Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-04-22

erture between my door and the door.
post.
"Glad to see you, old boy; but I'm
too dirty to come in,' said he. "Seen
Lizzie 2" =
"Not yet
'.Seen Rachel ?"
'Not yet. But I say, old man, would
you mind telling me how many more
sisters you've got
''No more,'' said Don with grin.
"She's the last one, and she's the best
of them ALL
''Then hope | may be allowed for
once to enjoy the society of one of Liz
zie's sisters. in a friendly way" grums
bingly responded dor | may as well
admit that Don and I had condolences of
old on this subjecD. Don't you think
you could give Lizzie a notion that l
don't mean to get married, or that I've
a sweetheart up the country, or some
thing of that sort %
"Not |, rejoined my brother, laugh
ing. "I'm not going to spoil her fun,
poor little soul; you're old enough to
take care of yourself And with that
he went off, whistling cheerfully, to his
dressing.room.
When had completed my toilet, 1
gathered up some boxes of choice cigars
that had been purchasing in town,
and carried them to the door of an ad-
joining apartment, which had been Don's
smoking-room ever since | had known
it. To my surprise. the bolt shot sharp
ly as | touched the handle, and I heard
a rustic of drapery inside. A housemaid
coming along with lamps for the dinner
table called out hastily: 30, sir, that
is Miss Rachel's room now. The smok-
ing-room is at the end of the veranda,
where Miss Garry slept last year. Mrs.
Gardiner wished it to be changed because
she didn't like the smell of tobacco SO
near the bedrooms.
took back my boxes, thinking no
more about it, and went on to the draw
ing.room, which was full of light and
warmth and comfort, as usual, and
where found two of my little nieces
sitting demurely on sofa in their best
frocks ready to rush into my arms.
Lizzie came hurrying in after me, rosy
and radiant, and with plenty of founces
and cOlors about her, and gave me her
own enthusiastic welcome; and then
Don, spruce and perfumed, joined US.
Don in his early years had been dandy,
and a little youthful weakness remained
in him still. He never came to dinner
without rings on his fingers and subtle
odors in his clothes; and he was at
great pains to keep pair of Dundreary
whiskers accurately adjusted on each
side of a closely-shaven chin. He had
been ten years in the Bust, and had
never objected to "roughing it in a
general way but he persisted in shaving
himself every morning, let what would
happen which singular habit in an
Australian country gentleman very much
puzzled his bearded friends. l for one
used to quiz him as well as l knew how
when | saw him swathe his neck in 6
handkerchief, before going out to hi.
work, if the sun shone too strongly
but respect his little vanities nova
days, and hope he will keep his whit,
throat and his Dundreary whiskers a
long as he lives, bless him. He tool
one of his little girls on his knee, ant
, questioned me about my station matter
, and about Conally's sheepwash (Which
was not so well furnished with improve
ments as his own, much to his satisfac
tion); and Lizzie gave me an account 0
; the development of her respective chill
dren since had seen them last, includ
[ the cutting of the baby's teeth an
then the dinner-bell rang.
f where's Rachel? ?" inquired Don
s turned languid eye upon the doc
/ when We heard the sound of distan
i rustic, expecting to see one of the smar
and smiling damsels L was SO used Il
" and wondering whether this one woul
/ be dark or fair. With slow and quie
l step she came along the hall and entel
a ed the room and my heart began sue
}. denly to beat in very unpleasar
: manner. She had delicate. though
full. but piquant face. wavy brown ha
d modestly and becomingly set. and
!; slight figure daintily dressed in pa
: blue silk, with little white lace abo,
% throat and arms; and yet she was I'll
e image of Marie Antoinette in Delaroche
,l picture, only with more majestic di
It nifty of carriage, if that could be, and
,r more cold and calmIdisdain upon her fac
e. AS soon as l saw her, and felt the e
N ceedingly faint acknowledgment 81
ID vouchsafed when we were formally i
Or troduced, intuitively guessed-with
N horrible sense of shame and mortifcati
L that she had overheard what said
X Don in my bedroom through those car
40 paper walls!
~ | never thought should feel so CO
be cerned at standing Ill with one of il