Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-03-04

| 'Ihere, said l, that will set of my eyes,
and deaden my hair-my hairs too bright 10
be fashionable in this old gold mania. Don't
look as II I'd just stepped out Of an old IL
Illuminated manuscript the Romaunt of the
! Rose, or"
That you do !" said mamma And I'm
well enough to see to the peaches and I'll
have the chairs all in the garden at seven
o'clock" And of went.
"Oh ~ said Miss Paget "If you don't
look just like one Of Burne Joness women !"
You look as il you had stepped out of one
OF William Morris's medieval stories dear"
said Marcia.
But saw Miss Mervin going over me crit
ically, and l saw twinkle in Johns eye-for
John was in the secret OF the white dress
and | carried my head all the higher. He
wouldn't be In the secret Of this dress; /
should not tell him q word about it, for the
sake of having him tell Miss Paget what he'd
think good joke enough.
Well, as don't care copper now. although
perhaps did then, will venture TO say, van
ity TO the right about, that couldn't step
without stumbling over some victim that day,
and without ripping seam as well. ALI the
gentlemen kept about me, before and after
dinner, and was just simpleton enough TO
like 1t, and to feel it rather a triumph than
otherwise over the rich and fortunate girls
Alfred Paget was on one side, and Colonel
Meare on the other, and Lieutenant Savary
lowering about, and Mr.. Mervin was pulling
me Japanese lilies, and Miss Mervin was hang
ing behind and saying disagreeable things to
Marcia, as we went down the terraces and
through the wicket into our own garden,
where the boys and Sissy were ready to wait
on us with peaches and cream, and where
mamma looked lovelier than all the rest of US,
lying in her white wrapper on the straw sofa
under the tulip-tree.
But of course as soon as was there, had
10 drop my role of fine lady and belle for that
of hostess and waiting maid, and was NOV
ing here and there, making this person and
that more comfortable, when all at once
caught my dress in thorn, and such a slit as
rent its way through that old stuff you never
saw short OF zigzag lightning in q thunder
cloud. l ran into the house for some pins to
catch it together, but thought then had bet
ter take hasty needle and thread and
was behind the window screen, hurrying for
dear life, when heard voices, and there was
Miss Mervin, with the party round her, CIV
ing some ribbons off her dress 10 Sissy, and
mildly quizzing her the while. stuck the
needle in, and sailed out, for there was no
knowing where that sort of thing would end.
You hAVentgiven meRny peaches and cream,
Sissy" said /, coming up.
Deed miss, said Sissy, I'm that sorry
But the creams all done gone"
"Gone p 1 said, placidly. Then run and
get some more"
For sure, Miss Al-vat'll 1 get it wifi ?
Missus glib me the fastest cent she had for the
cream for desc yer"
Sissy !"
Poor Sissy" murmured Miss Mervin.
Wont she pay for this with more than her
last cent p
There's plenty more cream"
Plenty more? ?" cried Sissy, joyously.
'Whar's it at 2"
''In the milk-room, to be sure. Make haste,
Sissy"
''Lors, Miss Al! Ef you amt alIus the one
ter sabe 'pearances I'd orter known you'd
hab some lef. Miss AIS jess de cutest case"
said Sissy, then, to the assembled group,
''for getting somein outen muffin Dis yer
gown she's got on she made OBJ an ole bed
curting; an yer wouldn't nebber dreamed
twas de ole mosquito nettingr Mars Alec's
ole hat-she wouldn't hab it done washed no.
ways"
Struck to stone, IL ever was thankfulsin
my life it was when John suddenly appeared,
and taking Sissy's shoulder, gave her twist
round the corner of the house and out of
sight.
is it really true ?" said Miss Mervin, with
sprightliness; ''and did you make that-that
peculiar dress from an old bed-curtain? ? and
is It mosquito-netting round Alec's hat?
What triumph of art, Miss Lamarte :"
simpered Maria Vergnes.
mo, said then, recovering myself Its
the triumph of poverty. But it's very good
I'll teach you all my art any day."
Thanks" said Maria, who wasn't ili-na-
tured herself 'But we shouldn't look like
you in it, II you did. And, indeed, I'd rath-
er be able to get up such dress as you have
done than to be able to buy out Worth"
And at that little bit of kindness Of course
burst into tears, and ran away as fast as
could to hide them. / didn't know where,
and never stopped till 1 found myself at the
bottom of the orchard, face down on the
grass, beneath the old hickory-tree.
But John had come stalking close behind
me, and in minute there he was, lifting me
from the grass.
''Oh, let me alone let me alone :" l sob |
bed. "Oh, let me go! want to get these |
rags of, and burn them up"
What 7" he cried gayly. "This Illuminat-
ed Dress ?"
Eyes, yes it's only shown me what fool |
And l don't care. don't want TO belong |
there. 1 hate them all l."
you hate them all, Alice 2" he laughed. |
You hate Marcia My mother Me 2"
Its no matter whether hate you or not |
it's nothing TO you. Nothing is anything TO |
you, so long as you can have Miss Paget be- |
side you"
~ don't want Miss Paget beside me-"
'John !"
There's only one person that want be- |
side me, and want her for life. But-she |
thinks I'm too old"
"Oh, John I"
And as for Miss Paget, she is going TO |
marry Colonel Meare."
'You don't mean so! And started and |
looked up, for all this time it hadn't seemed |
the least queer or unnatural that / was rest
ing on Johns arm. ''Oh, john" l said, |
don't you think it's been real mean of you
to pretend to make love to her, Just so as
to-"
''To-well, to what ?" said John.
Toto make me see / couldn't do with |
out you," cried out And the next moment |
John had taken possession Of me again, and |
his lips were on mine, through all the rain of |
tears upon my face.
''To think, said he, that kissing my little
medieval maiden, in her Illuminated Dross,
the darling, should taste just like kissing Lots
wife !"-HarpeI's BGsdr.