St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-08-12
ST. JOHNSBURY, VI, FRIDAY, AUG. II

a work basket and some gingham kept
company with tabby sat. Clifford
crossed over and cat down in the splint
rocking chair beside it, in which a
book, 'Lady Montague's Letters " lay
open. Presently Deborah, coming in
with a tray, made room for it on the
ledge.
"There is milk and switched" she
said, ''help yourself. And | have just
baked, so | have brought you some
fresh bread. Most people like it."
"This is a jewel of girl" thought
Clifford, as he thanked her and ate and
drank, even tasting the switched "A
vile compound of ginger, molasses and
vinegar much affected by haymakers,
but which, with the best will i'll the
world, he could not like.
Il must paint this girl" he was
thinking, glancing at Deborah, as she
leaned against the window, idly swing
ing the tassel of the beaded reticule.
Aloud he said: II should tell you
that had been doing little walking
tour, but find this a pretty country,
and don't think | shall go any further"
"Yes. it is pretty country" assent
|
from the hall window upstairs" and
Gilbert promptly decided that he
would paint that view, though indeed,
| landscape was not in his line. A wild
idea crossed his mind of getting Deb
Orah to take him as bOarder. But
this was too daring. She had, with all
her gentleuess, Il little air of shy pride
which forbade intrusion. SO he only
talked enough of himself and his pic
lures to arouse her interest, till she
voluntarily suggested that he was well
come to paint the view, the old house
or any its belongings permission he
was not slow to claim. After that
lovely lingering afternoon - during
which he saw and admired all that one
old house had to show, heard the story
of the grandmother i'll the black frame
and the British officer Ga love story
with little treason to spice it,, and
even heard some of DebOrah's own
opinions as to men and things, Clifford
made good his footing there. But lit
tie of his holiday was gone, and every
minute that was left would he dedicate
to his shy goddess in her grandmoth-
er's gown. Every day his easel was
set up in the cool, upper hall, and
Deborah and AchSa - first drawn by
Unsuitable curiosity and love of chatter
came and sat by him, one on the win
dow-sill (Achsa, of course,) the other
on the crooked upper step of the stair
case, her work basket on the floor be-
side her. By and by Achsa would
wander off or fall asleep on the rug
for these were hot and sleepy days
Then Deborah, feeling it necessary tC
entertain Clifford, talked, and all I'M
consciously showing what Shakespeare
Milton & Co. had done for mind nat
urally thoughtful and searching. II
was a lovely mind and lovely nature
she thus revealed to him, and no won
der that from day to day he loved hel
more. But the end (of all things
Deborah half thOught) of his holiday
lovely days had come, and Clifford wa:
, climbing the hill, with the resolve il
his mind to speak ont that day, and I
little note in his pocket i'll case circum-
stances did not favor his speaking 10y
word of mouth. He was whistling
perhaps to keep his courage up, anC
pOndering on some words by that late
/ Marquis of MontrOse, about fearing his
, fate too much, for indeed it has come
to this, and if this little country Cir
should reject him, his life would be
, come what he scarcely dared and die
not like to contemplate.
Some people are born to good luck
but Clifford was not one of these. The
dependent and thoughtful Achsa haC
taken herself away, but Uncle Edward
had arrived on one of his periodical
r visits of inspection, to find out how
t much more his nieces had than they
needed. He pOked and shifted IA
, everything, said geraniums were I
r costly flower, girded ut an old fadeC
, blue dress Deborah had put on (becaus,
Clifford liked blue P)and kept the poo
girl at his heels till IA party of sight
+ seers claimed her. Then came he
father and Achsa and supper time, anC
: at last Clifford had to go, trusting t.
5 his earnest and loving little note, il
which he had begged for line to hi
5 inn in the village before train time il
; the morning.
But no word came. He waited Ovel
; train-two trains he even rushed VI
to the old house. 1t was shut, bolte,
/ and barred. Deborah had gone witt
her uncle to purchase II dress 70
I Achsa, with humiliation and embar
Tassment under IL shower of sharl
| speeches. And after he had been II
home some months, Clifford imagined IN
+ could think with tOlerable equanimit'
of some other of MOntrOse's verses
l though he could not bear as yet t.
| frame or exhibit Il certain picture of !
rosy pale girl in an old time blue gown
leaning against the window full O
, geraniums.
D When Achsa returned that night i
e was with a merry look of sly question
t ing; but DebOrah's face was unrespOn
= sive she only looked pale and tired
' DAYS went on, while she grew paler
< her bright smile was not so ready he
gay voice so quick to jest. All tn
lovely autumn went by and the earl,
D winter, and Achsa seemed anXiousl,
1 expecting some one or something
t which never came. When Christina
< was come and gone, however, with II,
E sign, Achsa, watching the hopeless
a look which had grown in Deborah
1 eyes, at last blurted out the question
q deborah, did-that Mr. Clifford new
er say anything before he went away I?
a 'Never," answered Deborah, with
B., little sigh, quickly repressed.
2 "Well, then he's mean snide," SAT-
r Achsa, which was her depth of repro
I baton expressed in the stronges
words her schoolgirl vocabulary af
= fOrded.
. The winter dragged on, and il
} March Deborah bestirred herself t.
= contrive spring "suit' for Achsa
t One cold, snowy day she sat by th'