Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-10-25
Their Two Summerings.

talr earth that lovely morning, and hair
as palely gold as the first rays of early
sunshine, and face as pink and fair
as ever maiden's face was. And Vera,
her eldest sister, tall, with beautiful,
serious gray eyes under jetty brows,
with lustrous, jet-black hair, all waves
and ripples from her broad low fore
head to the Grecian coil at the back of
her classic head-the two of them sis
ters, standing under the big chestnut
tree at the lane gate, reading letter,
that one of the farm hands had just
brought from the village post-ofice,
along with a bundle of weekly papers
! a letter whose envelope was heavily
monogramed and crested, that was writ
ten on faintly-perfumed, cream-white
paper in square, beautiful hand, and
signed Cornelia Caryl, and dated New
port, day before.
Roses blue eyes danced as she read
it, and she clasped her hands in little
ecstatic way she was in the habit of do
ing when she was pleased.
"Vera, it is just too splendid for
anything Aunt Cornelia is just too
good isn't she? Of course it will be you
it should be you When shall you
go? Only think-a month at Newport ?"
Vera folded the letter slowly up again
smile coming to her royalty beautiful
mouth.
81 am not sure it is [ who will ac-
cept auntie's kind invitation. You
haven't been away from the farm for
three years, Rose-not since we all
spent the delicious week in the Cats
kills. l am very sure it is you who
will go to auntie's cottage at Newport,
dear. hope so.'
Rose laughed gaily.
"What an idea, Vera ! Indeed, |
shall not even think of such nonsense.
You're the beauty of the family; you
will 60 and create a sensation, and
come home with photograph of my fu-
ture brother-in- law in your pocket
handsome, wealth, elegant and-a Ger
man count. or French duke, or an En-
glish lord, just as like as not. May be
a Russian prince Of course you'll 60,
my Princess Vera p
Vera laughed-she cOuldEnOt help it
at the comical little way in which
Rose salamed to her-veritably prin-
cess by royal right of loveliness, and
grace, and womanliness.
Honor bright, Rose, wouldn't you
like to CO.
The serious gray eyes looked in the
sunny blue eyes. and then tiny flush
began to warm to deeper lusciousness
on the wild-rose cheeks.
That's not fair, Vera. That's what
| should emphatically call leading
question. Do you want to 60, too ?"
"And under what head do you place
your inquiry, should like to know ?"
Rose tossed her pretty head imperi
ously, with light laugh.
81 won't be catechlsed, but Aunt Cor
nelias letter must be answered, all the
= same, by return mail, according to re
quest. We will decide whether you art
to 60 or not-this way
She stopped and picked up shining
little pebble from the edge of the flow
er bed, and went through some myste
q rious motions with her hands behinc
her, then held out two tightly closec
J. dimpled fists.
e take your choice, Vera. Ifyou ge
is the stone you 60. Vice versa. That
fair enough, isn't 1t 2"
Vera reached out her finger daintily
y and-touched the fortunate hand, Will
# Rose gave little shrek of delight.
s. "Now-now OF course you'll be in
troduced to my brother-in-law-.th
l. count, or the duke, or the lord Let
r, go right back, and while rip up th
II Swiss suit to make it over, with pin
:, and blue silesia, for one of your toilet:
+, you can answer the letter. Tomorrow
N we'll go to the city and spend the fort
dollars, butter and egg money, we'v
s. saved, on Thursday, the seventh, 20
lie will start on your tour of conquest"
n But-somehow there were tears, il
u stead of smiles, in Princess Vera's gra
eyes.
,r "Was there ever another such an ur
selfish, darling little sister as you
g Rose Rose | hope for your sake ther
t, will be the fabuously rich, elegau
E. brother. r.in-law, that he may repay 20
y by taking you wherever you may wis
. to go !'
ID And saucy little Rose opened her blu
w eyes in well-simulated andignation.
re "The idea AS if don't intend po!
W sessing my own brother-in-law-of-
~ yours. to take me whence / please
Thank you, Miss Ellis ! and don't
~ patronizing because you happen-mert
" ly happen-to be going to Newport
T. A week later, Vera Ellis was en- rout
N for Mrs. Caryl's villa, with trunk fu
- of lovely dresses, that had not cost s