Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-10-24
Aunt LOttie's Guests.


maiden sister, who had been housekeep-
er since the death of his vile, and Harry
Damon, his son.
Suddenly over the peaceful scene of
home comfort came change, as Harry
said
"Father met such an interesting
party at the Springs gentleman and
his daughter"
"Ah, you young dog" said Mr.. Da-
mon, smiling, ''little notice did any one
get from you but the young lady. I'll
be bound Well, is the girl the partic-
ular bright star 2"
Harry blushed but answered frankly
"Since you ask me, sir, must admit
that she is the sweetest creature L ever
saw. But-the best of it is, her father
is an old friend Of yours. My name
was enough for him. He took me right
into their party as thong b he had known
me for years"
"Ah," said the old gentleman, "who
is it"
"His name is Underwood-Phillip
Underwood"
An angry ejaculation burst from Mr..
Damon, to Harry's great astonishment.
"Did he dare claim friendship with
me ? Never let me hear the sound of his
name again. Don't you think of fall
ing in love with plant of that deceit
full stock. l would disown you. sir. as
sure as am breathing man."
And for the first time in his life Har-
ry saw his fathers eyes fixed angrily
upon him. Could that clenched fist
and flushed face belong to his urbane
and polished father?
The young mans mind was chaos
of conflicting emotions. Flossie Under
wood was to him the embodiment of
womanly perfection. There had been
mutual attraction between them from
their first meeting, and it had seemed
as natural to her of his love as it is for
a flower to open its cup to the sunlight.
The memory of golden head bending
above daisy-of sweet lips whispering
che loves" "he loves not" on that nev-
er-to-be-forgotten morning, when just as
the last leaf was conveying an assuring
message, he caught her in his strong
arms, needless of her bushes, and said /:
"Yes, darling. he loves and will love !;
come what will to say him nay p
"Speak, boy; you have not learned
to love Phillip Underwood's daughter,
have you ?''
edwin" j" interrupted his gentle sis
ter, ''it is but month since Harry left
home for his trip. Do not be SO foolish.
Love is not the growth of a moment-it
is for a lifetime"
But Harry was too frank to prevarl-
cate, and he looked very noble as he
stepped to the side of his father in his
indignant young manhood.
"You ask me if love Flossie Under
wood, sir? do, with all my heart.
am sorry if you disapprove, for | was
about to ask your sanction to our en-
gagement. know now that my life's
happiness is at an end for she would
never come unwelcomed by my only
parent into the family"
"Be sure that an Underwood will
never be harbored under my roof with
my consent"
Gentle Miss Damon was full of sym
pathy for both. Her heart was sorrow.
full for Harry's disappointment, and she
did not blame her brother for feeling
strongly.
Harry" said she, after a time
breaking in upon the constrained quie
of the room, "will you help me trair
the wisteria this morning? 1t has growr
beyond my skill.
He suspected that another motive lay
behind her expressed wish for his ser
f vices causing the elaborate explanation
? Through all his vexation Harry had tt
, smile. He was only too glad of the in
: terruption. He read her wish to Civ
him advice.
.'Yes auntie, I'll run for the ladde
while you get some leather straps an
, tacks. I won't be three minutes.
7 Soon they were busy at work. For
time nothing was said. Then Miss Da
mon broke the silence
Harry, you foolish boy, why did 20
= speak as you did I? It would have bee
: wiser to have evaded an answer" ;"
t "It was the truth, Aunt Lottie, an
: my father asked me Straightforward
I question, so it was only right for me
answer it.
:, 81 trembled when l heard you mel
8 tion the name. Your father has reaso
d to hate it"
K "Well, poor Flossie never did hi
any harm. She wouldn't hurt person
: feelings for the world. It's pretty har
e on her to be blamed for what was dor
e before she was born for l am sure a
e father has never has any blighting e:
T perlence since l can remember, al
It Flossie is three years younger than