Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-05-14

her father to the plump, cool berries,
"that as the delicate flavor Of the fruit
tickles your palates you will remember
that they we're picked by these fair fin
gers lifting up her hands in a mock
sentimental manner.
Ssh sh," came from between Mrs.
Glazier's teeth.
The young gentleman bowed. smiled
and glanced at this fair table companion
with an expectant look, evidently much
amused, and wondering when and how
she would bubble over next. He had
not long to wait.
81 am disappointed" Fear went on;
Il expected to be complimented. at least
that you would consider it such an effort
for an ethereal young creature like my
self to pick berries. and high blackber-
ries at that. that you would refuse to ac-
cept the sacrifice of my vital forces,
wounded members and torn garments,
and not touch the fruit, however tempt
ing it might look
But the obdurate young man went on
eating his berries and sugar and cream,
contemplating with an evident exquisite
satisfaction the lively picture of youth
and health opposite him, and, as he had
just finished helping himself, coolly
handed over the small cut-glass plate to
be reflled.
81 see you have passed the age of SEN
timent. Well, for that matter, SO have
/, and on that score, at least, We can
sympathize.
"Hov old do you each consider the
other to be ?" exclaimed Mr.. Haven,
seizing the point as if it was something
he had been patiently waiting for and
had almost relinquished as forlorn
hope. "Don't speak each write on a
card your honest judgment chalk ages,
as We say in Vermont. 1t would be in
teresting to know how near you could
guess. You know it is scientific fact
that young people Of opposite sexes are
incapable of judging each others ages. ;"
Fear took the card and pencil Mr..
Haven handed her and wrote unhesitat-
ingly:
II should judge by your teeth and wrinkles,
That you must be thirty-six
If indeed You are only thirty,
| Father Time has been playing you tricks
Mr.. Jacobs. not having faculty for
rhyming. took card from his elegant
case and penciled:
by your looks. sweet sixteen; by
your department. twenty-four; being q
Yankee, will split the difference, and
say twenty"
They exchanged the cards. AS each
glanced at the others tell-tale hand
writing. the look of utter astonishment
that transfxed the faces of both was too
much for even MIR. Haven's lawyer-like
immobility of feature. and his boisterous
laughter was joined in quite heartily by
all the rest H
..You knew it all the time" exclaim-
ed Fear, with undisgulsed asperity Of
tone. Il believe you all knew it,
''Of course VIC did, my DEAR" said
Mr.. Haven. Il hope you don't think I
would have advised your indulging in a
wild goose chase after pension even
for fun, had l not known very we'll that
y. j., the assistant of my friend. the
honorable commissioner of pensions,
would have opened your letters. And
when it came to that, knew nothing
very bad could come from correspond
ence between you and my brother-in-law,
and the son of an old friend of your ia.
ther. OF course. your respected parents
were duly enlightened at the outset"
81 surrender unconditionally," Mr.
Jacobs broke in, coming round the table
to Fears side. Il had been casting
about in my mind, all the way from
Washington, how could arrange to see
my wife without my brother and sister
here knowing of our correspondence. fol
l thought they would have no end o.
amusement at my expense Well, things
never turn out as we expect.
.'And it is the impossible that always
happens" added Fear. rising and re
ceivlng his profered kiss, with many
bushes to be sure. but (she used to say
afterwards) she was too spunky to show
the white feather; ''who would have
supposed that my long lost HUSBAND
would appear in this way!'
81 trust you win find him every way
as satisfactory as pension, . said th'
overjoyed little Mrs. Haven, leaning
over and kissing Fear in her turn. q
was tired of waiting for him to marry
and as the opportunity offered itself s.
nicely. could not forbear to lend hin
a helping hand"
81 saw the denouement must COM
soon," said Lawyer Haven, ''an1 I wa
irresistibly moved to precipitate 1t some
what-if it was done rather bunglingl.
. for / wouldn't have missed being pres
ent on the occasion-not for the Cover
norship of our good state
1--WE must consider ourselves the in
nocent victims of a conspiracy" retort
t ed Fear, ..and you experienced one
must fancy how we feel under the cir
I cumstances, but trust the denouemen