.
"Come aud help me about dinner"
"who's thatP" snarled our boarder, John
Carroll, when Meta came into the dining
room.
"My sister, Miss Reynolds" Ireplied,
proud of the sweet, fair girl, whose golden
hair and blue eyes were more conspicuous
ly lovely in her mourning dress.
"H'm-young-pretty-vain, of course
and lazy piece, don't doubt"
Meta would have retorted, but made
figure in the air representing twonty, aud
she bit her lips In silence.
Every dish upon the table passed under
fire of scathing criticism, but our board
or ale so heartily that ceased to mind his
sneers, and after dinner he took himself
off to his room, and we saw no more Of
him until tea time, when he attacked straw
berries, cream and mullins as if he had not
dined for week.
We soon found out that his bark was
worse than his bite, for he paid promptly
and was not troublesome, though he de-
lighted TO send Meta on all sorts of errands
for him. lie saw she disliked him, and
took grim satisfaction in making her wait
upon him and keep near him. lie would
listen for hours to her voice as she sang
softly patting time with his mites Of wrink-
led hands; he would send her all over the
c,r f. xvatalinu
her graceful figure with hali-closed eyes,
to hide his really keen gaze. lie found
out W hat dishes sho excelled in making,
and called for one or another every day.
lie brought her diapidated gloves to
mend, and asked her to hem set of hand
kerchiefs.
And all the time they kept up most be-
wildering war of words, for Meta soon lost
all fear of Mr.. Carrolrs snarliug, and when
lie made a spiteful allusion to youths van.
ity aud frivolity, she retorted by references
to ill-temper and fault-fndng.
August was half over, and we were
thinking of the probable loss of our board.
or in a short time, when he was taken very
i'll with rheumatic fever, brought on by sit
thug too late in thin clothing on the porch.
He was dreadfully i'll and helpless, unable
TO move even a finger without agonies Of
| pain. 1t was fortunate he was so small,
for Margaret and / had to lin him like q
child, and feed and nurse him day and night
for three long months.
We did not allow Meta to take any of the
laborious nursing, but Mr.. Carroll craved
her presence continually, and sofiened by
suffering gave her no sharp words, while
she would have considered it actual bar
barity TO speak anything but gently to an
old man helpless from pain.
1t brought tears TO my eyes very oflen 10
| see how the snap of words changed TO
downright tenderness as Meta softly chaied
the aching hands, put food between the
parched lips, aud uttered words of tender
ness and affection that were perfectly sin
| cere.
She read TO him, she opened the door,
and played or sang for him to hear; she
| brought bouquets of the choicest flowers
to his bedside; she made all his favoiite
dishes, and thought no sacrifice too great if
she could take from the weariness of the
sick hours.
In November, when our country home
looked dresry in the first fall of snow, our
boardcr was able to hobble down stairs be-
| tween Margaret and myself for crutches,
and Meta made the sitting room bower of
brightness to welcome him.
She was looking little pale from so
many days of anxiety, and yet she was as
lovely as a woman could be TO my partial
eyes.
We had quite a feast for tea, in honor of
our patients recovery, and after tea Mr..
Carroll, drawing Meta down beside him
upon the sofa, said to me:
"Mrs. Armstrong, what would you do if
this bonnie blue-eyed maiden were to be
won away from your"
81 should miss her." said; "but If she
were 10 be happier, would let her CO."
| "Meta," be said, aud his voice was al
most solemn, "would you leave your quiet
country home for splendid city mansion,
where luxury reigns every day, where SER
wants are ready to meet every order, how
ever unreasonable, where jewels would
adorn your beauty, where rich dress would
| be in constant wear, and where gaiety OF
every kind had only to be desired 10 be in
dulged in. Would such life make you
happy9"
A shadow crept over Meta's face, an ex-
preston Of trouble in her eyes.
| "I cannot TELL" she said in low tones.
"I have not named ALL" said Mr.. Car
roll, and now his voice was eager and his
keen eyes glistened. "I have not mention
ed the prince of this fairy vision. have
not described the husband who would
watch to minister to every desire, to grant
every whim, devoted, loving, attentive and
rich"
There was pause after the last word,
which had been uttered in slow emphasis.
Meta, pale and troubled, did not speak.
"Such home is open to YOU" continued
Mr.. Carroll, "and one word will bring to
your feet a most adoriug husband"
"If he offers so much," said NJ eta, in a
soft, sad voice, "he will want some re-
turn"
"only your love, he asks no more than
that"
"And have none to give"
"None2 Surely SO tender a heart is not
hardened against lover"
"But all mine was given long ago. There
is not one throb of true love that is left fol
me to promise"
The tears fell fast as my sister spoke. and
she stopped, pressed kiss upon the with
cred hand that would have enriched her
aud leit the room.
"Tell me the story" Mr.. Carroll said af-
ter she was gone, and told him.
"You think she loves Gerald Wharton p
he asked.