Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-08-06

! lnht betlleu inc question. one was secretly
! pleased with him for his fattery, which was
at once insiduous and sincere.
He grew cool presently, and returned to
the attack
"But, don't you think Rachel, that you
are little too-that is, that Pat is little
too"
She helped him out of his difficulty again.
''That am little too old for Pat2 Is that
what you are trying to say2"
He nodded, somewhat terrified, for he e1-
pected a storm. No small matter to triAe
with woman's age. But she met the attack
bravely.
''That is my affair, Pats and mine. II we
are satisfied, whose business is IL ?"
'Eobody's said Shad Ryley," "and I'm a
fool for my pains. Forgive me-" He held
out his hand she accepted it, He gave her
fingers n brotherly squeeze; she returned it
with sisterly pressure. $50 you have final
ly and positively made up your mind to be
Mrs. Ryley p
That is just it, Shad."
'Say it again !" he cried 1t was the first
time she had addressed him by his Christian
name alone hitherto it had been Shad Ryley
or Mr.. Ryley.
Say what again ?" she inquired, startled
by his vehemence.
"Shad"
"Well, there-Shad! What harm is there
in it? We're going to be brother and sis
ter"
"And there's no turning your You are de-
termined to be Mrs Ryley?'
'If am not, I'll live a single woman all
the days Of my life."
There's no help for it then, +" said Shad,
with an air of comic resignation. "Give me
a kiss ON it." He took one with without
waiting for permission-n loving, warm kiss,
which made her heart palpitate "You are a
woman of your word, and willy-nilly must
be satisfied"
She did not quite know what to make of
this. He accepted the loss Of her too lightly,
she thought He should have sighed and
pulled long face he should have gone on
protesting and appearing. "I'l punish him
for it, she said to herself "He shall have
no more kisses" But his ardent embrace
had disturbed her; never in her life had she
been 30 passionatey kissed. and she could
not help thinking that Shad Ryley was a
proper man. II it had been suggested TO her
that it was possible woman could love two
men at one time she would have Indignantly
repealed the insnuation. 1t is really an open
question, Love has never yet been properly
analysed, nor its limits been accurately ascer-
tanned and defined.
From the date Of this conversation the as
pect Of affairs underwent a change Pat be-
came less coy, although lie still held off but
he appeared to be warming, and Rachel Ca
ry absolutely forced kiss from him-that is
TO say, she shamed one from him. She had
to thank Shad for it. He twittod his brother
in her presence for his over modesty, and
said that women loved men either to treat
badly or to be little too bold. Either course
set them on fire, il they loved fellow; and
Shad declared that to behave as Pat was be- |
having neither ono thing nor the other, was
absolutely shameful.
'Give her kiss, Pat, be cried; 'for my
part, l don't care fg!" Here he snapped |
his fingers Il love her better than you do, |
though she'll not believe it. But what care l |
how fair she be, if she be not made for me |
That's what the old song says, isn't it? Look |
here, now Join your hands-Pat has pret- |
ty hand, too, hasn't he ?-and / give you |
with brothers consent and blessing. Will |
that satisfy you, Rachel Cary? Giving my
heart away so freely? But wouldn't give |
you to anybody but my brother Pat. Mind |
that. I'd fight any one else for you that |
would if he were the best man in the world |
But can't fight my own brother Pat, even |
though you've set your heart on him and Civ |
EN- him the place l ought to hold. l know
by my own feelings that love can't be con-
trolled. You do like me a little bit, don't
you, Rachel p
''Yes, do. Shad, - she said, somewhat con-
fused, more than little bit" And she cast
sleeps eyes at Pat, who was looking earnest
ly at the pair of them.
Il must be contented with that" said
Shad. Il believe if Pat were out of the way
you would say 'Shad, my man, here's my |
hand For you are bound to become Mrs
Ryley-you've pledged your word to it.
Come, confess-if you were not SO much inlOve
with Pat, l should stand chance. Honest,
now, or I'll never believe there's faith in wo-
mani"
"Indeed, Shad Ryley," said Rachel, over
come by his vehemence, you are not entire
ly wrong"
(which means that I'm entirely right.
Kiss her Pat and seal the bargain. I'll turn
my head"
Rachel looked so bewitchingly at Pat that
he mustered courage and kissed her on the
cheek. Now Shad had kissed her on the
lips, and was altogether bolder and more
manly. Well reflected Rachel, Shad is big
ger-and stronger-and older-more used
to it than Pat. The young man would i'm
prove in time she would help him to, And
She tried TO make herself believe that she
didn't care much for man who had such
spice of the devil in him as Shad Ryley had.
Then why did she keep thinking OF him SO
much? Womans a riddle.
But Notwithstanding that all was settled
there was no regular love making between
Pat and Rachel. The brothers never missed
an evening at the Rose, Shamrock and This
tie and Shad would sing his songs there, and
make the walls ring again with his fresh,
clear voice. Nothing could induce Pat to
sing His speaking voice was SO musical
that it was next door to n certainty he could
sing beautiful song, but he could not be
prevailed upon. Rachel pestered and coax
ed, and worried him, until he was at last
compelled to give her promise.
"I'll sing you song" said Pat, 'when the
Brady's come out"
Everybody on Jackass Flat knew about the
Bradys, and score of young fellows. fired
by Shad's description of his friends, made up
their minds to lay siege to the seven Brady
lasses the moment they set foot in the gold
diggings 1t got TO be the saying "When
the Bradys come out" When the event oc-
CURED SO much was to be done-this, that
and the other. ShAd and Pat were already
putting up tent for them and preparing to
make them comfortable.
"Hhere will be seven wives for the seven
best men on Jackass Flat" said Shad.
"There will be regular happy family of
u.s."
81 suppose" suggested Rachel Cary, with
a slight pAng, "you will be marrying one of
them yourself, Shad Ryley."
Some women are remarkably like the dog
in the manger. They won't have a man
themselves and they don't want any other
woman TO have him.
81 might do worse" said Shad; "they are
comely lasses There's Norah-I defy you
to match her. A complexion like milk and
roses"
"Bless my heart !" cried Rachel, in a tone
so tart that it must have deprived her bless
ing of much of its sweetness "Then it's
Norah you'll marry Z"
II will if she will have mo-Rnd if you
don't see any objection"
80, never fear me, Shad Ryley :" excaim-
ed Rachel loftily "Ishan't object"
81 shall ask you, anyhow" said Shad, 'be-
fore ask Norah."
Suddenly one morning it was announced