Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-07-16

Hackett which called the blush to her face
and the shyness in her eye.
Things did not seethe silently very long.
Edna showed more plainly to her father than
to her lover how much her feelings were in
terested and taking advantage one day Of
her absence in hartford at her dress. makers,
Mr.. Deane called on John at the bank, re-
quested a private interview, and TO the poor
fellows astonishment and dismay forbade
him to pay any further attentions to his
daughter. In vain John begged to know the
reason. Mr.. Deano grew pompous and dog
matte as fast as he grew angry. He did not
choose to give reasons for his conduct. II
Mr.. Hackett persisted in his unwelcome de-
votion, he should take his daughter abroad.
John was 80 astounded by all this that it
never occurred TO him to inquire if Miss
Deape disapproved Of him as well as her
father he only sat down when that gentle
man disappeared, put his head in his hands,
and felt stunned.
When his senses returned, it occurred to
him that he had engaged to drive Miss Deane
over to Snipsic Falls the next afternoon, and
this must be given up. He was not yet him
self enough to see that if the daughter agreed
with her father, it was very odd she should
accept all his invitations, and appear to en-
JOY his society. He wrote n short note, nc-
cordingly, to Miss Edna told her that he
deeply regretted that he was obliged to give
up the drive he had looked forward to with
such pleasure; he must refer her to her faith
er for his excuse and explanation and sign
ed himself hers, with deep admiration and
respect, John Hackeu.'
Now Mr.. Deane in this matter showed
himself an old fool but there have been so
many like him since the world began that the
characterization is not peculiar OF outrageous
If he wanted Edna TO give up John, he
should have sung his praises dny and night,
had him in their parlor constantly, advised
Edna 10 go everywhere he asked her, and de
feTrod to his opinions even when they were
most crude or pretentous. Other things Be.
ing equal, this would have disgusted the girl
thoroughly; the world is not changed since
the Athenians stoned Aristides because they
were tired of hearing him called the Just. As
it was, when Edna came back at night from
Dartford and found that note on her bureau
i am afraid John bribod the chambeimaid
TO put it thero-she was, to begin with, furi-
ously angry. She did not 60 at once to her
father and inquire the matter out, because
she did not want him TO commit himself TO
her and make distinct issue between them.
She lad enough Of that tact which serves
women in lieu of strength TO know that she
had better discover the facts from John than
from Mr.. Doane 70 the in her turn wrote
little note TO Mr.. Hackett, and dropped it in
running thus:
DEAR Mr. HAcKETT. Since am to be
disappointed of my drive, shall console my
self by walking up TO the lake. 1 forgive
you, for am sure you are not TO blame.
Yours. very truly, EDNA DEANE."
No sooner was the Hyssop Bank closed
tn at August afternoon than John Hackett
went of toward the lake at a pace that would
have done credit to profcssed pedestrian
nor did he wait very long before, by a strange
coincidence, Miss Doane appeared, having
chosen the hour Of her fathers daily nap to
take a little air. There were plenty Of boats
about, and it cost but one or two suggestive
re- marks from the lady 10 induce John TO pro
pose sail, and soon they g!ided into deep
ly shaded bay. rested on their oars, and might
have listened TO tie silver carol Of the wood
thrush if they had lot preferred each others
voices for then and there John Hackett told
Edna Deane that same old story everybody
tells somebody sooner or later-stale alone TO
the old and world-weary sweet beyond its
intrinsic sweetness when its telling defes
authority and laughs at obstacles.
Yes, while Papa Deane slumbered on his
bed that warm afternoon, with silk handker-
chief decorously spread upon his face TO
warn of trespnssing flies, the youth he had so
bullied and forbidden was making love to his
daughter, out of sight and reach, and his own
folly had precpitatod the crisis, perhaps Gre
Rted it.
But blessed as the two lovers were when
they gldod softly back in the sunset to the
tiny pier, and parted with that lingering hand
clasp 20 dear to people absorbed in each 9TH
er, their troubles had begun.
IN town like Hyssop q perpetual little
day Of judgment dawns with every sun there
is nothing hidden from eyes that make bust
pf caainfr hot 80
do but hear. While John and Edna planned
their meetings, and took walks and drives to-
gether that they fondly fancied no one dis
covered, since each left the street in n differ
ent direction, wherever they met afterward,
they never met or drove or walked but that
somebody knew it, and somebody told every
body else Of il had they conducted their af-
fair on the houso-top it would have reen less
patent. Now the young men who had called
John milksop, stung with envy to think he
had succeeded III monOpoliZing this pretty
girl, got hold OF Mrs. Green's scandal, and
helped the story 10 more legs it ran all
abroad, till Edna's friends in hartford heard
it, and wrote her letters of warming and re-
monstrance, which she angrily burned and
more nngrily answered at last her uncle in
Dartford heard the story, and wrote long
and solemn letter to her father, full of re-
proach and remonstrance.
This woke Mr.. Deane TO full sense of the
situation; he bestired himself to examine
the facts charged Edna with being in love
with that fellow Hackett," and felt his scant
hair rise up on his head as she said, very
coolly,
Eyes, do lcve him, and mean to marry
him, father"
The man was dumb with rage; ho recog-
nized a new light in Edna's eye, and ring in
her voice. 1t seemed she too could dogma
tize.
1t is an unfortunate thing for us sometimes
that our children do resemble their parents
in character, and people hardly make enough
account of il. II seems preposterous to an
obstinate man that his son or his daughter
should be obstinate; yet what could be more
natural?
Indeed, the trait becomes deeper oGense
to the progenitor from his own possession Of
it. Mr.. Deane was outraged to find Edna
had a will of her own when he chose to have
her follow his will. As soon as his voice re-
turned he said, with a sort of cold fury, "Pack
up your trunk, miss. We return to hartford
tomorrow morning"
Edna was not daunted.
First l want to know, sir, what is your
objection to John Hackett."
I've got plenty of objections. l hear bad
things about him. hear he is q very i'm
moral young man."
Il don't believe il, said Edna Indignantly.
"Of course you don't. But intend to act
on my convictions, not yours You will get
ready TO go TO hartford at once"
Edna was furious every feminine ct
told her that John Hackett was not bad
man she felt sure of his delicacy and self
respect long before she had loved him, and
these are not the traits of an immoral person.
She turned as she left the room and said,
''Very well. ! shall go to hartford, of
course, if you say so but l shall not give up
John Hackett because be is lied about"
No. indeed If John had asked her to
stay in Hyssop as his wife, and let her father
go to hartford alone, it is the present chron-
icler's belief she would have consented, but
he was not SO selfish He did not want TO