Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-01-16

he hall, and she covered it from sight with
he kettle.
In came Grantley, his face bright with the
inter cold
Setting yourself on fire, mother ?" he
,sked. al smell something scorching"
It's not my dress" she answered, and
ousied herself with the teapot, and rang the
'ell for the tea things.
In came the girl with the tray, and again
Irs. Webb had little fright.
"Any letter for me 2" asked her son, with
IN eager look in his face.
"No," she answered family. Did you
xpect one2"
Not |" said he his brows contracting.
But met the postman on the HILL and he
allied out to me TO hurry home and get my
ive.letter. His joke, | suppose
1t was impudent of him." said Mrs
Webb, not daring to meet her sons eye.
That's a love-letter, is ii ?"
She tossed him the Trademarks circular.
lie glanced at it and put it down
How sad he looked What gray tints there
we're about his eyes and temples How much
hinner he seemed than he did week or so
gol
Was it all that quarrel with the Burdock
.irl Would 1t have been better that he
hould have had that monogrammed note
The mother put the thought from her.
She spread the little store of dainties before
ier son and tried to make him eat and
hough she had been so frightened by his
luestions, she could not help approaching
he dangerous subject herself.
Are you going ont tonight z" she asked
No" he answered 3" think not"
"The neighbors were telling me you went
-, l. y. 4.
she went on.
"Well if | have, mother" he answered.
that is no sign | shall go again"
"Well, there are better places than the
iurdock' S" said Mrs. Webb, land thought
luarreed with yours, and may have the
vii temper of her mother. She's flirt, too
hey say
Then she bounced out of the room. When
he came back Grantley had gone upstairs.
She heard the boards of his bedroom floor
reak as he walked up and down for hours
ut she did not see him again that night.
"Wel WELL" she said to herself, he'll
get over it,"
But, whatever the feeling was, love, anger,
,r grief, it did not agree with Grantley Webb
lie grew thinner and thinner. He took less
lie avoided all the other young people of the
pace, and seemed to have neither youth nor
pirit left.
Could it be all about that girl Ann, old
Mrs. Webb asked herself, trying to cheat
erself into the idea that the boy was only ill.
But in vain she made him warm possets
md bowls of herb tea. Even if he had
frank them, which he did not, for they all
vent to water the grass of the old orchard
ven if he had drank them, they would have
lone him no good.
Only one thing could help him-the only
thing that seemed to him impossible as he
sat at his window, staring through the star
it midnight at the roof of the Burdock
lwelling, never guessing that under its caves
iun Burdock sat, at once angry and sorry,
linking of him and none other.
He had not answered her note he was un-
iorgiving; but she had vexed him. She was
,artly to blame.
The old lady in the ruffled night-cap-who
pften started from her sleep in the big front
bedroom of the Webb home with dream of
letters that curled up into tinder over the red
-oals-had more on her conscience than she
Knew.
For though Ann grieved, she did not wear
ler heart upon her sleeve, but was outwardly
,aver than ever, and fiirted as she never had
before, until at last the same neighbor who
rad brought the news of Grantley's love af-
air to his mother, dropping in to tea, gave
Mrs. Webb and her son a bit of gossip as
hey sat at the table together.
"Ann Burdock is going to be married at
last. It's that young man from London
Mr.. Millet.'
al believe weddings when | see them
low," said Mrs. Webb.
But Mrs Burdock herself told me this,
said the guest.
When she was gone, Grantley, who sat
hefore the table still, with his elbows upon
it, dropped his head upon his arms, and there
vas sound of quick breathing.
For little while his mother watched bim.
Then she went close.
Grantley." she said, in trembling voice,
what is it? What ails you Tell me -
81 It's only that I'm a fool, mother" he
answered"
But-Grantley, what about ?"
He lifted up his young, worn face then
ind answered
Mother, don't you know? It's about
Ann Burdock. It's been very hard to bear
but if she does marry any one else-l-shal
kill myself, | think. Life doesn't seen
worth having"
"Life doesn't seem worth having, if you
ant have Ann !" the mother said, in
| puzzled sort of way. " But Why, what l.
there in her ~
What there never is in more than on
woman TO any man, mother" said Grantley
Somehow, from the far-away years o
youth. a memory came back to his mothe
that helped her to understand him.
She felt that she had done very Ill, and /
confession could do any good, she woul'
even confess. At least, if she could no
1uite do that she would let him know tn
truth about Ann.
Grantley, dear" she faltered, "you-
you had a quarrel 2"
"Yes," he answered.
But if she had written to beg your pal
don you'd have forgiven her 2"
She almost hoped that he would say "No
that she need not go on.
But he answered
"Yes-but she never wrote
81 think she did, Grantley," said tn
mother IL know she did. l-l-an a.
cident happened to the letter. lit g
burnt; but I'm sure it was an apolog
Indeed, saw few words, but | didn
think YOU cared so. You saw tit fell int
the fire.
. "Why did you not tell me before ?" erie
Grantley.
"Weh, somehow didn't like was a
the mother could say. And why don't yo
20 aud ask her about it, and see VIII
f, it was Y''
) Poor Mrs Webb, when her son, after mar
questions, had taken her advice, cried bi
+ terly. She might have felt even worse hi
Q she heard what Ann was saying.
The story had been told, reconciliati'
/, effected, a declaration made to the effe
I that MIR. Milet had never been loved, Al
5 then Ann Burdock said, with laugh
}. ." But, Grantley, your mother burnt th
n letter Oh purpose Only a man could belle
:. the story you've told me. She did not wa
d me for a daughter-in-law. owe her
e grudge-remembe that, and don't tell Il
what | say"
f Grantley never did. AID old Mrs, We
k has oiteu been heard to say that Ann b.
e dock has turned out better than could ha
e been expected Selected.
A hoy about twelve years old knocked
d the door OF a house on Second street, y
II terday, aud when the lady appeared he sai
It e There'll be boy around here pretty SO