Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-09-24

glorious, innocent blue eyes to my face for
an instant, and then hid them upon my
breast, while she whispered-the shy darl-
ing
"'Don't ask father and mother Just yet, un-
til get used to the thought myself. 1t seems
80 very strange
"'And are you sure you love me2 And
will you be willing to wear calico gowns and
live in little cottage all your life 2 said 1.
"'Try me- she replied with glowing
cheeks and an arch smile.
Now am l really loved 2 said TO the
birds, next morning-not having you, Ned, l
made confdants of them, and, like you, they
never betrayed me. 1t is Hal Elmendorf
wins the heart of Alice, not his fortune-no
signing for gems and gold, no longing for
silks and velvets and satins, knows this sim
pie country maid She is even unaware Of
her own marvellous grace and beauty, and
she is also unaware, it cannot be denied, Of
many of the rules of grammar and pronun-
citation. But these l can soon teach her,
Heaven bless her' And then thought what
delight it would be to see those guileless blue
eyes open wide in pleasure and astonishment
when after gaining her parents consent to
our marriage, l placed diamond ring upon
the little hand And l made up my mind to
start for the nearest city Immediately and OBJ
tain the ring.
so pleading gurgent business to my darling,
as soon as breakfast was over bade her
good-by for day or two.
ooh, If you should never come back ~ she
sobbed, clinging around my neck.
"But | will, dearest, said, unloosing her
lovely arms, and kissing the tears from her
eyes. L shall be back again before you have
time to miss me- And pds for had on
ly gone mile or two when | discovered l
had left my pocEet-book behind. and full Of
anger against myself for my carelessness,
hastened back. As l neared the cottage l
heard loud notes.-the voices of Mrs. Bur
dock, my prospective mother-in-law, and
could it be? Yes it was my sweet wild rose.
"'Well, its q regular mess, and / don't
know what to say to Bill Tyson when he
comes back from sea, the elder lady was say
ing. He'll raise the ruff off the house
" Let him, replied Alice. I'll build you
a better house-nearer to folks for I'm sure
l never want to come back to this lonely hole
again after onst leave it..
" But s'pose this man shouldn't be 30 rich,
after all 2 persisted the prudent mamma.
I" He's rich as Screechus answered the
daughter, in anything but a sweet voice.
And, oh how dreadful the grammar and
pronunciation sounded in it DO you think
I'd give up Bill if l warnt sure of it? He
writ long rigmarole to some friend of his
one uay, anu ue lOst piece anu Iouuu
it"
The page almost ending with the Clauson
Mine, and nearly beginning with the sweet
wild rose" interrupted Chester.
Just 50, assented his friend. but to go
on with the conversation, to which boldly
confess 1 deliberately listened. L found it,
he never missed it, and l read it, said the
simple country maid. Some fash nable girl
wanted him for his fortune, and he got mad
and cleared out, and walked round till he
found me. A sweet wild rose, he calls me,
and he amt so far out, neither
You'd better let your pa inquire about
him some before you promise sure to marry
him. advised Mrs. Burdock.
Rubbish = exclaimed the rose. Pa 60
in snoopin' round might spoil everything. l
know he's got lots of money, and bet he's
gone off to buy me something elegant now.
Calico gowns, indeed I'll wear silk every
day of my life. But come along, ma, let's
go up stairs. P'r'aps he's left his satchel un-
locked, and we can rummage through it,
" No, he hasn't, said l, coming forward;
but don't let that prevent your enjoying
yourselves ladies' here is the key, at your
service
with shrill scream, the sweet wild rose
fed. reached my room under the caves in
three bounds, gathered together my belong
ings, left some bank bills on the table and
fed too.
And am to marry Eudora Brookfield a
month from to-day. y."-Hdrper's Weekly.