Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-02-06


las neighbor to the Dorcas and hear little
gossip. OF course we enter opportunely,
just as the ladies are talking about our friend
II is always pleasant to hear of her. She is
an old maid, yet the thought of her is like
the scent of violets and her presence like a
cluster of them found suddenly in shady
nook Away from that presence, tongues
wag busiy, unnwed by her gentle dignity.
Her mother was mighty proud of her, l
tell you, said old Mrs. Pettifer 'and when
she sent her to her auuts in town, Miss Grace
she held her head up high, and thought Lyd-
dyd make grand marriage"
"And, land sakes :" she never got married
at all, =" said the eldest Miss Pettfer tossing
her head and giggling.
1T warnt for lack of offers, then" retort-
ed Mrs. Freeman-a stout, rosy, kindly ma
tron, who was sewing and talking with un-
rivalled briskness and vivacity.
There's the Episcopal minister, he'd have
her now, any day" remarked Mrs Dodge.
"Oh, and l guess that II come all right,
too" said Mrs Freeman, nodding vigorous.
ly. Hes a nice man, Mr.. Duffy, if he amt
handsome, and she might do worse
shed better hurry" sneered Miss Petit
fer. you needn't tell me she might a had
so many, or she wouldn't "A been an old maid
now. guess if Mr.. Duffy asks her, she'll
take him"
"And it's to be hoped she will, Martha
Pettifer. and stop the tongues of those that
that had better not say too much. / guess if
you'd seen Lyddy Grace when she was
young girl-my there rds beauty for you
heard tell. the vouno men in town. they
crowded round her 80 she could scarcely
move and She wouldn't have one of 'em-no
no she lust staid TO her aunt's till she cot
tired of CAV life. and come back and took
care of her parents till they died. Then she
went back to the aunt till the silly old woman
cot married apain. and Ivddy she come back
and lived TO home. Old maid. indeed, Mr.
duffy II be lucky il he gets her"
.Sbo. now don't Won pit excited. Mehita-
bile Freeman" said placid old Mrs. pettifer.
"Lyddy she's A right nice cell. that's true
And 6nin't no obiection IN Mr. DuGv. he's
a man do sny. that ain't bicotcd and that's
a GOOD noint IN an Fniscona1 minister All
Jreri deory mel Tbere's no sects in beay.
On I sav - and the old ladv shook her head
and rolied her ewes ms if drnrIcating The
r., ~ ,y,lI i, rof,li,,,, to g.,
os ,,,o mo-, bar o,,,, ttaoIo',;,al ~ M
~, sa,,s j., hao,,o, - sto ro,S7r,,ad
"Rut tbers is here Miss pettifer - cried
Mr. Fr,c,non briskIy and van and 7 can't
Lrln il ncithrr So We must make the host
n,,', yon can blama Iutbsr 1worn,t he Tho
,,,,,, ., ~ -, ,li,,,,s oii 10 ,;ooos ~
~, and o;t,ir, ,bi,os in such voy ibot tbe,,
Lid -, 10 broka t ,,;er5 h,,, ,o,, cav, Han.
a,,,, iua;Tid,Ia ,,o,, - ,,St ~ tato a.,
,,,rIJ os VOC, 6nJ IL a,1 ,l,ot',..r ,.,,, IL, ,,,,
Iovc iesi b'Iievo ~ ri,Lt sartir' sure and
do,t 1;tcb into otI.r foil,s ,,o,,so tbey MAJ, he
49, - ,TLa,,s H. ,a,a NJ D,g,' thf,,ts
oLonti, I caIc,lato "ni iy5dv Gao 100
ard ,La,,rs rioLnr 10 ,naLi,,, folls h'I;avo o.
thev do thau most neonle that n,ako NOR
tait - M Frre,no,, ,,a,,sed for hrnstb and
Lnr auditors f,it themssIves i,,,y,ressed by bar
nhilosonbv and ber snnerior tnowledgo %
dcnl,s;os,;col h;s,or,,
~ do hone W,Iital,ls - soid Mrs Petit.
fer looking rather severely over her snecta.
cles M the slrcyd GOOD nstrred matron-"I
do bnno von're am disc;,I. ~ ,be Wetho.
dist ndrsnesion ~
"6b. never Won fear. Miss Pettifer." cried
sturdy Nehita6ls laughing .I mint much
of "A iudge of these tbinps ard I do as I've
been brought mn to do
Miss Lydia's own chosen friends. even in
the village. were ms NAV be supposed. of a
somewhat different order from the honest In.
dies whom WI, have iust heard discussing her
affairs. Mr.. Duffy was one of these friends
but that was not particularly good for the
reverend gentleman himself | should saw.
perhaps that it was too good for him. since
he was hopelessly inthralled by the sweet
spiuster. Poor Mr.. Dufyl He was noble
and good and sslf.sacriicipp. but indeed
there was nothing about him that could be
interesting to a woman. He had cienr. hon.
est ewes and kind strong mouth tbat closed
with a gentle EXPRESSION, as il he were nt
neace with nil the world INT on the other
hand, he was "lopg. shambling. and insight
w." like the poor tar in the t.Bab Ballad"
and ne had n snare uplv face .nd n nervous
fects that Miss lydia could not love him.
He went TO See her that afternoon. aud
found her rocking opirtlv in her little chair
on the porch. her siipbt 6gure looking very
neat in her black ere5adine dress Sic was
sewing and she siipped of her tbimble MS
she gave him her babd with a cordial smile
of welcome, and then sat down and resumed
her work while she talked TO him. She was
always glad 10 see her rector and good friend
though She well knew that lis visits were NOT
merely in the line of his norocbial duties
Mr.. duffy had exnlained himself some time
AGO. but ALTHOUGH a rejected suitor he stiu
had homes, Miss I,ydia was perhaps kinder
than she ought TO have been to-day The
truth was she had hoen feeling unusuoIlv
lonely. and his visit cbeercd her She told
him so after a wbile-rotber foolisblv for II
broupbt him unon dargerons Ground
"Could have my wisb Niss lydia Won
would never be lonely =" said he wistfully.
"You are not loneIcr iban / am Indeed I
never felt il Inncb hefor@ Few neonIs have
ever cared for me and Won ara he 6nIv wo-
man ever Ioved y
She sat silent looking very sad. She ,oas
lonely. and il seemed hard tLat She oould not
take Ibis offer ofa bappy home and GOOD heart
II is NOT easy for a Woman to mt forth her
hand and wave true mans love aside. Oh.
wby could She NOT take ~ II suddenly
dawned upon her that perbaps She ought 10
take n Sbe did NOT love him hut She cor
diallv esteemed him and could She ever love
again ? II wish / could MAKE Won bappy.
Mr.. duffy" She faItered ~
II know" he answered ouietly. "You
think of nothing but IN do ri1bt You nre n
pood woman / ought NOT 70 sneak TO Won
90 Lut sonoti,nos ;9 l. ia a. La siIont