Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-06-11

ed Bella "Giye me the handsome artist
"Such hair such a figure, and such whis-
/ kers, ," said Aurelin.
such violet-buc eyes, such il glorious
mustache aud such loves Of hands " said
Bella.
"And We must go for wild flowers" going
/ for wild flowers admitted Of strollmg ia many
/ directions in Laureltown--' this morning be-
fore the sun is high, the dining room vases
arc empty said all three together. so,
/ Peg bring our walking shoes and hats, and
/ be quick about it,
/ And, Peg" added Amanda "haye lunch
/ ready ut one. and set the table with the best
china. We may meet one Of the gentlemen,
and bring him home with us
And make custard5 aud spOnge-cakc,
said Bell
And s,c that the bread and ham are cut
very thin" commanded Aurclia.
And away they went, Peg looking after
| them again, but this time with no longing in
/ her eyes, until they disappeared at the turn
! which led past Lilac House, WHEN she ilew to
| the kitchen, made the custards aud sponge
cake and then donned her scoop hat, and a
cunning white apron with a bib and pink
| pockets, aud taking Efie by the hand, away
/ thy went for wild howors-"'lhe girls will
never remember them. said Peg-hut not in
the same direction the aquiliucs had taken,
foot Of hin where grew many fragrant,
| lovely blossoms nt their own sweet wills
Peg and the baby danced gayly ON until
| the place of destination was reached aud a
world of floral wealth lay before them. Up
the hill they tol.d and stopping midway to
gather some tail brilliant flowers that grew in
their path, the very first stem baby graspod
and pulled at broke Of with jerk in her
tiny hand and away she rolled backward
| down hill until .hc rolled into a pair Of arms
outstr, tched to catch her.
PLEASE. ma'am, here's your baby said
! the owner Of th, sr arms dcmur'y raising a
/ pair Of violet. blue eyes to Pegs white face as
| lac placed the child beside her.
How can ! thank you = suid Peg. in
trembling voice. But for you, Efis might
/ have be, a killed.
II know Of no b.ti.r way chau coming
/ down into the road Immediately l'--twirliug
| his long golden mu,tachc-' and then my
/ mind will be relieved about Eihe Though,
/ it you say so, I'll staud at the bottom Of the
| hill with pioaNure until you are quite ready
/ to descend, so rs to be on hand to rescue her
/ If she tumble again.
Il think III 90 down said Peg, the color
coming back to her checks.
| H. held ont his hand to assist her 1t was
the most htauiilui hand she uad ever seen
long taper fingers, cNlu-itcly shaped rosy
nails, slender wrist, and yet withnl a certain
something about it that bctokcned strength
and rodeemedit from the charge Of femnini;y
II can take care of myself, thank you Mr.
Thome," said Peg.
Mr. Thorne, repeated he. How did You
know | was Mr. Ihornc -
by your cyrs, your mustHchr, and your
hands, said frank youug Peg
Thorne smiled, and looked at her earnestly.
And you =
Pm Margaret Thrush, whose sisters you
met at Mrs Sparkman's yesterday"
"You do not look a bit like them
II do not, =" said Peg, with IA sigh.
And they strolled along together, talking
pleasantly, until Peg was half way home, and
then he begged hcr-oh sly Arthur Thorne
to rest awhile, and let him take a sketch Of
tie bddy please st down ON that bank
Nils, Thrush, and hold her upon your lap"
he suggested. Il think she will remain
quieter that way
Aud the sketch was made. Peg on the
bank leaning against the trunk OF an old tree
her bright face glowing with purity and
nirih, surrounded 10y rough brrel.-tos>,d
brown curls, poerng archly from under the
scoop aud little Etii-, with curious eyes and
sweet puzzled look, half reclining in her
arms
why. you have drawn me too :" said the
girl, rising and looking over his shoulder
do really look like that: Etli- is very
pretty; but - Oh dear, it Is funny nose
Conduit you stmight,n it just little -
Not for worlds ~ replr'd the artist, with
emphasis,
''Shnll you ca, it Wild Country Girls';"
asked Peg blusLiug. for something in his
tone implied that he liked the funny nose"
No; | shall call it Wild Flowers Brown
Daisies By Jove'' pulling out his watch.
Its near lunch-tme Let me see You and
Eite home, Miss Margaret and I'll bid you
good afternoon" And he tied up his sketch
book took the tired baby in his arms, and
thus they arrived at Captain Thrushs door
Aud arrived there, it only needed a cordial
invitation from Peg to induce Thorne to tn
t'r, To the intense astouishment of the three
cldnr sisters, who were already seated at the
lunch table, having apparently been un,uc-
ccsstul in their search for wild flowers and
other things. as the vases were still empty
aud the guest chairs unoccupied.
However, with great self-possession they
managed to conceal their surprise. and greet
ed the visitor in the warmest manner; and
he, with the boyish absence of formalty that
characterzes his kind was perfectly a home
in five minutes and discussed politics (of
which, be it said IN passing, he knew absolute
ly nothing with the father, adroitly hattered
the mother and her favorlte daughters, told
stories of impossible animals to the baby,
aud ate Pegs custards ant sponge-cakr like
school-boy. In short lac made himself so
agreeable that the unanimous verdict after
his departure was, "charmiug," and Bella de-
clartd herself wildly in love with him. But
they opened on =, x all the same.
Where did she meet Mr.. Thorne Why
did she let Effie roll down hill; Did she do
it on purpose to attract his attention: Did
she wish to utterly disgrace themI Wasn't it
enough that She had exposed their poverty to
Captain Sparkman: 3: What possessed her to
enter into conversation with an utter strau-
ger:"
He spoke to me first" said Peg ''nnd
had to thank him for saving babys life and
| didn't feel rs though he were an utter stran-
ger for knew he was Miss Thorne's brother
by his eyes and his hands and his mustache."
As you told him, l suppose said
Amanda, sarcaSiicaly, never dreaming that
the child had really done so.
"Ies," acknowledged honest Peg.
"IoU lid i' cried her tormentors, in a
screaming chorus.
There, that's what comes of your pUgs !"
exclaimed Mrs. Thrush, tanning herself ex-
citedly. And you coaXed him in to lunch Z"
mo, mamma he came without coaXing.
Was it wrong to ask him ? thought, turn
ing to her sisters, THAT you went out on pur-
pose to meet some of them, and bring them
home with you if you could"
"Oh hear her hear her Mother you'd
better lock her up,' cried Amanda. That
is the only way to prevent her acting like mn
idiot and holden, and bringing MS all to
grief
Peg fled to her room. | wonder if he thinks
me an idiot and holden? - she said, with
burning cheeks
What he did think was, "She's worth all
three of her sisters. It's great relief to turn
to her dear pretty pug-nosed face after 80
much aquiline :" and he took ont the sketch,
and smiled at it, and-artists ar very enthu-
siastic you know-he actually kissed the face
looking out of the scoop hat fun of child-lke
trust and happiness.
Poor Peg was kept prisoner in her own
room for three long days; but at the end of