Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-10-01

tray, she caught up an old waterproof cloal
that hung in the back passage, threw it OF
to her light dress, and crept out after hei
husband. It was a very light and beautiful
night in fact, it could not be said to be ye
as dark as it would be-and that is never darl
in the fine nights of summer
For him TO lose his tea, ran her thoughts
''of all things 1t must be some uncommon
| ly urgent business to induce James to foregC
a meal of any kind l do wonder what &c.
cret they have got between them Not 6
word, for your life mind to Dinah Ann
cries he. No fear, answers Harry, 4 know
what women are-and she'd be for revolu.
tionizing the house, and herself too Yes
that should but it's them l should revolu.
tionize, not myself" she emphatically pro
nounced. ut may be that old love.afTaii
cropped up again that woman who threat.
ened to bring an action for breach of promise
when James married me. Mind you don't
let Dinah Ann find it, says Harry. Or per
haps-perhaps James, has been foolish
enough to let her meet him Harry not a
married man himself, and a lawyer, would
lend himself to any earthly thing without
scruple All lawyers do"
This rural district, remote from the haunts
of willy men of the world was given over en-
tirely to farmers and farming interests sim
| ple-minded and supplemented people,
| hhO lANtu Oub tItlE ulltNtuNlul lives III lue
routine of daily duties. The small market
town of Northam, four miles distant, was
sleepy and primitive, never awakening from
| its slunibers save on the weekly market day.
| II had its parson its doctor and its lawyer
| Harry Leete, all three of them being near
| ly as simple as the farmers. Not simple in
| point of intellect, it must not be understood,
but as to life and manners.
This Thursday was market day James
| llarbury had gone to 1t in the gig of a broth
or farmer, Peter Hall, his own mare, which
he either rode or drove generally, being sick.
| lie was tall, slender man of nine and thirty
years, very fair, with exceedingly handsome
features and mild blue eyes, looking as un-
| like the popular notion of farmer as q man
could look, and presenting marked contrast
TO his agricultural neighbors. So far as ap-
| pearance went none of them, poor or rich,
| could vie with James Harbury, and his tenn
per and his bearing were alike gentle.
He had one fault-though perhaps all peo-
pie would not call it fault-love of money.
That he was one of the "warmest' farmers
in the district was universally believed, and
the most saving of men. Too saving, his
wife would tell him-and where was the use
Of it, she would ask considering she had
neither chick nor child ?-and every now and
then she would make the money fly, for she
was dear lover Of smart attire, and Of hAv-
ing pretty things about her. James would
vince, and bid her to be careful, but he new
er went the length of telling her she had
spent too much. He was fond of her, and
she of him.
Neither chick nor child" In that fact
had lain a sharp sting. They had been mar
riod eight years now, and the sting was wear
ing itself away. Time softens all things. He
had never given her cause for an unhappy
fInuf,lt- IN piobf 10 haI ho1
q secret from her, except that he never could
be brought to tell her what the exact sum
was that he was enabled to put by at the end
of each year. Dinah Ann Harbury did not
care for that she knew that, however much
it might be, it was all for her.
But she did care for this-this mysteri-
GUS secret which had come to her hearing
tonight. She knew how good-looking James
was, how universally he WAS liked by man
and by woman, and what q kind heart he
had--she put it, "soft'--and something like
jealousy began to torment her spirit.
When James came in again, the supper
tray was at one end of the table, and Dinah
Ann, an unusual light in her eyes, sat ut the
other end, near the lamp, having taken up
her knitting. The farmers general manner
was easy and placid though he had certain
ly seemed restless after leaving the gig, but
now he was calm again
"Well," she said, as he cut himself slice
of the cold boiled beef, "and how did you
find "White Bess?"
"Oh she seems comfortable" he replied,
looking around for the mustard. pot.
You deceitful villain! You know you did
not go near the stable" thought his wife.
You are sure you think SO? ?" she added,
aloud.
"Ay. White Bess will be all herself again
to morrow, Dinah Ann"
"Its more than l shall be, thought Dinah
Ann, unless can come to the bottom of this. -
He ate his supper nearly in silence, like Il
man who is mentally preoccupied. And he
enjoyed it, too, for he was very hungry.
james, do you ever hear anything now of
that Emma LandI'
James Harbury laid down his knife and
fork in surprise at the question, and looked
across at his wife, whose face was bent over
her knitting.
'Do ever hear anything of Emma Land :"
he repeated. What can make you ask that,
Dinah Ann I"
"What can make me ask it don't know.
The query happened to come into my mind.
Why should not ask it ?"
''rhere's no sense in it-that 1 see"
"But do you 2"
do l what?"
Ever hear of her? 2"
was it?-the West Indies, I think-to her
friends there. ever 80 long ago. Nigh upon
eight years it must be. You know she did,
DnRh Ann"
"But she may write from the West Indies
Perhaps she does. Does she write TO you ?"
He shook his head to imply negative, and
occupied himself with his supper again. EN-
ma Land had once upon time been q some
what sore subject between them, for Dinah
Ann tods jealous in the old days
''Do you ever see her, James Z"
''See whomS
"Y0u know. Emma Land"
81 can't think what has put all this into your
head tonight, Dinah Ann. How is it?"
''But do your"
''Do 1 what?"
''See her"
why, how could l see her ?" returned he,
in a sort of helpless tone, that his wife fully
thought was put on. ''She is in the West
Indies and am here"
''She may not be in the West Indies now"
81 don't know where she is. She's there
for all l know--and I'm sure it does not mat
ter"
Ask no questions, and you'll hear no sto-
ries, ," thought his wife, quoting the line fa-
miliar to her in her schoolgirl days.
81 should not at all wonder, James, but
Emma Land has come back again"
"May be. Two or three years ago we heard
she had married out there -"
"Who heard it? Who said it ?"
81 know l heard it 1 remember 1t quite
well. But as to who said it, 1 forget that
your brother, l think. That she had married
a cousin"
"Oh Not that that's unlikely, for she was
ready to marry anybody. Shed have mar
ried you, you know. She laid traps for
you"
''That's about true believe, but 1 did not
fall into them, Dinah Ann" And, laughing
good-naturedly, James Harbury turned from
the supper tray to reach his pipe. Dinah
Ann rang the bell, resumed her knitting and
fell into an unpleasant reverie.
A few days passed away, things going on
| smoothly at the farm. Dinah Ann had re-
covered her temper; at least she displayed nc
j ! L.-..