Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-03

clean, built thereon a circle Of stones, and
placing the clans on their edges within, COW
cred them with fiat stones, and then with hot
embers and light fuel.
"Wil you not stay and share our feast p
asked Mrs Rosseter, rs Mr.. Bradstreet, a
neighbor, rose to go.
"Nay, madam, my own wife will await me.
Mr.. Rosseter, let me speak word with you
concerning the business you wot Of"
"Methinks youder gallant hath an eye to
your daughter" said Mr.. Bradstroet, when
they had finished their business.
'IIc has come on a bootless errand, then,
for my daughter is bctrothod to Richard Pal
frey, aud in good time here he comes"
Sir Arthur let me present to you my friend
and partner, Richard Palfrey!" said Mr..
Rossotor, not without a twinkle in his eye.
Sir Arthur bowed stifly, Richard returned
the salute politely, then taking his scat by
Mr.. Rosseter, he began talking in low, eager
voice. Mr.. Rosseter listened, laughed, then
glanced ut Elizabeth, still busy with her
household matters.
''You must ask the women, Dick. If you
win their consent you shall not want mine.
But there is your supper, Sir Arthur will you
sit down with usI BY tomorrow 1 trust we
may have bread to offer you-to-nght l be-
lieve there is no such thing as u crust of
bread in the whole colony
Ii was with more than one wry face that
Sir Arthur ate his supper for albeit there
are few things moro savory than a dish of
well roasted clans, they are not easy TO man
age on a first acquaintance, aud they are bet
ter for bread to eat with them. His old pas.
sion for Elizabeth had revived ten fold, but
he felt they were on totally different footing
from the old, condescending affection on his
part, and the submissive, trembling devotion
on hers. Now it was Elizabeth who was con
descending and gracious, making him feel
like an awkward school boy.
"But it is her womanly art to hide her true
feeling!" Thus thought Sir Arthur. Let
me but see her alone aud l will soon set mat
ters right. But how to make an opportuni-
ty"
As it happened the opportunity was made.
A messenger came in all haste from the gov
ernor for Sir Richard Palfrey. There was no
neglecting the summons. Sir Arthur could
have gnashed his teeth to see Elizabeth follow
him to the door, and return, after some min
utes of low converse, to the freside, with a
new light in her eye and fresher bloom on
her cheek.
"Methinks you are wonderfully intimate
with yonder-gentleman l suppose l must
say ~ said Sir Arthur, peevishly. 1t was not
the way he had meant to begin, but his tenn
per got the best of him He was punished
for it in her answer
"Richard Palfrey is my betrothed, and we
shall be married tomorrow"
Elizabeth you cannot mean it. You will
not make such sacrifice :"
"'Tis no sacrifice, Sir Arthur 1t is my own
free choice"
Elizabeth let your heart speak nm
sure you love me more than this clodhopper
upon whom your besotted father would
throw you away. Remember how it was
three years ago"
II remember well, Sir Arthur :" interrupt
ed Elizabeth. 81 have not forgotten our
parting, when you cast me aside like a worn
glove, because would not renounce my duty
to my own father"
but things are changed now" said Sir Ar
thur feeling all the time that he was not ad-
vancing his own cause, yet unable to forbear
the argument. Your father being so far
away"
You would condescend to endure his ex-
stence at the distance of three thousand
miles. But things are changed, indeed.
Three years ago l was child. l loved you
with all the love a child had to give. l
thought you the greatest and best of men.
But you cast me off, The wound you gave
was deep but not mortal, and it has healed
without scar. Now 1 am a woman, aud
with my woman's heart l love Richard Pal
frey better than loved you. For your own
sake grieve that you have come hither. For
my own sake rejoice, since it has fully JUS
tilted my choice in my own eyes"
The next day Richard Palfrey and Eliza
beth Rosseter were married in the midst of
the rejoicing of that fast day which was turn
ed to day of thanksgiving.