Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-12-13
Iict that Rose will be the belle of Ard.

| Otny, as sne went 10 ufesS Tor dinner.
Charity was right. Within ten days
time Rose had become decidedly popu-
lar, for, being naturally OF a bouyant
disposition, she had come to Ardleigh
prepared1o forget both the past and
the future, and live only in the happy
present. Ardleigh was a quiet place,
but still there were plenty of picnics,
croquet parties and archery meetings,
moonlight sails upon the lake, morning
rides through the dewy woods, and un-
der the combined influence of pleas
ant home and bright companions, Rose
frightened amazingly, and became be-
ing very unlike the rale, sad girl who
had entered Charity's door few short
weeks before. Her quiet life was, how
ever, soon to come to an end.
"Good news" cried Charity, one
morning, as she tossed down a letter.
"Wayne is coming home in the Russia,
which arrives in New York on-let me
see-the sixteenth, Wayne says. Dear
me, he will be home on Thursday, and
this is Monday. Is it not delightful to
think of seeing him, auntieP Rose,
actually he has not been here for three
years."
"He has been abroad ?" asked Rose,
feeling that she was expected to say
something.
"Oh, yes, everywhere. First in Eu-
rope, and latterly in Japan. 1 am wild
to see what he has brought me in the
way of ivory fans and queer umbrellas.
Only think he says that the Japanese
beauties are the prettiest women in the
world. l always imagined that they
looked like the hideous creatures on
fans, but he is bringing some photo
graphs which are to change my opinion. !"
He will spend the summer here ?"
said Dorothy, inquiringly.
"Of course-at least shall ask him
to do so. He is only my half-brother,
you know" she added, seeing Roses
look of surprise.
"Only ?" said Rose, half laughing.
1t is all the same, of COURSE" said
Charity, smiling; "come up to my sit
ting-room, Rose, if you have nothing
better to do. Iwant your advice on the
subject of my embroidery" Rose, hav-
ing, apparently, nothing better to do, +"
accepted the invitation, and the two
girls walked away together, while Miss
Dorothy sat down tc look over her
budget of letters.
"Auntie is really Wayne's aunt, not
mine," said Charity, as they went up
stairs. "She was his fathers only
sister, and though, at first, she and
mamma did not get on we'll together,
she was very kind to poor mamma after
Mr.. Arnold died. Before her second
marriage mamma had grown so fond of
Miss Dorothy that papa asked aNatie to
make her home here, and ], acourse,
have never altered the Arrangements
which he then made. Poor auntie
She idolizes Wayne, but he is
always doing something to disap-
point her. She has set her heart on
his marrying Mildred Scott. Just see
if he doesn't manage to fall in love with
some girl who hasn't penny. That is
always the way with him-make up your
mind in one direction, and he is certain
to do Just the opposite thing"
"Flattering description How much
he would enjoy hearing it," laughed
Rose, as she took up her work.
Wednesday evening came, and
brought with it Mr.. Arnold, twenty
four hours before he was expected.
Rose, coming into the library before
dinner, found there gentleman calmly
engaged in reading the New York paper.
At her entrance he started forward, then
paused, half uncertain as to the identity
of the intruder. "Charity q? 1t can
not be little Charity? p
"Miss Atherton will be here in few
Moments" said Miss Atherton number
two, preparing to retreat, but the gen.
tleman stopped her way.
"Pray don't go-you are Miss Rose
Atherton, l am sure. Let me intro
duce myself as Charity's brother, Wayne.
Surely we must be some sort of cousins,
since you are an Atherton ?" After all,
the much dreaded Mr.. Arnold seemed
inclined to be friendly. Rose had en-
tertained some fears lest he should side
with Miss Dorothy, but, since he had
made the first advances, she was willing
enough "to make friends" as the
phrase is. She was looking very pretty
in her soft white muslin, with wild roses
at her hair and throat, and Wayne was
quite able to appreciate the effect.
Charity, coming in five minutes later,
found them tete-a-tete, and chatting
socially.
"We made capital trip, and, instead
of stopping in New York, came on at
once SO I was able to surprise you all.
I came in about four o'clock, and found
that you we're all out driving, SO dressed
for dinner, came down here half an hour
ago, and have improved my time by
making Miss Atherton's acquaintance.
, There is Aunt Dorothy in the hall. u
And Mr.. Arnold vanished from the sight
of his sister and her friend.
The evening that followed may have
been entertaining to some of the party,
but certainly it did not prove so to Rose.
Accordingly, che soon excused herself
, under the plea of "a headache" and
went up stairs to her room. Aunt
Dorothy was taking her usual after.
dinner nap, and while Rose threw her.
| self down on the floor, and leaned hel
| head against the sill of the open window,
Charity and Wayne stepped on to the
piazza, and from there soon strolled
down the moonlight walk.
Oh, unlucky Rose Truly, listeners,
1 even accidental ones, never hear any
good of themselves. Charity asked
3 question, to which Rose paid no atten.
ton, but, in an instant, she was reused
: by the sound of her own name.
"Rose Yes, I rather like the name
: and, as to the fair maiden herself, she
is quite pretty enough to firt with
] during lazy summer holiday"
Q "Wayne, if I thought p begar
Charity, Indignantly, but Rose heart
: no more, for she retreated to the othel
8 end OF the room, and when she came tx
a the window again the brother and sistel
b were out of sight.
I How was she to know that the word