Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-08-04


stable into the parlor. When at last he came
down, Mrs. Myrick rose calmly from her
rocker and her novel before the fire.
"Welcome home, dear she said, with
placid kiss, leading the way into the dining
room, whero the table stood strewn with the
debris OF supper. 'Bridget wanted to go out
tonight, 80 | told her that rs one never knew
when to look for you, / was sure you wouldn't
expect anything hot There's no moro toast,
believe, but here are bread and butter and
preserves, and don't believe the tea is really
cold yet. put it down before the FIRE. Why,
where's the tea-pot?'
"Comin', mum dreckly, num-" cried a
sweet young voice from the kitchen. Serve
the genlmau at once, mum" And the doc
tor thought he had never seen so pretty
girl as stood framed in the doorway, her soft
black eyes shining with fun and affection,
her ripping raven hair pushed back from her
fair forehead, her cheeks dimpling, and her
white teeth cleaning. There was a splendor
of youth and health and purpose about her
that fairly dazzled him.
''Are you Hobe, cup-bearer to the i'm
mortals z" he asked her, noticing her uplft-
ed arms and covered tray. "Surely / think
you have the power to make the aged feel
young again"
"Oh no." she laughed, delghtedly, 81 am
only poor slave to Galen, purveyor Of his
Sagacity's broiled chicken and toast and tea
Never mind historical accuracy papa. It's
tea you have here, instead Of Faernian wine,
and dare lay it is good deal better"
"Why, Rosalie," exclaimed her mother,
''you are the precise color of Fox's martyrs
in the picture-book. How could you do such
q thing, when you pretend 10 recognize Wills
claims upon you, and all the Hayeses so strict
on the subject Of complexion ?"
Rose laughed, as she arranged the disorder
ly table. "You see, mamma, she said, 81
recognize papas claim too, and he so strict
upon the subject of involuntary starvation.
At least he ought to be, though he isn't, poor
dear Don't compliment me too soon, papa.
1t may turn out as pink as poor Mr.. Copper
fields mutton, and / should never dare to grill
it for you as Micawber did that, with the
Hayeses and their views rs TO complexion on
ly a mile away. Mamma dear, beauty is its
own excuse for being. Go back and finish
your Dead Sea Fruit by the fire, and leave
me to feed this grampus."
''But you never did it before, dear, and
why, being engaged, and all" sighed Mrs.
Myrick, and paused, as giving up riddle too
hard for her.
mo, dear, never did, the more shame to
me. But it's not kind to remind a penitent
sinner OF her transgressions. Leave her to
Heaven, and to those thorns that in her bo-
som lodge to prick and sting her" And
pretty Rose waltzed her mother back to rock
ing chair and novel, stirred the fire, turned
up the lamp, kissed her soft hair, and waltz
ed back again laughing. But it was a very
sober maiden who quietly closed the door be-
hind her, and sat down beside her father.
Now, papa" she said, there is going to
be an end Of this thing, and we must come to
au understanding"
Certainly, my dear" Le replied "what.
y,1a Wou1I Rnvo1 IJinh
ness kindly specify the offending thing which
is to be thus suddenly cut of p
''Oh, all this misery OF debt and waste and
discomfort for you, dear papa, whichever
way you turn. Oh, I've lain awake nights TO
think and plan all this last year, and il never
came to anything because l couldn't see my
way clear. There's so little l can do at home
to make things better that l must go away for
a while and learn how TO earn money, if
can't save it-I first, and the other girls as
they are old enough. You needn't talk, papa.
If we had been five boys, you would have
been ashamed of us if We were willing to be
lazy at home while you worked so hard, and
hope we have as much sense and affection
and self-respect as il we had been our own
brothers. l want to take Aunt Laura's legacy,
which was saved for my trouseau-it was
three hundred dollars, you know-and 60
| over to Stafford and learn telegraphing. There
will be enough to pay my board and expenses
of learning, and give me start somewhere.
! The wages are very good, papa, to a skillful
| operator, and wouldn't condescend to be an
ordinary one Very likely could get place
near home, and come back quite often. But
| 60 must, papa, so please give your con-
| sent"
''But, my dear little daughter, You don't
know what it is to work for wages, to go out
| side the shelter of home, to fetch and carry
at anothers bidding"
at can't be worse, papa than to see what
see here every day, and can't set right
"What would viii say, Rosalie p
She flushed to her curling hair. He will
be very angry, papa. His notions of values
aud of right and wrong are entirely artificial.
Probably he will break our engagement. But
if he does, ought TO be glad that two peo-
Pile so hopelessly different in their estimate
| of things did not commit the awful blunder
of trying to live together. have thought of
all that"
"And your mother?"
"She will be Mortified, chiefly on account
of the Hayses. IF they count themselves out
of the question, she will soon be reconciled.
You must go a-woong over again, dear papa,
and persuade her that this yes is as vital 10
your happiness as that long-ago one Will
you, Aged P. 2"
The doctor thought and thought. He knew
how Rosalies imagination had overleaped the
obstacles in her wRy-the homesickness, the
weariness, the monotony, the longing for her
lost lover, for he felt sure that VIII Hayes
would not marry working girl" He show
ed her, carefully and tendsrly, the seamy side
of the web which her zeal and conscience had
woven. But in his heart he knew she was
right Here, by his own hearth, sprung from
his own loins, was the large-hearted, clear
headed, firm -willed woman he had dreamed
of, ready to give up ease, comfort, love itself
when duty bade her. And when he gave his
consent he said, softly, II thank God for thii
dear daughter"
The news being carefully and gradually
broken TO Mrs. Myriok, she said at first tha
she never did Then she declared, mourn
fully, that she could not have believed she
could have a strong-minded daughter who
wanted to go out of her sphere. Then sh,
announced that she knew the Hayeses woult
not bear it for moment. And finally, hel
husband and daughter having explained will
untring gentleness and patience that Rost
wished to live her own life, and count for one
in the worlds column of significant figures
she dived again into the abysm of her menta
processes, and came to the surface with tn
reflection that telegraphy must be very scien
tifc, and there was Mrs. Somerville-or wa
it Mrs. Stowe?-or II might have been Georg
Sand at any rate, some woman was very dis
tinguished in science, and had a great deal o
attention, and was in the best society, and sh
had no doubt Rose would be distinguishes
too and invited everywhere, as soon as it wa
known So that battle was more easily wol
than the victors had feared But there st
remained the encounter with the Hayeses i
the person of the imperious Will,
} Rose had said calmly enough, that her loV
5 er would probably break the engagement; bu
Il. III L.
ness, and glorified his loyalty to what wa
, best in herself He heard her plea with
( quietness that surprised her, and answered n
1 word. "You know, Will, it is only for fe'
Q years, and we are so very young we can we
wait. want to send Helena to school, an
Q to give Alice drawing lessons Cher talent
( really wonderfully, and then they can both b