Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-12-26

| second time a W1doWer.
Tins it happened that Katherine and
Pansy were half sisters only; the one a
rich heiress, and the other with only a
very modest portion.
Katherine was within a few months
of her majority. Tall and beautiful,
she was, ike her mother, vain and
proud, and duly impressed with the
superiority other own position and per-
sonal attractions. Offers she had had in
plenty, for size never failed to attract
notice and admiration herever she
went; but SHE had dismissed all her
suitors wi ontumely.
Pansy ~ girl of a different stamp
atSgsb5 fs in Wis gqPe gsnsndg and 5etFFng jFgg
| looked. t-a4l X
Of course it was very wrong of Squire
Cranborne to like one daughter better
than the other. But he did, and every
one knew that the gentle, patient little
Pansy, so much like the second wife he
had loved so fondly, was his favorite.
The Manifestations of affection now
interchanged between them Jared ell
Katherine's feelings, and when she had
finished examining the superscriptions,
and looked up, her fair brows were con-
tracted into an ugly frown.
Gushing again!" she exclaimed, in a
contemptuous voice. 81 can't think
how you can be so fond of kissing and
cuddling."
You are vexed, Kate" said her
father, "and so you are cross with us.
| noticed your annoyance increase as
you got to the bottom of the pile. You
have been expecting letter which has
not arrived. III be bound there is not
one of those addresses in Sir Charles
Howell's handwriting"
A crimson flush dyed Katherine's face
as these words were spoken.
81 did expect card from Sir Charles,
of course" she replied, with difficulty
curbing her vexation. "He must have
sent one. Areyou sure you emptied the
letter-bag?"
"Yes, think so. But you had better
wedged in q corner more than once"
And it has happened again." said
Katherine, rs she drew forth q crumpled
envelope.
She glanced eagerly at the handwrit-
ing, and then, with an angry cry, let the
letter fall.
"Not from Sir Charles after all, said
the squire, taking hold of the missive
"Why, yes it is; but by George and
egad! it's addressed to you, Pansy--it's
addressed to your
"Oh! impossible!" cried Pansy
blushing and trembling. 1t must be
some mistaken
Not bit of it," cried the delighted
father, in great exultation. Here
open it 1T once and let me see! Why
what a very pretty card it is! Hilloa
there, Katherine, where are you goingp'
| But his eldest daughter made no reply
Gathering up her letters, she left the
room hastily, in order that the tears ol
modification which rose in her eyes
should not be noticed as they courseC
down her cheeks.
The Sir Charles Howell alluded to in
the foregoing conversation was young
baronet who had not long returned from
sojourn in the East.
| 1t was noticed that upon one preteXt
! or other q great deal of his time Wa:
passed at Squire Cranborne's, and every.
| body arrived at the conclusion that thu
attraction was, and could be no Other
than the rich and beautiful Katherine
who herself was fully convinced that she
had fresh worshipper at her shrine
Accustomed to adulation and to receive
attentions from every one, while hel
| hali-sister had never had even the sem
! blance of lover, it had not occurred tC
her, until the arrival of the New Year.
card, that Sir Charles could possibly
take any notice of insignificant Pansy.
As she opened letter after letter, anC
her, she gradually regained her tran
guilty, and by the time she had Finished
she said to herself, as she smiled at hel
lovely counterpart in mirror:
GO 1t was foolish of me to be vexed
1t is impossible that he could pass mi
over for Pansy! | feel sure he has sen
ME card, but it has been delayed, anC
that one was only addressed to Pansy
out of mere kindness of heart"
There was tap at the door, and hel
maid entered.
"It is time, miss, to get ready. TIL,
carriage is ordered for eleven"
Katherine smiled as she remembered
that Sir Charles had promised to &C
company them to the country town
some ten miles away-where bazaa
or sale of fancy y-work was to be held il
aid of the funds required for the res
toration of the ancient church.
AT the opening ceremony it was eX.
pected that most, if not all, the influ
ential families in the county would bo
represented.
The squire's daughters had both beer
looking forward with pleased expecta
tion to the occurrence of this event
and when Sir Charles had promised t,
be their escort, the old squire himsel
had gladly availed himself of the op
portunity of staying away, rs sucl
gatherings were very far indeed from
being to his taste.
Sir Charles appeared with all lover
punctuality-that is, he arrived half al
I hour before the time of starting. To hi
SUI prise, he found Katherine was read
too-a most unusual event, for she mad
it point of honor always to keep he
cavaliers waiting.
If, however, her design was to pre-
vent the possibility of tete-a-tete be
tween the baronet and Pansy, she wa
perfectly successful. She never ono
left his side, until they all three en-
tered the carriage at the hall-door.
The squire stood on the steps watch
ing their departure. His glowing coun
tenance was beaming with smiles, an
he chuckled gleefully.
THAT Howell is sensible young fel
low, and | admire his taste; don't lik
the idea of losing my Pansy, though
would rather give her to him than any
one.n
Crowded as the town hall was tha
New Years day with all the youth an
beauty of tle neighborhook, the er
trance of Sir Charles with his two lovel
companions attracted immediate motto,
and they were quickly surrounded b
| orn.uda Hf f,.;nn de and nconnintanres