St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-06-03
ViVa'S Landlord.

And gentle Mrs. Rayner laid down
the coat that was perpctually becoming
elbOwlcss, and looked across the lamp
lit table with anxious eyes.
eyes, mamma, | know triile wea-
rily.
Viva, a slender, pretty girl, with
darkbrown hair gathered loosely be-
hind shcll-pink ears, and lips red us
the cactus flower, met her mothers
gaze with eyes bright with wistful
thoughtfulness.
'And we must move, of course" q"
cried II shrill young voice from the
sofa, where sat Jessie, Il volatile, over
grown schoolgirl, 'because the front
gates off its hinges, and the roof leaks
and"
eyes, Jessie, we all know the rea-
sons for moving, but give mamma an
opportunity to suggest where"
"There's hardly much choice about
that" the pale-faced little woman said
sadly. "Some place where the rent
would be moderate but"-a sudden
look of longing shining out of the pain
worn face-'I would give all the
world, dear, to see the country again.
| feel sitting here"
A glcam of quick determination came
into Niva's velvety- brown eyes.
'And so you shall, mamma y she
said, cmphatically.
"My darling, how ~ in mild sur
prise.
"WeIl"-Viva puckered up her low.
white brow, and tried to look wise and
busincss-like-''yo see we could get
Il cottage in some of the suburban vii
lagos at half what a city house would
cost. Besides everything is so much
cheaper in the country, and we could
return to the city the coming winter.
There -
But your pupils, Viva ?"
81 could manage to give all the les
sons i'll three days of the week-taking
the train in, you know, is almost as
cheap-and do work for Crumley the
intervening days. Now, mamma -
triumphantly.
at looks plausible ut first sight, my
pet, but I'm almost afraid to hope.
Dear, dear how that boy does wear
out his clOthcs.n
Viva came over and claSpcd two ma
room merinO arms around the invalid
figure before her.
''HOpe as much as you like, mamma
darling" she cried, gayly ''for Wen
watch the papers till we see treasure
advertised 'cheap'-in italics, you
know then"
The rest was too glorious to describe.
Three days later, Viva danced in,
out of binding April shower, with
rosc-red cheeks and starry eyes.
''Ilere it is, mamma" she cried,
enigmatically, with hearty kiss and
hug that almost demolished the small
figure in the arm chair. "Now listen -
And from the open paper of that
morning, she read aloud
To RENr-In Suburban Village. 7 twenty minutes
ride from the city an eightroom cottage, with gar
Clifford Chandos, Room IL, "A E St, City.
IL am sure this will suit-"cheap', in
italics, us | said, mamma. You will
have your happy comtryfied summer,
after all" with an eXultant little laugh.
"Now, for Il while, good-byer'
where are you going, dear ?"
''To see about this, mamma. Les
sons are over"
eyes, but do not quite like your
going alone, Viva"
''What An old-maid music teacher
like me ! almost acquire the dignity
of age in this voluminous waterproof
and green veil. Green just think of
it | might as well have red hair and
spectacles. My nervous old darling,
I'll be back before you know Pm
gone"
And with this decidedly sweeping,
but scarcely possible assertion, she was
out again under the rifting, drifting
April sky, and going cityward as fast
as the street ears could take her.
In the thickest, busiest portion of the
city, up two flights of dingy stairs
went Viva.
a timid knock mt Room 10
'COme in -
She turned the handle, and with the
green veil well down, went in.
Two or three gentlemen. writing AT
baize-covered desks, looked up care
lessly rs she entered, and went on with
their work
A gentleman enveloped in clouds oi
cigar smoke, with feet considerably
elevated above the level of his head.
glanced toward the door, as the grace
full figure in threadhare waterproof
came timidly i'll. Down came the feet
out went the cigar, and Clifford Chan
dos, pushing the chair forward. bowed
gravely, qnestioningly, to the lady
before him.
Il called to inquire about cot
tage advertised
The cottages Oh, yes, to he sure
Will you please to he seated, and
will give You the particulars 81
And Viva, taking the proffered seat
listened while the tall. grave man
with straight, black brows and keen
kindly eyes, explained the terms will
| pleasant courtesy.
And when she lifted the obnoxiou,
| green veil moment, to conclud.
some necessary arrangement, Clifford
Chandos started ever so slightly as h,
saw the pretty, girlish face before him
as serene and dignified in its grave
business-like composure as though it
owner were eight-and- fifty instead o