The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-03-17


off, promising TO be home early. Then
MIR. Fcnton settled down for Il nap
Mrs. Fenton buried herself in 'Lorna
l)oone;' and the girls yawncd over
thcir. Japanese canvas, fearing dull
evening.
The air gently fluttcred the lace cur
tains. the mellow light shonc down
from the many-globcd chandelier upon
the fresh white mating, the linen
drapcd furniture, the pictures and stat
ucttcs, the three ladies in their pretty
evening dresses. and the old gentleman.
snoring away behind his newspaper:
all was as quiet as quiet could he, when
Il violent peal at the door-bcll made
them all nearly jump out of their skins.
"Who on earth is that asked Mr..
Fenion, bouncing up.
Mrs. Fcnton dropped her book and
gave scared look into the hall.
81 suppose it's Mr.. Vanderpool," said
Mabel.
'Oh. no, he never rings like that"
said Florence.
Their old colored waiter had opened
the door by this time, and a loud voice
was heard inquiring, "Docs Mr.. Fcnton
Mr.. Samuel Fcnton-.livc hcrc?"
eyes, ma'am, he does old James
answered, respectfully.
"Wa'al, then, guess I'll walk right
in-l seen the folks through the win
der" and apparently before the old SER
want could stop her, the owner of the
voice did "walk right into" the parlor
"A tall. strong-fcatured woman, with
iron-grcy hair, clad in brilliantly
lowered dress that bulging hoop
skirt showed to advantage, and a shawl
of vivid red and yellow plaid. A bon
net of the shape called poke was OH her
head, and from il dangled thick green
veil. She wore grey cotton gloves, and
one hand firmly grasped lumpv car
pct-bag, the other fat umbrella. She
looked comfortable and common from
top TO toe. She pecred at the group
through her steel-bowed spcctaclcs, and
tucking her umbrella under the carpet
bag arm, she extended her hand.
''Wa'al, now, s'posc yer don't know
me. I'm Jernsha Hcvington-ycr cous-
in, Jerusha Hevington."
The stricken family were dumb. Mr..
Fenton was the first to recover. lie
took the proaercd hand, shook il warm
ly, and led the lady TO chair, begging
her to be seated; he could not say that
she was welcome, but he tried to make
her feel as if she were. Mrs. Fenton
then came forward, and sitting down
beside her, asked some friendly cues
tions about the journey; and the girls,
II little cOnscience-smitten, offered TO
take her things.
'Wa'al, | guess ! won't Jest now,
thank ycr-l'vc got to go and see about
my trunk in minute; he'd it left in a
grocery store jest around the corner.
The young man was awful pleasant
when told him that | was one of your
folks-hc seems to set a heap by You"
Good gracious." thought Florence,
with shuddcr. 81 wonder if she has
been going all through the city advcriiS-
ing her relationship with us''
"Wa'al Samuel" began Miss Jcrusha,
''yer'vc got two fine likely gals; they'd
onghtcr TO help their mar a sight in do
in houscwOrk and sich 1t must take n
powerful heap O. work to keep all them
iiissin's clcan'-with an admiring, awe
struck glance about the room. Then
| she wont nn- 10 a., "t all the cnlIdrcn
yer'ye got, Maria?'
Mrs. FentOn answered that she had
two more, Il son and little daughter.
Mabel offered TO send for her little sis
ter, thinking that child might make
converse easier, but Miss .Jcrusha an
swered, with such evident alarm and
disrclisl. ''For laws sake, no. can't
bear children,' that she drew back Of
Tended. Mrs. Fenton looked umnoyed.
but Miss .Icrusha, unabashed, began to
complain Of the drought up in their
place, while IN awful silence fell upon
the rest.
a quick light ring made the girls
Nta lnt,xnnil,.
Mr.. Nandcrpool-I am sure for the first
time in their lives. TO have Mr.. Van
dcrpool, of all beings in the world, see
this dreadful rclntivc-Mr. Vanderpool.
whose father belonged to the oldest of
Knickerbockcr families, and whose
mother was an +. +. ": who was so
lastidious and refined himself! II took
only few seconds for this to rush
through their brains, when in Mr.. Van
derpool walked. lie was greeted in a
rather embarrassed manner by them all
and inveiglcd into seat rs far as posi-
BILE from Miss Jcrusha, on prctcnsc OF
It's being cooler by the window.
4 But Miss Jerusha didn't mean to be
left in the background-she got up from
her chair and stalked over TO the group.
"WhO's this young man." she blandiy
with her cotton forclingcr.
| Mabel, with Il very rcd face, intro
duced 'Aliss Hevington,'' mentally
grateful that the name wasn't Mulkins
or SnOOks.
Mr.. Nandcrpool made an astonishcd
bow, but Miss Jcrusha held out her
hand, and gave his an unmcrciful grip,
eXclaiming heartily, I'm real glad 10
, see yer. mister. But see here. SIS. TO
Mabel-''I amt ashamed o. bcin' your
consin-ycr might hey introduced me IL
sich."
"Wa'al, now. | didn't spcct io see
: sich fine ieller the il>i night coinr-
beau q yourn, | s'posc?" hr said to
Mabel, in II loud voice.
+ Mabel wished that the earth would
open and swallow some one ofthc party.
Then ordering Mr.. Nandcrpo0l Ito
set down on the soly." she took her
place beside him when he had obcyed.
"Wa'al, Yer needn't git so all-fired
, red; yer amt got no call to be ashamed
o. him; he seems nice nuff Kind o.
: young man."
Mabel felt the cold shivcrs running
I up and down her back, and thought she
knew the meaning of purgatory now.
A Miss Jerusha, quite blissfill, turned tc
Mr.. Vanderpool, and put some search.
: ing questions with regard to his 'tradc. =
Mr.. Vanderpool politely answered that
! he was studying for the bar.
Il "Hum! bartender; | shouldn't he,
Y thought it.' was Miss Jerusha's com
I ment.
p The girls sat shuddering, and wonder
ing what was coming next. Mr. ant
!. Mr.. fenlon were holding council o
g war IA the back parlor.
Miss Jerusha was silent for the spac,
: OF three minutes, gazing upon Mr.. Van
I derpool with such ardent admiration
o that he began TO feel nervous.
I "You're awful like Linus Swineiield! 7
d she exclaimed at length-''the ftist bea,
s i ever he'd. knowed him when W.
n went to the daaetrict schnol Thav nc,