Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-02-15

rcndy to say he's got enough money, just you
put him in a cage and send him down to York
to the museum. He'll be the biggest cur'osi-
ty there"
Tina turned away dsgusted with Aunt Nab
by's worldly wisdom and went up to her room
to bathe her rufled plumes in the diviner air
of Thddicus # Udrsar-a book she had Just
discovered in the old garrct. How she would
have sliyered TO hear Aunt Nabby chuckc as
she left the room,
"Ain't she a high-Ayer, Reuben? would
MT ask no better than for her to marry Ed
dard Wyldc. She wants money to keep her
alive as much as Il new chicken wants brood
IN but she thinks it's fine TO turn up her
nose at it, poor little ignorant creetur!"
But Grandpa Hyde and Aunt Nabby both
were wise enough to sny 40 more.
In due time Clemcntinc met Ned Wylde aud
was introduced to him. lie was tall we'll
looking young fellow, with good manners and
q kind heart but Tina, from the first, scdu-
lously avoided him. She was sure money had
spoiled him, and that he would lay every COM
mon ciyility from young lady to a desire to
share that money.
There was n certain grain of truth in this
for there was not another young girl in Cow
entry who was not too glad to talk. or dance,
or drive, or row with Mr.. Wylde-not one
whom he could not have married., Miss Nabby
said, and She was partly in the right. Some
were prettior than Tina, many more eloquent
and better bred but, with the. innate per
versity of the sex, he showed very soon n
marked preference for Miss Kcnt's society,
because she offered him a new sensation that
Of being Stunned, and if one may write the
word snubbod.
Tina had, indeed, set her fnce as a flint
against him for while she was forced to ad-
NIT the sense, the manliness, the wit. and the
consideration that would have charmed her
had he been poor poet or a struggling as
pirant for political honors she felt all the
more obliged to turn away from his pleasing
society. lest her theories should tremhle, and
perhaps totter to their fall.
But nothing is certain in this world like
the man who awoke and found himself famous
one morning. poor Tina was at last conscious
that she loved Ned Wyde more than amy
creature on earth. She stood at her window
one day watching him through her closed
blinds as he rode by on thoroughbred colt
his father had bought for him before he came
to Coventry; the creature was almost unman-
ageablr, and if Ned had not been a good
horscman, would have thrown him then and
there. Tina was sure he was on the brink of
death, and every thing grew black before her.
When she looked up again it was from pill
low on the floor, and Aunt Nabby was sprnk-
ling her face with camphor.
After this revelation to herself it was use
less to try to meet Ned Nyldo with c0lmnoss
the loycliest tea-rosc tint would steal across
her pure pale check, and the dark lashes fall
over her innocent eyes. Nature betrayed her
in spite Of herself, and when Ned Wyldc fair
ly asked her to love and marry him, he was
not only gricyed but astonishod to receive a
distinct and curt refusal
That night Tina cried herself to sleep. The
consciousness of having been true to her lofty
theories was no sort Of comfort to her in
this dcsolate hour all that high-ninded con
tempt Of money did not support her at all.
She could only sob and cry and be entirely
wretched, and wish with all her soul Ned
Nyldc was rs poor rs poverty OF course
She could not come down to breakfast in the
morning and when Aunt Nabby discovered
her with red eyes sodden checks, and fever
ish lips, and demanded to know at once what
was the matter, Tina broke down again and
cried dreadfully. Aunt Nabhy was a practi-
cal female She did not pet. or pat or kiss
her luckess niece, but rat down beside her
with cup of hot coffee and fed her with u
teaspoon from that odorous beverage till II
certain sense of warmth and comfort stole ill.,
to the girls aching heart for we are all flesh
and blood. Then. with the cunning of T. ven
cradle spider, Aunt Nubby worked and worm
ed herself into the silly child's confidence,
and before Clemcntiuc knew what she had
said or unsad, arrived at the whole truth for
Aunt Nabby was one Of those iuductiye poo-
pie celebrated in her veruaculnr as master
hands at gucssin'." She never thought it
strange to hear that certain professor had
fabricated the whole duorns from its foot
tracks she would have done from the i'm
press Of one toe, and perhaps with equal
probability. She turned on the still sobhing
Tina like n witch of the Middle Ages. And
SO you've given Eddard the mitten because
he's rich Z"
aunt Nabby!" exclaimed the poor girl
what makes you say that! Oh, don't? |
never said so. Oh, its so dishonorable to tell
such a thing Oh. don't :"
But Aunt Nabby was not to be stayed or
gainsaid when she had got her head, as they
say about horses: she went right on with en-
phasis and dispatch-
''Of all the everlastin' fools l ever dd see
you do beat all Here's every other gal in
Coventry a-runnin after him because he has
got money and you're runnin' away for no
better reason. Tina Kent, look at me square
III the face Don't You like Ned Wylde -
Tina struggled in vain in the grip of this in
| carnate destiny the quick blood crimsoned
all her fair face before she could bury it in
the pillow No further answer was needful.
oh you like him, and he likes you, and
wants to marry you, and there's nothin to
hinder but you can't have him because he's
rich Wen. l do say, fools amt all dead yet.
Now set right up in bed and bark to me.
You pretend to despise money, an you lei it
come betwiXt you and the feller you like, just
rs if il was the Lord above. l call that think
in a sight more of money than most folks
does. | don't hold to marryin' any body un-
| less YOU like 'em amazin'ly-love EN- | sup
| pose you'd call it and think girl who
marries man for money, when she don't
love him, had better be tied up in halter
and hanged to begin with she amt worth
rasin any other way. But why in the Great
ed universe if you do like man enough to
marry him any way, You should send him off
because he's got one leg or red hair, or bank
stock, or u crooked nose, beats me"
Tina had to laugh. which was one point
gained, but Aunt Nabby hadn't done yet
Moreover and mostover you'd oughter
thank the Lord that he has got money if
you're going to marry him; for though you're
real pretty lookin, and good-natured enough
| for week days and some smart about book
learning, you amt no more fit TO be a poor
mans wife than you be TO fly Did you ever
mend your stockings, make your clothes,
or knead up n batch of bread, or do any thing
under the light of the moon to help get your
own liyin' No more'n posy in the garden.
And | tell you, Tina Kent, poor men can't
have posies TO live on; it takes grit TO be a
poor mans wife, and you haven't got enough
to put in the core of a winter pear
"I-I-perhaps l could learn, sobbed poor
Tina.
NO you couldn't 'tain't in ye. What
amt in man ncver'l come out o him. Wen,
/ won't poster you no more to-day get up
and come down to your breakfast there's
fresh peaches and cream, and puG-cakes, and
Drilled chicken. Poor folks don't get them
| for breakfast. I'd like to see you eatin pork
and cabbage"
Clementine shuddered
''Now get up, child and the next time
Ned Wilde asks ye to have him, remember
your old aunty's preachment, and don't be
twice n fool.
"Oh, aunty, he never, never will" And
here another flood of tears drowned the dawn
ing roses on Tina's countenance.
''Well, if you're cryin' for that, it's hope,