The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-12-26

such speech. L should feel conscious
and uncomfortable after hearing him
made fun of.
Kitty saw that she had gone too far,
and turned the subject with ready tact !;
she was a natural tease, but did not like
to see any one in bad humor, and in that
way was restrained oftentime from
wounding by her mischievous propen-
sity.
Several days had passed since the
girls conversation, when the object of it
called to see Charlie about the result of
some experiment he had been making.
A newly-engaged servant answered
his ring.
All unused to the ways of the family,
instead of conducting the visitor to Char
lies den, as he called it, he was taken
directly to the music room, where his
young friend was listening to some
Scotch airs which Lucretia was singing
in her rich contralto voice.
As he paused on the threshold for a
moment, an unobserved listener, she was
throwing her whole soul into the rem
dering of "Oh, vert thou in the cauld
blast ?"
Tears were near his eyelids as she
concluded the plaintive little song.
Thoughts long before banished from
mind which would not be morbid
looking resolutely at the, blessings vouch-
safed, instead of brooding over those
denied-now came thronging into his
mind with resistless force.
"Why, oh why could not the Great
All-Father have taken my wealth and
left me an unblemished body? Then 1,
too, could have looked forward to
happy home shared by loving heart.
Now it is denied me. Lonely and
uncared for must I go through life p
Thus for q few moments regretful
ideas came thick and fast.
But the song was ended, and, with an
effort, he became again his cheerful
self, as, balancing his broad shoulders
on his friendly crutches, he went for
ward
Charlie greeted him cordially, and
introduced him to Miss Armstrong.
She bowed, and rising, went immedi-
ately from the room.
The recollection of Kitty's remarks
made her sensitive for nim, and she was
only too glad to escape from the
scrutiny of the dark eyes she feared
could read her thoughts on her too
| expressive face.
Bertram attributed her departure to a
different reason.
a." Like all others, she wishes toavoid
showing her aversion to cripple" he
thought, bitterly.
During her stay at the Langdon's he
formed q habit of calling often, and
never objected to being drawn by
Charlie into the family circle, although
formerly he had preferred to have him
all to himself, and to avoid the ladies of
the family.
Several times upon his entrance,
Lucretia found an opportunity to leave
upon )me ostensible errand ; but, after
time she forgot to be nervous about
his visits, and remained an intsrested
listener to his eloquent and instructive
conversation, and then he learned to
look for the swift glow of sympathy
which never failed to brighten the large
gray eyes, as the chosen theme scared to
regions accessible only to those gifted
with natures above the commonplace.
The Langdons lived comfortably and
even elegantly, but could not afford a
carriage.
One evening, Just at sunset, Mr.. Ber-
tram drove up to the door, and asked for
Miss Kitty.
She came to the door, and absolutly
danced with pleasure when he invited
her and her friend out for drive.
1t took the girls but few moments to
put on their wraps and take their places
in toe the carriage.
As Mr.. Bertram took his seat in front
of them he said to Kitty
"I am sorry I never have thought
before that drive might be enjoyed by
some of my young friends. / have been
very selfish in appearance, fear; but it
was in reality owing to my poor appre-
citation of my lonely rides. 1t never
occurred to me that they could be made
endurable to pleasant society"
Time few on wings.
Kitty's tongue, as usual, was on
vivacious motion; and Lucretia now and
then chimed in, although her enjoyment
was most of the time too deep for words.
Suddenly from the roadside rushed
tiny Skye-terrier, evidently thinking his
mission lay at the hores' feet; but
shrek and a writhing bundle of fur soon
convinced the occupants of the carriage
that it was all mistake ON the puppy's
part.
With faint cry Kitty put her hand
kerchief to her eyes.
Not so Lucretia.
"Please, Mr.. Bertram, have the car
riage stopped. must see if the poor
little thing is killed.
"Now, Gree. none of your old
tricks" said Kitty, petualantly. "I
really believe" turning appealingly to
Mr.. Bertram, "that if you don't inter-
fere, she'll bring the horrid little thing
into the carriage. shall faint, Tn
sure shall, if she does. She always
had weakness for the manned Of
creation"
ttThan M,oa Tono1op naphana vnur