Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-26
Old MiddletOn's Money.

often at East Cottage. for Mrs. Payte is
so disagreeable and sharp-tongued, and
her invalid friend so depressing" ex-
claimed the stylish, aristocratic Tbeo-
dora Trent, to her naughty, weak-mind-
ed mother; "You ought to have heard
her grumble about the garden to the
rector"
Livery apple get stolen before | am
down in the morning hens eat every
current though l wrap each bush in
muslin like ghost. The birds eat
every cherry. the savage, selfish crea-
lures. Watch them when you feed
them and you will never feed them
again. A father will hop off with the
family dinner from under the very nose
Of MS hungry wife and children, and a
grown-up daughter will snatch the bread
and butter from between her old moth
er's very teeth. Bah nice race"
And so she ratified on. "And the
most provoking part of it all, mother,
is, Mr.. Keith has asked permission to
take her to our picnic. What ak the
elegant, rich Mr.. Keith has to grind IN
inviting that excentric old woman, l
don't see. Honor Craven seems to un-
derstand the position she is best fitted
for in acting nurse and companion to
those tiresome old women"
81 wish Hervey could teach her what
was fitting Middleton, but It'll hope
less task she is not used to elegancies
and will probably never have a chance
to show that she is ill fitted for riches.
How l wish Christmas would come and
bring with it Lady Lawrence, for until
it is down in black and white that Her.
vey and arc heirs to "Old Middleton" S"
vast estates there will be some uncer-
taInty. l think it a superb idea of
mine to have a photograph of all the
Middleton heirs taken in group at the
picnic and sent to the Lady Lawrence.
Cousin Hervey is always elegant and
easy in his positions. and Phebe Owens
will wear some dowdy blue which will
take badly, and what some people choose
to call Honor's dainty, sparkling beauty
will look very tame in the background,
and Jane and Lawrence Houghton can
not look otherwise than tomb-stones, and
| don't believe | shall make a very bad
central figure"
The day of Abbotsmoor picnic has ar
rived, and If you have listened to Theo.
dora's chat you will feel acquainted with
most of those that are on the grounds
and their purpose. Old Middleton after
living a miserly. sordid life had willed
all his vast possessions to sister living
in India to be willed by her to one Oh
more of his heirs as she saw fit, anC
those heirs you have had an formal i'll
PRODUCTION to. The artist stepped for
ward and said, Twill you be kline
enough to tell me when am to take 2
"Not me-" said Mrs. Payte.
BLESS the man, does he think tn
whole neighborhood is peopled by Oh
Middleton's kindred %
"And, too. must be left out of tn
picture" )" said Royden Keith.
Mrs. ,Payte's shrewd eyes watched tn
preparation for the photograph.
: Theodore Trent looks will in tha
position, and she knows it; but it will
make hideous picture. Lady > Law
renee will know great deal more abou
| them from that photograph, won't she
= For instance, how is she to know tina
& Miss Trent made all the arrangement
to suit herself, and that Homer Crave
: is laughing the whole notion to scorn ?
: "For goodness, sake, let US wal
, about till the farce is over. But don
Y like this estate; do you, Mr.. Keith
How can old Middleton's money cau'
. anything but evil when we remembt
; how it was garnered p
: Very easily. If nobly and gene
3 ously used it will return blessings Q
: the giver.'
"See they are beckoning us to dinner
. The cloths were spread, and all sea
= ed.
s "What is it you have there, Mi
i Trent ?' said Mrs. Payte.
. "7artelettes al tromage, a la creme
4 replied Theodore, with languid frigidit
"Good to eats"
d Theodore passed the dish to the foo
It man, without deigning reply.
y I'm my young days we called a spaC
: spade. and affectation folly"
|. Theodore kept still at this thrus
e but wondered more than ever why th
e sour-tempered little thing should ev
come among them.
u After the meal, they started to
= over the house, and the art gallery W
q first visited.
y ''ToO bad there is not picture
t Lady Lawrence" said Mrs. Payte.
u 1--WE have sketch of her taken lat
ly," said Honor. "She is tall and sto
e, with smooth black hair, and serio
face.
S. IL don't like that kind of an q
IS lady," said Mrs. Payte; "but what q