Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-07-05

dell to be u first-rute fellow, and was always
bringing him to tea. Then the garden of the
Bardell Place, MS shmmer came on, offered
most tempting opportunities for the prcsen-
tation of bouquets to the fair ladies ut DIR.
IRwlor's.
10 be sure, Thomas Bardell did not know
that Julas share always adorned the parlor,
while Dolly cried over hers in her own room,
and sometimes pressed her rosy lips upon the
card of the donor
Sly little Dolly!
For she knew Mr. Bardcll was falling deep
er and deeper in love with Julia Did he not
fairly haunt the house, Did he not listen
entranced when Julia sung, even upsetting
all the orderly arrangements of DOllys work
box in his abstraction
Was not the picnic on the Bardell grounds,
to which all the friends far and near had been
invited, solely the result Of Julia's wish to see
the place?
That picnic
Somehow it impressed itself upon Dollys
mind that Thomas Bardel was contemplat-
ing proposal on that June day, when he
was to play host to all the people of Rush
ton.
She could not have told why She resolved
to ask papa for permission to visit her
aunt in New York for a few weeks. Just to
giv, them chance to be alone, she thought,
nitd wondered what made her heart throb 80
very painfully at the idea.
She made Julia look like an exquisite pic
turc, 10y wrtathng field daisies under the rim
of her chip hat. and fastening her soft white
lace at the throat with bunch of the same
flowers.
Then she dressed herself rather hastily.
having curlod her sisters hair, and otherwise
made II Cinderella of herself
She heard nothing of dismayed exclama-
ton in her fathers study of:
But bless my soul. Bardell. can't spare
her! She is my right hand and eyes! She
is housekeeper and COMPANION and-every-
thing! thought it was the other one YOU
wcre"-
And here the laundering. kind hearted
father stopped. hesitated, and finally said:
"Well-wrl, if she loves YOU, j will not
say nav. though | don't know what shall do
when Won take her away"
Then Thomas Bardwcn discovered that it
was fully time for him to 30 home and re-
c.ive his invited quests. and he departed, not
seeing the girls. and leaving the Doctor in
dire dismny.
Dear me-deur me" he kept muttering.
"yhy conldi,'t he have fallen in love with the
other one"
When the Iawlor carrynll. driven by cous-
in Tom. drove into the avenue of Bardell
Place, Thomas Barden. standing upon the
porch to receive his guests thought his ewes
had never rested upon a loy,lier vision than
the daisy wrcathed face of Julia Inwlor. The
pretticst mink tinge caue to her checks ms she
accented his helm in leaving the carriage and
his arm to the house.
Dolly iump,d ont ..anyhov,. E" AS Tom Law
lor said and there was not the faiutcst color
upon her white checks tLoupb She talked and
laughed paily enough
But after the luncheon WAS over Dolly
found an opportupi,v TO escape alone and
strolled over TO n rustic seat overlooking a
prettv lake and completely hidden by tall
ilac bushes Here, her useful little hands
idly clasped. She was looking straight before
her thinking. when Thomas Bardeu. who
watched her figbt also strolled down the
nath that leal TO thr rustic seat
Dolly was thinking.
1T is lovely here and the House is splen-
did. Julia ought TO be very hapuy. but |
wished she cared more for him An she
looks forward to is the splendor and freedom
from money care. But perhaps that is best.
| don't care about money. so it must be best
for me to stay at home and make it cheerful
and comfortable for papa Julia says I.must
come often to make her long visits. but |
don't think can. wonder"
And here little Dolly's hands clasped each
other in tighter grasp. and her very lips
grew white, as she wondered if it was wicked
for her to feel such AN enyious longing to
have. not the wealth but the love Of her fu-
ture brother-in-law.
IN soon conquer it" she thought. miser-
ably. .wben il is nil settled. II is this wait
ing that tries me"
She was not to wait much longer, for the
bushes parted near her and presently Mr..
Durdell startled her by saying:
Are YOU dreaming, Miss Dolly :"
She biushed and smiled answering:
Il was little tired and came down here
to rest"
Il am very tired. LET me rest. too. he
said, taking seat beside her. II think this
is the prettiest spot on the grounds"
Yes" Dolly said, family. wishing he
would 90 away before she began to cry.
The house sadly wants one addition. &"
said Mr. Bardell. looking straight before him
across the lake.
1T seemed TO me perfect" Dolly forced
herself to say.