Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-07-16
,bout his COINS on she wouldn't be so

''You better believe it was" returned
Alonzo, with q sudden flash of snappish in
telligenco in his little green eyes. Just then
the figure was called, and as it ended, some
Eody recalled the HyBsop House clerk to his
duties-a party of excursionists had Just ar-
rived-so nothing more was said between
him and Jane but the lie had begun TO limp
about, as lies will, with aacrity and vigor
john however, enjoyed the evening, all
unconscious of his enemies, and even asked
Jane Peters to dance but she tossed her head
and informed him her card was full, with
such an air of impertinent superiority that
John laughed and turned away TO find an
other partner.
Miss Deane and her father spent a long
summer at the Hyssop House, for Edna hat
ed to go back to their stufTy city boarding
house, and they had no other homo they
two were alone in the world and Mr.. Deano
liked to be free to travel so that he would
not keep house.
Besides, Hyssop was n pleasant little town
among the hills, and whatever gayetes were
abroad Edna shared she was pretty, bright,
well dressed and well bred the few young
men in Hyssop all admired and liked her,
and she enjoyed liking and admiration quite
as well rs woman should. John Hackett
called as often as any one, and Mr.. Deane
took a great fancy to him he was an intelli-
/
ence to age which is uncommon in these days
and which pleased Mr.. Deane peculiarly.
As the summer went on, however, John OBJ
served that the old gcntleman's manner
toward him changed he was no longer cor
dial, no longer ready to converse, to borrow
books TO play cribbage with him and if he
came to invite Edna to drive, unless lie saw
her first he was sure TO meet "A refusal
John wondered very much at this change
-, s1,t FrtavI1k. ralutipnu. bp yupp1l Inv.
tried to solve the riddle in the only legitimate
way to solve such problems, by direct inqui-
ry, but for the fact that Miss Deane herself
was as sweet and friendly as ever. II she
was a little shy, and her pretty bushes came
and went more swiftly than before that did
not at all discourage John, who was heartily
and thoroughly in love with her long before
summer was gone, and who began to hope
she did not altogether dislike him.
If John Backutt hGd not been absorbed in
this new and joyful emotion, lac might have
seen that other people besides Mr.. Dtanc
seemed to have lost their friondlness n little.
| The clergyman of the church he attended
| bowed to him now without pastoral smile
upon his long, serious yisage; Deacon Girls
void eyed him from under his shaggy brows
in way TO have daunted less absorbed
man several old maids frowned ut him when
they met him, with frown Of virtuous rep
] TtbhllOll anu llOtt luhll one young kltl OF
| Jenny Peters class looked askance when they
met him, and returned only slight nod to his
pleasant greeting.
He was busy man and happy one Just
now nothing could trouble him much and
being peculiarly unsuspicious by nature, he
did not dwell on the chill of his social atmos-
pEere as n more conscious person would have
done.
There was another person besides Mrs.
| Green who had seen Johns visitors that night.
Alouzo Filey had risen from his pallet in the
inner office at the same time Alrs Green went
to her window, and proceeded TO the front
| Of the house to unclose the shutters think.
! ing, like her, that it was day SO he too be-
! held the dubious circumstance, and Judging
| other people by himself, put the worst posi-
| blo construction upon the matter. However,
as John was regular boarder at the Hyssop
| House, the clerk knew his business better
| than 20 talk Of what Lie had seen his anger
on the night of the dance had made him in
| cautious, but his sense forbade him to say
| anything more.
But what be did sny was enough to confirm
Jane Petors's opinion Of John and his go
ings on" She told hor story TO seven dear
friends, adding her own ideas as to the per
SONS and purposes Of the visitors to the bank
window and by the time each of these sew
cd, all Of whom were pledged TO profound
secrecy, lad told the tale TO fourteen more,
under like pledges, these suppositions were
incorporated into the scandal as facts, and
the legs of the lie increased in proportion as
each Of the fourteen lent her aid to spread il
with great reserve and caution.
II was but few weeks after that June
night that Mr.. Pratt, LuceliR's cousin, who
kept the Hyssop House, had occasion to say
to Mr.. Doane, in answer to some particular
inquiries of the gentleman, that nobody in
| Hy ssop had any thing to say against John
Hackett; and having borne this testimony,
he walked into the Office, with pleased and
| amused smile On his face, and leaning up
against the desk, said, well, guess John
| Hacketts in luck"
Ell = said Alonzo.
why, old Mr. Deanc's been asking about
| character, ard 80 forth. Looks mighty
! ike weddn ahead. John II have TO ask
me tot for the good Sond.off l give him.
Fact is, there want notlin' but good TO say,
| though"
HIM" growled Alonzo. "'shll water
runs deep, they say."
Lord, now, 'Lonzo, did you ever hear
man or woman speak ag'inst him in your
| life ?"
"Well, l shouldn't want to swear hadn't, /"
said the clerk, my ysteriousy.
why, what on earth be you limiting at 2
| inquired Mr. Pratt who could perceive bit
of gossip rs far of, and hunt it down as per
tinaciously, ms any of that very much beliod
race, the old maids"
II don't say nothin'. l know where my
good lies. "Taint in tellin tales out o.
school" replied Alonzo. but that Deane
girls pretty girl an good girl. l should
hate to hev her come to grief anyway. Tell
| ye what, Mr.. Pratt, you just step over and
ask Lucelye if she don't never hear nothin'
said agin John Hackett. Don't mention my
name, for the lands sakes. l don't want
John IIackett a-buzzin' round my ears an
'tain't none of my business anyhow"
Pondering deeply, the landlord made his
way to Lucelia Pratt who was his cousin,
that very evening, and put her TO the ques-
ton. She was busy woman, and deal of
talk flowed past her ears without affecting
! lodgment in her brain but, after some ef-
fort, she did recall Mrs Green's half-recited
story. And the next morning, finding Alon-
70 in the inner Office alone, Mr.. Pratt told
him the circumstances.
"Well, I'm free to confess l see the same
thing, squire and see more. Betwixt you
an me an the post, see John Hackett come
| out an go of with them two females an !
never see him come back, neither"
Alonzo, with the true gossip memory, for
| got to state that he went right back to bed
and to sleep himself
"Well, l wouldn't never have believed it
if Miss Green had been the only one that see
it. She's considerable tonguey anyway, an
mebbe she might ha made half It's safe TO
allow somethin for women-folks's stories al
ways guess but sence you see il too, why,
there amt no dodgin of it, as l see."
Shall you tell the old 7"
II dono reelly dono. Seems as if had
ought to but guess l won't-not unless he
asks me, anyhow. like John Hackett first
rate l should hate to do him harm. Like
| ly enough twas the fust an last time of trip
PIN"
But he had done John harm for COM
ing into the outer office to get his New York
paper, delayed overnight by late train, and
wanted so early because he was going into
Dartford-Mr Deane overheard this last SEN