Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-04-19


frank impulsive nature-had her desire graf
fled sooner than she had dared to hope.
Mr.. Lennox was late to tea that night, and
explained the fact by saying, 81 went four
miles out Of my road to see David Dalrym-
pies new steam-thresher, and behold, when
| got there, it was locked up, and he away
with the key in his pocket. And what do you
think Margaret ?-he had gone to be mar
ried."
"Not really"
REALLY tried to pump old Sally as to
the age and antecedents of the bride, but she
was taken deaf at once, and not n word could
] extract. Master David had told her TO have
good fire and boil ham, and she'd got a
good fire and she'd boiled the ham-that was
all and she wasn't one to ask questions
about things as didn't consarn her. Then she
pinched her lips tight and began to poke the
fire; and as it struck me that the remark
about things which didn't 'consarn' people
was meant to be personal, give it up and
came away"
ooh dear! What dreadful woman do you
suppose has pounced upon that poor little
David? An old maid, of course or some har-
py Of a widow"
II can't say as to that but / imagine she's
good-looking, and that David's in love with
her"
Dear, what makes you think thaty
"Oh, because of the pains he has taken
about the house. Lots of new furniture, and
everything redded up. He's bought a carry
all, Sally said"
'Who is this person that you are talking
about Z" asked Felicia
"a neighbor of ours-seven miles off, to
be sure, but that counts as neighborhood in
the country. Such nice, clever man, Fell
cia good farmer too and thoroughly re-
spectacle in every way but, poor fellow! so
unfortunate in his appearance-a dwarf al
most, with the head and shoulders of grown
person, and stunted legs no bigger than a
child's"
oh" almost shrieked Miss Mallows,
that must be my little man in the car.
came all the way from New Haven with him
and his bride = and she plunged into de-
scription which left Mrs. Lennox as much ex-
cited as her friend.
II must see her." she cried "We'll drive
over in dny or two"
Weather was unpropitious. however, and
the day or two proved nearly fortnight.
Mrs. Lennox had double errand being pro-
yided with basketful of Zonale geraniums
to be exchanged for cuttings from old Sally's
famous chrysanthemums but when, after
knocking a long time at the seldom-u used front
door of the farmhouse, they made their way
round to the kitchen, and from thence to the
family sitting-room, no one was visible, and
the tireless hearth and neatly piled books and
papers on the table made it evident that the
apartment had not been used of late While
they fingered and wondered, creaking step
came down the stairs, and old Sally with a
tea-cup in her hand, entered the room. She
salutel the ladies grimly.
Thank ye. Miss Lennox I'd like the
gcraniums well enough if I'd time to tew
round with 'em, but jest now my hands is
full, without taking care Of plants, Amusing
Miss Dalrymple."
Mr.. Dalrymple's wife: Is she i1?"
Yes, she is and she amt. 'Tain't no per
tikilar kind of sickness as can see but shes
weak water and looks bad give her
pennyroyal when she fust come, thinkin' il
might be she'd kctched an inside cold on the
journey but it didn't do no good, and she
KEEP on not eatin' nothin' and gettin more
and more peakin. till finally she took to her
bed, and to-day Mr.. Davids gone over for
the doctor. He set up with her last night
She didn't want him to, but he said he
shouldn't sleep anyhow, aud he'd ruther. II
don't seem AS if it need take up any time
a-waitin' on her, for she don't ask for any
thing from days end to days end but sick
ness takes steps any way you fix it, and
haint done much except go up stairs and
down agin these four days"
Dear me :" began Mrs. Lenox. But Fe.
licia, moved by an impulse, broke in.
Il think ! must have come on in the same
train with Mrs. Dalrymple. | wonder if ]
might so up and see herr"
Rather to her surprise. Sally made no OBJ
jcction.
''She hain't Nid she wouldn't see nobody.
and mebbe it'll rouse her up a bit" was her
ultimatun. and Miss Mallows ran lightly up.
door stood half open; she tapped, and in
answer to faint Come in," entered the
bedroom where, covered with resplendent
star-patterned patchwork quilt, lay her late
fellow-taveller.
The pale cheeks, from which much of the
childish roundness had wasted, flushed at
sight of her
Il hope you will forgive me for coming up
so unceremoniousy," began Felicia. speak
ing rapidly to hide her own nervousness.
Your old housekeeper gave me leave, and
well, | felt so sorry for you, sick and alone in
IL strange place, that | wanted to come. If il
tires you, you must send me away"
The girl looked at her a moment in silence.
Then she said, Wont you sit down? There's
a chair"
Miss Mallows sat down. She was pleas
ant object to look at in her olive green's and
pheasant browns, with cheeks and eyes bright
ened by frosty air, and the invalid felt it.
You was in the car the day l came, wasn't
you?' she said. l recollect your hat. I've
been sick most ever since. 1t seems long
time
The first few weeks in a new place are
apt to seem long" replied Felicia kindly
and dare say you miss your home"
Il haven't any home to miss'-sadly.
Indeed"
No. l don't remember my folks at ALL OF
scarcely. My father he died when was born,
and mother when l wasn't but two. hadn't
anybody else, so they sent me to the orphan
asylum, and lived there fifteen years.
Poor child Did you? And what then 2:
Then was took by Mr. Parker over to
Cheshire. was their help, but they was very
good to me, and it was most of n home I'd
ever had Miss Parker she liked to have me
call her ma, and did"
And then you married Mr.. Dalrymple."
Yes" The blue eyes clouded over, and
the lips closed tightly over the one word.
And now l hope you'll have real home
of your own at last. What a pleasant old
place this is Even at this season one can
see that. And my friends tell me that Mr..
Dalrymple is so kind and good and clever, and
SO much respected in the neighborhood am
sure you cannot fail to be happy with him,
though just ut first the farm may seem "A little
lonely and strange"
The reply to these well-meant remarks was
unexpected, for the bride burst into a violent
fit of crying, which no soothing on the part
of her dismayed guest ayailed to check.
IN tell you about IT., she sobDed at last,
quieting little. and won to confidence as it
were, by the tears in Felcia's own eyes. Il
haven't had any one to tell before, and I'm
so unhappy. didn't ever think l should
feel so when got married. They all said
should be n fool if / didu't take Mr.. Dalrym-
pie because he was SO well OF, and he want
ed me so much: even Miss Parker said she
couldn't countenance no such thing as my
sayin' no, ana I'd never have such another
chance the longest day lived. Then Tdnev
er had no one to do for me before, and he
gave me such lot of things, and l did SC
l'ke to look nice and pretty like ladies do, and
Sol DID. And then somehow, when it was
all over, and had to go off with him, it come