Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-02-04

all up in English style, e,-hayo great suppers
with joints Of meat and pig roasted whole,
and foaming tankards of ale. Do give me
some ideas. Can't you and Janet arrange
something new and bright2 Janet is ex-
tremely good for planning"
Carl glanced at the quiet young girl on the
other side Of the fire, who scarcely ever
opened her lips when he was in the room,
and whom he let alone accordingly. ''The
girl doesn't want TO talk or she can't" he
said after his first meeting with her. 'In
either case, will not make a martyr of her. /"
Perhaps 1t would be well to let loose a
flock of sheep in the woods in default Of any
other game, and have hunting party" she
said with quiet sarcasm which made Carl
look at her in surprise.
Mrs. Grant-Ferguson received the proposal
in simple good faith. 81 am afraid we can't
do that" she said thoughtfully "If it were
only foxes it might do but anything else
No, Janet we must give that up"
Janet repented when she saw a CLEAN Of
mischief in Carl's eyes, and would not an
swer IL. She was always loyal to her aunt,
however much the latter's vagaries offended
her own good sense. II didn't mean that,
auntie but 1 never have much sympathy
with apng foreign people and old times II
we are as patriotic as we pretend, why
shouldn't we be content as Americans, aud
llNt III No-ihl
"You agree with Emerson z" said Carl.
looking at her with still more interest.
"Only so far as Emerson agrees with me, Z"
answered Janet.
The select few to whom Mrs Grant Fergu-
son gave her invitations were in raptures
over the plan and preparations were carried
forward in hot haste. small regiment of
servants was at once despatched to make in
vestigations and repairs, and Janet carried
on one-sided correspondence, full Of COM
mands and countormands, with the chief of
them, until the house at Belmount must have
resounded with the execrations of bewildered
Jeemeses, Bettys, and BridgetS. Carl showed
more interest in the scheme than he usually
did in merry making, and had frequent con-
sultations with Janet.
"Do whatever you like, but don't como TO
me- said the widow, waving them away.
81 claim credit for the original idea, but
never could go lnlo details"
SO the two fell into the habit of talking to-
gether in Carl's almost daily calls Once
they made plan Of each days doings, from
skating TO dances, and Janet grew merry
over it, while her aunt listened in pleased in
diligence, congratulating herself on her own
wisdom in introducing the girl to kind of
life so well calculated to bring out her most
attractive qualities.
''She has a delicious laugh, this 'nut-brown
mayde,' said Carl to himself as lac went
home.
Mrs. Grant-Ferguson and Janet went down
to Belmount before the day set for the guests
to arrive, rejecting Carl's offer to accom- pany
them as general assistant No; you will
be more useful il you will take charge of the
party on the way" said the widow. 1--WE
will be there to receive you"
Nature was propitious, for when the pleas
ure-seekers left the cars the night was clear,
the sky flooded with moonlight, and the
lonely roads beaten into crisp, hard snow
tracks. Every one was hilarious, and their
spirits rose until the staid officials OF the little
country station stared at them in surprise.
Twenty minutes OF hunting for baggage and
settling feminine hounces and wrappings in
the great sleighs, an hours ride, and they
drove up to the old house,-a somber pile
shut in by dismal frs aud expresses, but now
ablaze with lights. The great hall door
swung open and disclosed Mrs Grant-Fergu-
son majestic in black velvet and diamonds
and radiant with hospitality, while Janet
stood in the background bright spot of col
or in the old-fashioned room. No matter in
what gala array she appeared, she was al.
ways domestic picture, and so quiet in q
way peculiar to herself that one would have
been at a loss to know whether to call her
timid or self-possessed.
ut is going to be a success" thought the
hostess, drawing sigh of relief as the gayly-
attired troop poured down to dinner, and
again more emphatically, when they sat at the
long table glittering with its modern wealth,
in high contrast with the bare walls of the
room. 1T is q success" she pronounced
two hours after, when from her chair of state
she watched them dancing in the old kitchen,
while the music came mysteriously from an
unused bedroom where the players had been
stationed.
Il am inclined to think your ladyship
genius" said Carl sauntering up and giving
himself as nearly his usual lounging posture
as il was possible to do in q straight backed
d-fashioned chair. "It makes a picture
worthy the hand of a real artist See how
the bright dresses aud faces light up the bare
boards and rafters. Look at Keller isn't he
like an old Morse god with his deep-blue eyes
and lions name of hair z Leonora Humboldt,
too, is simply magnificent. Did you ever
before see such purple black hair or a turn of
neck and shoulders like hers 2"
'She is very handsome, returned the lady
prudeptly. "But don't admire her too much !;
have views for her which must not be inter
fered with by compliments from you non
marrying men"
Carl's lip curled an imperceptible bit under
his moustache before he said coolly, "Ah do
explain. 1 should be sorry to frustrate any
deep design of yours"
"well, I'll tell you, said the widow with a
sudden gush of confidence II am so much
of a woman that must have my match max
ing plans, and l have thought of two ro-
mances which am determined shall be we'll
under way before we leave here, because it
isn't once in hundred times that such an
opportunity presents itself. In the first
place want Tom Cheney to fall in love with
LeOnora and then there are two others who
must be mated. OF all the men here, it
seems to me Professor Keller needs a wife
most. These Germans are domestic, you
know, and think he would be very happy in
a home of his own. Now, whom do you
think mean to give him 2"
"Wel, to tell the truth, know of no one
over whom you have such power of life and
death as to lead her blindfold into mRtrimony
except your fair self, said the young man
with cool impudenee.
Nonsense don't mean to assume con-
troll of the affair shall only make it easy
for them to come to their own conclusions.
You can't guess? Why, my Janet, to be
sure You are surprised?"
Eyes, / must confess 1 am"
''Well, l own l am generous TO be willing
to give Janet up, but everything must yield
to my love of a love-story. l know he likes
her, she is such quiet dear and makes such
pretty picture by the fire sewing He has
been in two or three times TO read German
poetry, and really seems to admire her. OF
course you won't say anything? And would
you be 80 good as to find Janet for MOP
want to ask her about breakfast"
Carl found her in the dining-room unpack-
ing an extra supply of silver.
'Does auntie want me ?" she asked as he
came in. "Thank you ana don't wait for
me, please. I'll come in a moment"
He did wait, and when she was ready drew
her hand through his arm. ''Your fingers
are like ice" he said so impetuously and un-
like his usual self that she looked up in sur
prise. 'You will get your death in this
breezy old house."
"Why, it is perfectly warm" exclaimed
Janet. "There is a fire in every room"
Never mind you must not take cold, y
he insisted again and Janet was in glow all
the evening from his tone more than the
fires, and forgot what an unnecessary eau