Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-06-21

in New York, with whom he had been in
treaty pending this result, wrote TO offer a
handsome sum for the control of it. But
what were air brakes, royalties" and ten
| per cents to him just then, with IIilda evident
! ly avoiding himy She had not once come to
that side of the garden during the day. He
felt melancholy in spite of the realization of
his hopes, and in melancholy mood strolled out
to his customary walk alongside the boundary
| fence, though with little hope Of seeing Hilda,
| for twilight had fallen, and she was rarely in
the garden Mt so late an hour
Perplexed and unhappy, he fingered and
leaned, and presently, to his surprise, n little
sound, half sigh, half sob, struck his ear
He bent over; dim, crouching figure met
his eyes. 1t was Hilda, crying quietly, while
| pretending TO stake down Struggling verbena
in the flower bed below.
Miss Hilda :" exclaimed Erasmus, in
amaze. "This is too good fortune! l have
so much to tell you! :"
"Oh, you mustn't mustn't we mustn't
talk any more, replied Hilda, lifting tear
stained face. 1T isn't right. 1t will never
do"
"Who says so: - with surprise
Sister. She says people will call me light
-and-improper, and father will be
angry-and- indeed | mustn't"
Light minded! Improper. Just let me
NitCu NueIl lnuuutItu EThSlnuh- 50 lhT as
one can be said to thunder with voice lower
ed almost to whisper. "Now listen to me.
dear-dearest Hlda | have great news to
tell. My patent is granted, my fortune AS
good as made. Day after tomorrow l must
20 away
A sob from below.
"Are you sorry to have me go? Dearest
Hildn, are you sorry If you are, oven the
least tiny bit, let me have the comfort Of hear
ing you say So Don't you know that l love
you, my darling | loved you from the first
moment, think-from the very day that you
all came to this old house. Could you care
for me, dearest Will you be my wife -
"Pcrhaps-I could care" faultered Hilda.
"But-my father doesn't"
Now why should we talk Of your father Z"
broke in the impetuOus lover from overhead.
IF love you, and you-lke me. all the
fathers in the world shant stand between us.
My way is all clear now, dear IIlda / can
make you comfortable and oh won't | try
to make you happy just say Yes, and the
rest is easy. Only one word, dear love :"
1T might he easy to say yes. perhaps -
began lIlda. But an austcre voice interrupt
ed her.
My daughter, what are you doing here at
this hour, and with whom are you convers-
ing:' asked Pastor Lubke.
There he stood behind her dim and APP
pallng shape. Hilda shivcred-her voice
failed Erasmus, his courage rising with the
occasion, answered in her stead
''She was speaking to me, Sir-or rather it
was | who was speaking to her / was tell
ing Miss Hilda what | should have come this
very evening to tell you, Sir, if this oppor-
tunity had not arisen-that have news which
makes it needful for me to go away, and that
l can not 90 without saying that l love her,
and want her to be my wife, if she will. "
His voice faltered and broke
And pray, Sir who are you = asked the
pastor grimly.
My name is Erasmus stockton My faith
er was Judge Stockton, of Daubury-all my
connectionsare respectable, -" replied Erasmus
succinctly. Il can refer you to people whom
you know for my character and prospects /
have little money now and Smith IL Petrie.
of New York, have offered ; IL, 600 for an air
brake of my invention. which is Just patent
ed. can afford to keep n wife, Mr. Lubke."
And pray where have you learned to take
so great an interest in my daughter Hilda -
over this fence answered Erasmus,
stoutly Pastor Lhbke gave a grim little
laugh.
"Such things are not to be settled in a min
ute, my young friend" he said Youth is
always in hurry Hilda. you had better 90
in. If YOU will follow me to my study Mr..
-ahem Stockton, We will talk farther of
this matter"
Follow" by way of the gate, was what the
good pastor meant; and he was by no means
prepared for what happened, namely, his
young friends yauting the fence like AN nc
robat, and gaining the garden at Il single
bound
"TIurrah, darling :" he whispered to Hilda
as the pastor led the way through the garden
The fence is climbed. l always vowed that
| would get over some day or other, and l
have"
Aud so it proved. There were some bitches,
some delays. Erasmus was not allowed to
marry Hlda next week, as was his first wild
proposition, or even next month. Sisters"
wheel buzzed like great bumble-bee al
summer long, and busy fingers toiled over the
wedding outfit through winter days and spring
days, before Hilda was pronounced by her
family ready to begin her new life A
years engagement even seemed disgrace
fully short one to Sister" Had not their
own mother been betrothed for seven before
she married papa? But at last, spite of de-
lays and scruples, the long waiting ended,
and Erasmus bore away his bride He scan
dalized his sisters-in-law greatly by propos-
ing to carry her over the fence as the road
by which he himself had come in but this
was overrulod, and they departed prosaically
in "A hack like other brides and grooms. And
so We leave our little pair, as likely, for all l
can see, to live happy ever after" as any
prince and princess of fairy tale. For fairy
tales however fanciful, must strike their
roots always in solid basis of every day con-
tentnent, and, given the contentment, one
can easily dispense with the fairies s-Iidr-
pci's Bdzdr.