Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-07-29
NO. 30.

like Judges over a criminal and Tommy stood
beside them looking very sad
Little girl, said Win, in quite judicial
tone, we think you have been punished
enough to make you thoroughly ashamed of
yourself. We wish you TO 20 and play with
Tommy as usual but Tommy could not pos
sibly have you unless you we're out Of Coven.
try We will give you one chance more
Confess that you pulled up the jessamine,
and we'll forgive you, and tell nobody about
you and you shall go and have tea with
Tommy just as il nothing had happened
Think-you have only to say one word
" And if 1 don't say itP
Then, answered Will, with solemn and
awful expression, 4 shall be obliged immedi-
ately to tell everybody everything
"That terrible threat-ali the more formi-
dable because of its vagueness- quite over
came me. To be set down as liar or TO be-
come one to be punished as / knew my
aunt would punish me on her sons mere
statement for wrong thing had never
done, or TO do wrong thing, and, escaping
punishment, go back 10 my old happy life
with my dear Tommy, who stood, the tears
in his eyes, waiting my decision
''It was hard strait-too hard for one so
young. And Will stood glaring at me, with
his remorseless eyes.
Well, now-say, once for all, did you
pull up my jessamine 2"
'It was too much. Sullenly, slowly. I
made up my mind to the inevitable, and an
swered, Since you will have it so-yes But
the instant had said it, fell into such a fit
of sobbing-almost hysterical screaming
that my cousins were all frightened and ran
away.
Tommy stayed, however. He got me in
to the quiet arbor as fast as he could. 1 felt
his arms round my neck, and his comforting
was very tender, very sweet. But was long
before stopped crying, and still longer before
anything like cheerfulness came into my
poor little heart We played together all the
afternoon very affectionately, but in a rather
melancholy sort of way as if we had some
thing on our minds to which we never made
the smallest reference. Tommy was timid
boy, and viii had cowed him into unkind-
ness but he loved mel knew he loved me.
Only, as is often the case, If his love had had
a little more courage it would have been all
the better for me-perhaps for him too.
I'VE spent peaceful, but rather dull af-
ternoon, and then were summoned indoors to
tea.
Now, tea at Tommy's house was a serious
thing. Tommys grandmother always sat at
the table, and looked at us through her spec
tacles, and talked to us in formal and dig
nified manner, asking If we had been good
children, had learnt our lessons well, had
played together without quarrelling, ETC., ETC.
She was kind old lady, but she always made
us feel that she was an old lady, years upon
years older than we, and quite unable to un-
derstand US at all. Consequently, we never
did more than answer her questions and hold
our tongues As for telling her anything
our troubles especially-we would as soon
have thought of confding to the queen, or
the emperor of all the Russias.
ttI never ODanad NV Gna all fan fin,a and
at last she noticedit. Also that my eyes were
rather red
"a This little girl looks as if she had been
crying. hope you have not made her cry,
Tommy, my dearY
Tommy was silent. But eagerly declared
that Tommy had not made me cry. Tommy
was never unkind TO me.
4 am glad to hear it, Evangeline (she
always gave me my full name); and hope
you too are good child, who is never in
mischief, and above all never tells lies. If 1
were not quite sure of that, could not allow
Tommy to play with you
''She looked us full in the face as If she
saw through and through us-which she did
not, being very short-sighted-ye felt my
self tremble in every limb As for Tommy,
he just glanced at me and glanced away
again, turning crimson TO the very roots of
his hair, but he said nothing.
''What would have happened next, can
not tell we waited in terror, holding one an
others hands under the table-cloth. But
me rcifully at that very instant the old lady
was fetched to speak with some one, and we
two children had to finish our tea alone.
'It almost choked us-me, at any rate.
But as soon as ever it was over, and Tommy
and / found ourselves safe out in the garden,
flung my arms round his neck and told him
all.
"Aud Tommy believed me. No matter
the others did or not Tommy be-
lieved meat last Tommy sympathized with
me, comforted me, thought was not so very
wicked even though had told lie, but not
the one l was accused of telling. Tommy
wept with me over all l had suffered, and
promised that, though perhaps it was better
to let the matter rest now, if such thing
were to happen again, he would not be afraid
Of Will or anybody, but would stand up for
me like a man."
"And did he do it p asked Cherry, with
slight incredulity in her tone.
"He never had the opportunity. week
after this he was suddenly sent for to Join his
parents abroad, and 1 never saw my friend
Tommy any more"
But did you never hear of him ? Is he
alive still9 He must be very old gentle
nan by this time"
"Very. No doubt father-possibly even
\ grandfather" replied Cousin Eva, smiling.
Cherry blushed. 81 didn't mean that,
'ince he was barely as old as you, and you
ire certainly not grandmother. But want
o hear more of Tommy. Is he marriedP"
81 really cannot say. The last time heard
If him was ten years ago, when he was living
abroad-I rather think at Shang-
lai. He was not married then"
II wish," whispered Ruth solemnly, Il
wish he would come back to England and
marry you."
Cousin Eve laughed. There might be two
opinions ON that question, you know. But
h my children, when you are married, and
lRve children of your own, remember my sto-
y. If ever a poor little thing looks up in
Tour face saying, 4 didn't do that, believe
/? If it sobs out, I'm not naughty don't
all it naughty Give il the benefit of the
oubt. Have patience, take time and what
ver you do, don't make it afraid. COwards
re always liars. OF the two evils it is less
harmful to believe a person who tells a lie,
han to doubt another who is speaking the
ruth.
~ think so too" said Cherry sagely. RE
member poor Jeanne dare"
"And poor Cousin Eva, added Ruth, kiss
ng the well-beloved hand.
And SO, in the fading twilight, the three
ose up together, and went down the hill
rom Notre- Dame de Bon Secours.-S Sunday
fdgasfRe.
A t.aa f,,l Of birau xyaa siruok Nv Iiahtnina