Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-09-12

A little later baby would be handed
through the window TO the odd-iooking nur-
scry.man. Baby did not think him odd or
ugly, however, but sprang to his arms with a
gurple of welcome, and buried his fat fingers
in the sacred pigtail. Following the baby
the gentle mother would appear, languid from
the hot climate so lately left then would
como kissing, romping, a grand chorus of
good mornings :" some chasing up and
/ down the level floor, and then the small
brood would vanish swept away as it were,
| by their noiscess attendant, aud for while
the balcony would be left to silence and the
sweet morning sunshine, Pickering through
the vines rs best it might, and lying in bright
/ glints on rail or carpet
Toward noon there would be an hour or
two of grandmamma and Dotha with their
great mendiug basket. Then the children
! again, fresh from their bath or wash. Then
n drowsy hour with some one swinging in the
hammock. or some one reading aloud while
| the others listened in dreamy silence. And
! toward sunset when the cool breeze blew in
! from the bay. visitors would drop ill., linger-
ing to enjoy the shade, the smell of flowers,
and the peaceful leisure of the spot. Then
| came tea aud then used to come-Frank.
| The moonlight, the late evening, belonged to
him and Luta. All summer long it had been
so all summer long had seen the two heads
close together the clasping arm, had heard
the low-voiced talk, always on the same
theme, yet always new, 90 on and on till ten
o'clock struck, and eleven and the old judge
| put his head out of the window above to ask
IL they were going to sit there all night. Mrs.
Swallow, reused from her beauty sleep, would
pop hers from the nest to witness the part
ing-a lingering parting always as of those
who could not bear to sever. There were no
partings now, no meetings No wonder Mrs.
swallow was puzzled and dissatisfied.
HAS Frank been ont of town - asked the
judge. How easy it is for even loving fam
lies to be unconscious of an incipent change
II imagine so. He has not been here for
some days but forgot to ask Luta about
it, " said the sistcr-in-luw.
II don't think Luta is looking quite well, "
remarked the more observaut Dotha Nov,
Marie, put down that stocking. You have
enough mending to do when you are at home
in Shanghai"
That's just where you are wrong" called
in John from the hammock, taking his cigar
from his mouth and blowing little rings of
smoke into the air. "In Shanghai Marie new
er mends or makes at all. What's the use,
when you can get machine and fellow to
run it for fifty cents a day =
Grandmamma looked little grim. 1T
sounds somehow shiftless to my Yankee no.
tions, she obserN ed. Il know | should not
fancy having a man darn my stockings.'
81 assure you, mamma, they do 1t most
beautifully. 1t is rather like weaving than
daruing, and puts our home mending to
shame, remarked her daughter-in-law. She
leaned forward, searching the big basket for
sock, turned out the heel, and held IT up,
Just as her mother produced notable spec-
men of Dotha's best ladder stitch, and each
exclaimed, There in tone Of triumph
which tickled the judge into fit of laughter
"Luta, | hope you will have your wedding
before We go back" cried Marie, as Luta
came out on to the balcony. Just think, l
may never have another chance to be here
for one of the home celebrations, and TO see
the family all together. You ought to CON
slider that, l think. Do choose day before
Christmas
Poor Luta. 1t was easy enough to give
Marie's light remark as light an answer, but
not to 'allay the inward pain and perpleXity
which it had called into being Would there
ever BE- any wedding at all J., Must she tell
the family that il was all over between her
and Frank and TIS 1t all over? The rest
went in to tea she fingered on the balcony.
Her arm was on the railing. She bent her
head lower and lower. Great tears ran down
her checks and FLASHED on the blue sleeve Of
her dress Mrs. swallow watches from
above.
Footsteps rang on the stones below, but
Luta did not hear them. The wave Of sor-
row which sweeping over her deafened
her ears. 1t was all true, then she must
give up hope. She might as well tell the
family tonight. This was what she was
thinking as the steps came on uuhearl. Bat
Mrs. swallow hearing was sharper as, all
in a ilutter OF eager interest, she poised hor-
self on the trrllis overhead.
-. 1. l.. NOT lp.,E
mcdituted Mrs. Swallow. He &haH look. "
And, as led by some heavenly impulse, with
wild call, drive, and swvrving drop, she
Let herself fall almost into the face OF the
passcr-by who, with bent head, was porus-
ing the street as he went. He looked up, of
course-who would not at the shock of such
salutation and saw Mrs. Swallow, indeed,
but also the golden head bowed on the blue
sleeve upon the balcony rail above.
Frank wayered-stOpped.
"Luta," he said at last, in very low voice.
She raised her wet face. dazzled gleam
| shot into her eyes.
You are crying! What is t?" The tone,
meant to be matter-of-fact, was unmistaka-
bly, tender.
Il am was" stammerSd Luta. ''Oh,
Frank :"
He was on the balcony in moment, and
by her side. There was a rapid murmur of
explanation, a sob or two, kiss. How easy
reconciliation was. after all ! How hard to
believe that they could so have mistaken
each other aud been so needessly unhappy !!
The habit of loving is hard one to break.
In quarter of an hour all was as if no dis
cord had come between, and two exceedingly
happy young people were ready to join the
family at tea.
"Ah, Frank, my boy come back?' said the
old Judge cheerily. Frank did not think it
necessary to explain that he had not been
| away. Only he and Luta and Mrs Swallow
| ever knew shat there had been any quarrel at
all.
"And now my pretty one is happy" re
marked Mrs. Swallow, as she composed her
self to sleep that night, ''and am ready to
| go. We will start carly tomorrow"
"well an thankful rejoined Mr.. Swal-
low.
"The swallows are gone, and the nest emp
ty," declared Dotha next morning II never
knew them to linger so late before"
But neither she nor any one else guessed
why the swallows staid. d.-HarpeT's Bdsar.