Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-02-25
WHAT ARTHUR SAYS.

WHAT ARTHUR SAYS.
am aware il would have been unmanly,
but l should have run IL Mrs. Blake had kept
it up any longer. But, thank heaven she
has at last given II up as q bad Job. Don's
pretty little wife is the most charming host
ess imaginable, but It is singular how the
best Of women-particularly when the bliss
of the marriage state is new to them-are ad-
! dicted to match making. Don is as desper-
ate spoons as he was when engaged and used
TO bore me with his raptures, but, man being
a different animal from woman he is not
bent on my entering the paradise he is in.
Miss Arklay is the last person should ever
be smashed over. She is not the style of
| girl l could care for, though she is everything
l most admire-in theory. But ah, the differ
ence between theory and practice She is
undeniably pretty,-more than pretty, love-
| ly. But have seen homely girls l liked bet
ter. She dresses to perfection, with a classic
simplicity Don's wife would do well to copy,
for II she has fault II is an absolute passion
for ribbons. She is clever, but don't care
for clever girls. She is attractive, but she
doesn't attract me. 1 could live with her for
years on the top of Mount Washington and
never care for her.
AT last, after six weeks of unmitigated mis-
cry, Miss ArklRy and are left in peace. We
are no longer hurled at each others heads in
the evening. The moon no longer suggests
to Mrs. Blake the desrability of O stroll.
Don and can start for our nightly smoke on
the cliffs without awakening in her the de-
sire to accompany US. want to smoke, but
don't like TO, and it so infuriates ne to see
Don putting l could find it in my heart to
pitch both my host and hostess over the
cliffs. She won't talk, for fear, really be-
lieve, of appearing to lend herself in the
qmaliaci daUraa fp har frianAfs cchauaau Che
need not fear; / never could think that of
her. Our conversation proceeds thus mice
night. Very" Interval of ten minutes
Pretty the moon looks. Very pretty"
feryently. think she is laughing, and it
makes me more out of temper than ever. An
other interval Of ten minutes. "Tm afraid
you're cold Freezing" with a violent a
very violent shiver. shall we go in 2" try
ing to say it slowly and reluctantly. Yes"
with unconcealed alaerity.
Thank heaven, it is over, and am free to
enjoy the delicious country, with the stimu-
lating sea-breeze TO row in the evening till
there are miles of moonlit water about me
and l can dream as it never occurs TO me to
dream on the nd,-alone as though l were
the only being in the world and the sea and
the moon and every star somehow belonged
TO the same plan as myself, all parts Of some
vast, unknown, unknovable whole There
am a dreamer. On land 1 have no time for
it. OF all professions q physicians is the
busiest the most practical, and yet, in some
way, the evenings and the days seem to fit
into each other
Don evidently admires Miss Arklay. Even
If were so inclined, which l am not,-it
would be difficult to get word with her. He
is by her side on the pinzza when the people
begin to drop in and the Blakes are both
very popular He insists on her trying his
new dog-cart; it is she who must steer while
he rows. And it is pretty to see how pleased
Mrs Blake is that he should like the friend
whom she adores. What child she is
She has been unusually quiet tonight. /
thought she would be pleased 70 have her
friend spoken OF it is O subject of which
hitherto she has never wearied.
Miss Arklay is charming o-night," said.
don evidently finds her so. What a COM
fort it must be to you, Mrs. Blake, to have
your husband and dearest friend so well dis
posed toward each other! l know a fellow
who has pitched battle with his wife's cher
ished friend every time she enters the house,
and stormy time with his wife when she
leaves"
"How stupid Of him :" she said, no, she
snapped. l was astonished. l never knew
Mrs. Blake to be out of temper before
without any cause, either. Then it occurred
to me it was probably the hot day. I'm
afraid your head aches" said pleasantly.
'You look pale. Don doesn't take enough
care of you, I'm afraid"
HE does. I'm not pale. My head doesn't
ache )" and there was no doubt she was in a
downright passion as she got up and few in
to the house. Hysteria, evidently.
Mrs. Blake has not much power of self-re-
preston. If she were hurt bodily or mem
tally, she would always cry out Presently
Miss Arklay went in too and Don proposed
our usual stroll and smoke. Pretty soon he
began in a confidential tone 'Tm glad you're
not struck with Miss Arklay. was afraid
you would be when Kitty told me she had
asked her down. A doctor should always
marry rich woman, and Miss Arklay has
not a cent. Avoid her, my dear fellow, avoid
her."
Much obliged for you interest in my af-
fairs" said but all the same was rather
nettled.
"Oh, it's all right" he said in his easy,
light way. you've set my mind at rest. A
poor doctor hampered with a wife and fam
lily is a pitiable object"
'Tm not exactly pauper."
you've no business to marry for years.
Have another cigar and we may as we'll go
round the cliffs"
glanced back at the cottage. The cur
tains were not drawn, and could see plain
ly through the broad, low window. Mrs.
Blake was moving about arranging or disar-
ranging everything on the mantel and tables.
Miss Arklay was at the piano. Though do
not like her, she is an undeniRbly lovely and
graceful girl-no, woman; insensibly the
broader, finer word connects itself with her.
like to see women wear white, and she sell
dom appears in anything else.
Don got impatient and took my arm to go
on.
Lets go in, Sehor Don, said I.
III.