Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-01-29
Wasted.

give you leave 10 auInlre ner DuG fOlly
Give Polly box of bonbOns, if you like,
but don't go engaging her for every
round dance. l declare, if you do, I'll
send Miss Polly back by the next train,
and write to mamma to tuck her dresses
and relegate her to the nursery again"
The speaker is Mrs. Saltoun, beau
tiful young matron of three or four and
twenty. The subject she is discussing
with Mr.. Stanton-the handsome, stiff,
soldierly man opposite to hers her
sister Polly, a young girl of sixteen,
fresh from the paternal country rectory,
let loose from home for the first time.
Mr.. Staunton laughs in a pleasant,
half-embarrassed way he is on very in
innate terms with the beautiful young
wife of his Captain, and he does not
mind her outspokenness on the subject
Of his pronounced attentions to her SIS
ter, In the least. In spite of her threat
to send Polly home, iGhe will persist in
dancing all the round dances with the
child, he knows well that in her heart
Mrs. SaltOun is far from ill-pleased at
the turn affairs are taking.
"Polly may be only child, but she's
a remarkably nice child, and refreshes a
fellow who has had dose of the design
ing girls of the period. Come, Mrs. Sal
tern, you must let her dance with me.
am safe fellow, you know. Other fell
lows would be sure to try humbug on,
with such charming little girl"
Mrs. SaltOun heaves sigh of mock
resignation. "oh, my responsibilities I"
she says. "Here am 1 burdened with
the care of Miss POlly's well-being now,
and with three small daughters of my
own growing up in the nursery as fast
as they can. Better give her the bon
bons, Mr.. Staunton, and not insist on
my taking her to the ball tonight"
Mr.. Staunton shakes his head at the
proposition, which is made in jVSt' Win
an under cnr-.aO UI earneStness IN it.
II do insist" he says in a friendly,
half-peremptOry tone, "where is Polly
now 2"
Putting puzzles together" her sister
tells him mischievously, ''Or playing
cats cradle with my housemaid, and
wasting that functionary's time or see-
ing how she'd look with her hair turned
up and bonnet on My dear Leonard, u
Mrs. Saltoun goes on with sudden
dash of earnestness, "let the child be .
child still"
"You were engaged to SaltOun at six
teen," he urges.
"Oh, don't quote me y she cries, will
a laugh, 'it's all right with me, just be
cause Phil is Phil. How he used to hu
NOR my sudden fancies and imaginary
regrets and how he looked after me
not leaving me to my own devices t,
pick up what friends and ideas 1 liked
as half you men do. Don't quote ME;
am an exceptionally fortunate woman
and-you're not Phil
She says these last words with sud
den solemnity that is foreign to her, an,
that causes him to look grave and to re
main silent. Then she remembers that
after all, Leonard Staunton has not pre-
posed marriage to Polly; and also that
up to the present, Polly is quite innc
cent of the knowledge that he is special
ly singing her out. Remembering thes
things, she says, with a swift return t
her ordinary bright, gay manner
81 believe am going more than haI
way to meet trouble. You're rather fon
of teasing in your sober way, Leonard.
"Well, put the question by for th
time" he laughs. "What are your plar
for the day? Are you going to hear tt
band ?"
al am going to ride; you may be m
escort, if you like"
81 shall be most happy" he say
slowly, with lack of all fattering ei
/ gerness. Mrs. Saltoun is unaccustome
to have her gracious permission receive
in this way, so she says, almost coldly
Don't feel yourself bound to go b
cause l asked you"
: "Is Polly going ?" he interrupts ar
: at this plain betrayal of his feeling
| Polly's sister cannot refrain ang
against him or refrain from laughing.
"No; Polly will remain at home
her bedroom, trimming her first ba
D dress all over with rosebuds-real one
: such beauties p
"Extravagant Miss Polly l know
J my cost that rosebuds are of price"
t "But they were sent to her f; they a
d an offering of Mr. Carew."
Il "What ! that red-throated, whit
headed fellow in the-th p
. "He is in the-th, but as far as c.
e remember, he's not red-throated, al
|, certainly he's not white-headed. VII
e heresy to speak of his golden hair
Ie that way"
a 81 don't think much of him." Stau
4 ton says and then, as there isn't mu
is prospect of seeing Polly, he takes hi
ID self away.
III al doro eou xo,, Iop't fhinl> ,,1,,ob