Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-04-27

e'A4AAfANAANNN
times TO my love and sympathy"
"And you don't - hate me ?" faltered
Hebe, yielding little cold palm into the
minister's hand.
mot altogether" he laughed
He led her back 10 the soat,--the great
syringa bush over il was in It's sweet white
prime Of Towering. There, nesting up 10
him like grieved child, she told him the
true story Of the jumbles, emitting only the
sacrifice Of the fourteen cents.
"But 10 have everybody think that |
meant TO vex you, with little catch ia
the breath----"when love you better than
any Of them do--even old Deacon Biddle."
"Better tnan Deacon Biddle ~
"Oh, ever so much l have wished" said
Hebe, laughing softly in the fulness Of her
happy confidence, fifty times, that l was
your little daughter to dust your books, and
pray for you all day long--but / can do
that, now"
"ADd do you, Hebe 7" the minister's voice
was broken.
"Yes, SIR" said Hebe.
eff there Amt the minister settin' under
the syringy bush with Hebe Gladney," ex-
claimed Miss Crane, making a double.bar-
relied spy-glass Of her hands, and gazing out
Of the window as Il the sight had horrible
fascination for her.
Cant something be done, Deacon Bid
die 2"
"Wa'al, yes" said the Deacon, squaring
his elbow aud induIgiug in that peculiarly
mellow gurgle OF his "s'posin you take my
arm, Miss Cinthy, and we'll walk down aud
take swing on the gate to show them how
ketching is bad example. Shall we, ma 2"
Whereat Mother Biddle laughed mel
low laugh in its way, too-and said, "Dont
mind his chat, Cintby," but Miss Crane had
hounced away TO SOW the seeds Of scandal in
more congenial soil
"And you will not 60 in with me, Hebe,
and let me explain it to the people2 l will
shield your aunt as much as possible" urged
M Bliss.
But Hebe shrank from facing them again
that night; and if he would be 50 good as
TO tell them she would run home alone.
At the gate--he followed her 20 far,-she
said timedly, II don't know how l dared to
tell you all my heart, sir; but it was 90 full,
and you were SO kind-so kind !" the happy
tears we're glistening 10 Hebe's eyes.
III understand you, little daughter"
AS he stopped, the moonlight showed him
tremulous sweet mouth held innocently up
10 him, but he only kissed her forehead.
Goodnight. little daughter" and he laid his
hand in blessing on her head"
As she sped away down the narrow path
so narrow that her dress wiped the dew
from the faces of daisies and dandelions--he
watched her with new warmth at his heart
and sense Of purity, as if the earth had
taken baptismal vow Of holiness upon its
lips and the stars were registering it.
As for Hebe, she fairly few homeward,
too light.hearted to walk. The door was
open. Miss Stebblns was wrapped in invisi-
bility il not in slumber. and the child crept
to her room aud to bed, like a bird with
new song in its throat, which it must wait
till morning to practice She tried to meas
ure this new happiness to assure herself Of
its reality, TO feel again each thrill Of utter
comfort and content, from the FIRST touch Of
his hand upon her shoulder--such strong
and gentle haud--to his fatherly kiss Aud
she was to be his little daughter always |!
But suddenly her new happiness crumbled
in her hands to dust,-the change came 10 a
breath ;--Hebe was only fifteen, but she
blushed the blushes and wcpt the tears OF
tweuty-one, as she hid her face in the pillow
from the moonlight.
The next day Mr.. Bliss and Miss Crane
met upon Miss Stebbins's DOOR step--far from
it. However prone the minister might be to
clandestine meetings under syringa bushes,
Miss Crane could not accuse him Of seeking
tete a-tetes with herself 1t would be un.
charitable to suspect that this made her a
keener moral detective or sharpeued her sense
of virtue.
Hebe ushered them into Miss Stebbins's
parlor, to which shortly descended that lady
with an enigmatical expression on her face.
She bowed irigidly to Mr.. Bliss, who said
with perfect cordiality:
1--WE missed you from our party last night
Miss Stebbins."
IL was cleaning the communion silver
Mr.. Bliss. l may be unworthy Of commun-
ion myself, but hope do my duty by the
silver" replied the lady, severely.
The silver, which at Miss Stebbins's own
request had been oon6ied to her care for the
year, was in danger of being refined quite
away, for according to her own account, its
cleaning was the business and pleasure of
her life.
~ thank you, on behalf of the church, said
Mr.. Bliss, and then conversation languIshed.
Miss Crane had come expressly to tell
Miss Stebbins of the minister's "goings on"
with Hcbe. Miss Stebbins was burning to
hear the results Of her malice, for Hebe's lips
had been sealed GU the subject all day.
"Hebe," said tho minister abruptly, "get
your hat, please; | want your opinion about
the parsonage aower-beds"
"Hebe's got an afternoons ironing to do"
said Miss Stebbins sharply.
avery well my housekeeper will gladly
come over and help you. | cannot wait,
Hcbe," turning to the girl, who stood in an
agony Of hope and fear in the doorway.
That shade Of authority gave wings to her
feet as she mounted the stairs, that nerved
her TO walk off with the minister under the
indignant noses of the two maiden ladies.
"Well, l never !" calculated Miss Steb.
bins, peering through the blinds at the pair,
and trembling with rage; "Of all owdacious
men, minister is the owdaciousest, tho
mink ! waikiki of under my very eyes"
"Ah, If you knew all, Lizy," said Miss
Crane, mournfully.
"Ail! If there's anything worse, I'd like
to hear it," exclaimed the other, with uncon.
scious sincerity.
"DOn't ask mo If it was anybody but
your own niece Knight have the heart to
tell it,"
10, l can bear it. I'm prepared for the
worst"
"Well, what does Hebe do, when we was
all at table, but sneak out o'doors, winkiug
of course to Mr.. Bliss on the way, and what
does he do in the middle of one Of Deacon
Biddle's stories, but foller her on; aud
,ohere, do you suppOsef To the Syringy
bush never should have susnieioned