Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-02-17

/ 81 didn't wish for a great stupid
young man in her place" explains Har-
old, with short laugh. "That he
would necessarily have been great and
stupid only feminine logic can prove; its
beyond me. But if Albert had come
first, and Alberta, by some other name,
second, she wouldn't have been an only
child, as she is now, petted and indulged
in every whim and fancy, until she imag-
ines herself a queen and all the world
her slaves"
1" You said a princess few moments
ago, )" says Cora, demurely.
And perhaps she wouldn't be smiling
on that grinning idiot, Dan Van Rens-
selaer-they say she's going to marry
him, his fortune equaling her own, and
his great-great-great-g grandfather
having been one of the very first Dutch
men that landed on these shores-and
turning away from the fellow she has
known from her infancy, and who has
Whoa, Ned, keep still Why the deuce
don't she and her train make their ap-
pearance ?"
They don't make their appearance,
and Cora begins to talk again.
"Harold, you wrong Alberta indeed
you do. 1t is you that are foolishly
proud, not she. When she went abroad,
she left us rich; when she came back,
she found us poor and yet she had only
been home two days when she sought us
out. And how did you receive her? In
the coldest manner and then raved and
swore when she was gone-you needn't
contradict me; | distinctly remember
two very wicked words you said-because
pshe didn't rush into your arms and kiss
you at meeting as she did at parting,
three years before. Can't you under
stand, you horrid, splendid old boy, that
what is just allowable in girl of fifteen
would be highly improper in young
lady of eighteen And you've only
called upon her once since her return
once in six long months and pray what
did your lordship do on that occasion
Scowled and growled and snapped at
Louis Vance in such ferocious manner
that he told my Fred-poor Fred what
pity they're taking count of stock to-
night he actually thought" with a
little chuclle, "you were losing your
senses. And what's more, Mr. Harold
Brown and the dimpled chin is thrust
forward defantly-"I [ think and so does
Fred, that it's your duty to apologize for
the way you behaved that evening. And
don't believe she's engaged to Dan Van
Rensselaer, at all. That was only rumor
that hoated over here from Paris, and |
see no reason why you should accept it fol-
the blessed truth any more than you dc
the thousand and one idle reports that
are always floating about. And Harold,
if you really love her, why don't you tell
her so? Fred told me the moment he
found out. But there sha'n't talk any
more it's no use.
1t is not" declares Harold, with en-
pbasis " for unless, by some unforeseen
turn in the wheel of fortune, she becomes
as poor as myself, and don't believe the
wheel contemplates any such turn. shall
never speak of love to Miss Alberta Lee ,
" Rude, obstinate, wretched boy 7
scolds the little sister GO wash my
hands of you. f,you insist upon being
unhappy, be so. Not another word do yor
hear from me tonight, for my breath il
all frozen on my veil, making it stiff ant
uncomfortable, and I've reason to think
Notwithstanding my promise to the con
trary, my big brother, Tn going tt
snecze."
my darling" cries the big brother
lumbling in his great coat pocket, "Tv,
another sky, OF moon, or cloud, OF what
ever you call Thought it as I camt
along for fear
"Har," interrupts Cora, solemnly
"if you wrap another thing about me
cven ii it be the finest gossamer, / shal
cease to breathe" and she twines tn
veil she had unfolded about the lowe
part OF her face again, and relapses int
silence.
"Here she is-and time, / think,
says Harold, his blue eyes flashing witt
no pleasant light, as q laughing part
ran down the steps of the Lee mansion
, and crowded into the empty sleigh
"And, thunder and Mars that inferna
t Dan Van Rensselaer, is at her side
G'lang, Ned p savagely. And ava
they all start, laughing, singing an
shouting as only young people sleig
7 riding ON a fine moonlight night ca
laugh and sing and shout.
An hours ride, and then stop of a
, hour or two at an old fashioned hotel fo
t dance Che sole music for which wa
furnished by very old violin) and
4 supper.
$ At the supper an enormous turke
. presided, flanked by crisp salads, broile
g quails, and the various pies of the cour
: try; but he, the turkey, didn't presid
long, for he was soon reduced to muc
less than a skeleton; and then the sleigh
: were brought from the stable, and til
d heads of the horses turned homewar(
and the good natured landlady and til
d red haired chambermaid, and Dan Va
s Rensselaer, and his chums had all the
v could do in the way of searching for a
= ticles of wearing apparel, and helping G
9 jackets, and holding shawls and cloak
n and tying wells, for at least fifteen mil
s utes.
e Hurry up" at length shouts son
o one from outside, " if you want to get
|, the city before the moon turns her baC
IS on u.s." and down stairs they go pei
nell, helter-skelter, and jump and tur
J. BILE, and are lifted into the sleighs agai,
Harold Brown grasps his own particl
6 lar charge from the group as they reac
c the roadside, and carefully seating h
e in his sleigh, heaps the heavy rob
). around her and springs in himself.
a Hundreds of silvery bells jingle t
n gether in pleasant discord, and avn
d they speed for home once more.
}. How lovely she looked tonight
% begins Harold, after five minutes
:, lence. "You needn't speak, toad. Aft
!, that warm room and the dance and t
IS supper, it is more necessary than ev
h that you should be careful. All / ask
st you is to listen. AS listener you cal
er be surpassed, although as q talker, ii
most women, you are apt to get thin
es q little confused. But don't go to slee