Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-26

right" and then suddenly exclaimed "See
here Isn't it time for somebody else to
give the Christmas turkey p
Gracious, Jerry !" exclaimed Lydia Maria
with stait "how came you to say what
was passing in my own mind ?"
81 don't know how, exactly I seemed to
think of it last year, and so it kind o. turned
up again"
"Well, then" said his sister, after pause
of reflection, "Susan's either got something
on her mind or in her constitution. 1t isn't
! that; don't believe she's thinking overly
much of turkeys to-day. It's either worry
O. some sOrt-or the typhus."
She did look flushed up, as a body might
say," answered her brother "But that's
neither here nor there. We'vo somehow got
used to having a turkey-and better spread
in general-on Christmas Day, and it's been
mostly her doings. l think ! should miss it
myself if it was stopped of short; and it
amt hardly fair to take it, every year, off her
share. Now, I've about made up my mind
TO give one o my best this time
"Oh, Jerry and so I'd about made up my
mind to give mine. Either way, whichever
it is, kill one noo, say l, and have it picked
| and drawn before she gets back !"
While the two are walking toward the barn
yard, taking two or three ears of corn from
the crib on the way, let us leave them to fol-
low Susan, as she drives toward the village.
II.
Yes; there was really something the mat
ter with Susan Lane. A neighbor meeting
her in the road, might have attributed her
bright eyes and glowing cheeks TO the tonic
of the crisp, inspiring December air but
she, herself, was well aware Of an almost fc-
verish mixture of hope and anxiety, which
,,Fl
compelled her pulses to make ten beats more
to the minute The steady old plough-horse
that drew the buggy knew it also the impa-
tient touch of the whip on his fanks was sue
ceeded by a listless carelessness, even Oh the
levels where he was so well accustomed to
trot. He was wise enough to take advantage
of this, and had very leisurely reached his
usual post in front Of the store, when Susan
gave him the greatest surprise Of his life, by
suddenly jerking his head in the opposite di-
rection, driving through the village half
mile into the valley beyond, and then turning
down a meadow road to grove where tenn
pcrance meetings and summer picnics were
sometimes held
Her visit to such an unusual place at that
season, was not unexpected. Scarce had she
drawn rein upon smooth, open piece OF
turf near the bank of the stream, when two
men ride forth between the thickets to meet
her. One of them had dismounted and was
Mt her side before she could alight from the
buggy the other let down the top, came to
the other side aud took her second kiss She
was so excited that her voice trembled in
spite of her efforts to keep it steady, and her
eyes filled with tears which at last over
flowed.
"Oh, ---' (but we must not repeat the
names she uttered, or the whole secret Of the
adventure might be guessed in advance) "and
Oh --! And you've really come: |
never had so much on my mind before and
| don't know how to bear up under it It's
like something out OF Il story something
that does not really happen-and after all this
time"
Here her voice fairly broke down but the
first rider sprang into the buggy, seated him
self beside her and held her very gently and
tenderly in his arms.
The second Of the two men smiled. "He
doesn't know everything yet by long shot"
he said pointing to his friend, no, nor you
my head, on the way home it's nothing that
costs a great deal and I mean, this once, TO
try il cant have a real pleasure Of my own
making"
II think it is sign OF luck" she said,
that you are able to come now, at Christ
mas. And I'm tempted to give up every
thing else, and take you home with me in the
buggy"
Susan :" cried the one who sat beside her
mo. Evan !" she answered in a softer
voice, Il didn't really mean it. But l am
not used to keeping secrets from them at
home. 1t has been very hard TO say nothing
about the money for three years, and yOu
know what has been harder still. Now that
my waiting is so near over, l think l could
bear it longer than the uncertainty between
now and tomorrow night"
Come, now, Susan said the first
'Since you've helped me to pull through my
trouble, don't you suppose mean to see you
squarely to the end of yours? Evan, you
didn't carry me of the field on your back, at
Charlottesville, for nothing Get down out
of that buggy She'll make you rs nervous
as she is herself | won't have it, tell you.
Susan, take u look at this horse, so that you'll
recognize him when you see him the second
time !"
Thereupon he led his horse up and down
ron the turf-a tall strong-limbed bay with a
large, obedient, intelligent eye. "Oh, what
a nice fellow !" cried Susan, who had cor
rect instinct Of the value of horse, without
being able to describe his points technically.
Evan knows why l show him of :" said
he, and both men burst into laugh. twas
amazing what weight seemed to roll off
Susau's mind, simply because they laughed.
Evan will take charge of me tonight, he
continued "and Evan and have gone into
partnership-as drovers." Here they laugh
ed again, more heartily than ever. "But it's
time for US TO go the-zebra-no, antelope
will be ready by this time"
EVAN, what does he mean Z" cried Susan
but Evan, after hasty parting kiss, perhaps
two, so combined as TO seem one. had lightly
sprung to the ground The two men mount
ed their horses.
Zone thing more :" said the first, as they
were ready to leave. by Jove, | was near
forgetting it. Susan, whatever happens at
home early tomorrow morning, don't be as
tonished No matter what it is am at the
bottom of it,"
1t was cruel, she thought, to leave her such
an enigma as parting gift. But they were
gone it was impossible to ask anything, and
useless to conjecture There had always
been whimsical imp of mischief in him, she
remembered but she knew his honesty gen
erosity and manliness of nature, as mono of
the family, and she was satisfied that he
meant something kind and good. So she
drove back to the village in altogether bright
er spirits made her purchases at the store,
and hastened homeward to be in time for an
early supper
Lydia Maria was in waiting, as usual, at
the gate of the front yard. "Oh, the land !"
she exclaimed, as Susan drove up, why did
you put the top down"
Susan started, looked at the buggy, and
blushed with almost a feeling of guilt, as she
stammered 1T was so hot"
?" Lydia Maria's face took on
mingled expression of alarm and command
"Child, that's fever Come right into the
house the kettles boiling and I'll have cam
omile tea in five minutes. Where's my rib
bon and the four skeins, dark-gray 2-and
the cotton wRdding?'
I'm afraid forgot the ribbon" said sus-
an, family,
"F0ygot? No t isn't possible, Afec-
ton of the brain-the first sign of typhus!"
Susan fell into fit of mingled laughing
and crying that was more like Mysteries than
anything she had ever known in her life. But
she succeeded by mighty effort, in conceal
ing the crying part of it from Lydia Maria
she controlled her weak nerves, exerted her