Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-07-31

lady could scarcely bake it fast
enough. People came half a dozen
blocks to buy the yellow pumpkin
pies and delicious centres of sweet
ness. The little money drawer grew
fat with coins-and Aunt Debby's
dim eyes grew bright and hopeful
again.
And one day Mr.. Herbert Valance
walking by with Medora May, stop
ped and looked in.
''Isn't that your cousin Grace"
said he, ''behind that counter?"
Medora turned crimson with vexa-
ton.
+" My cousin Grace?" she cried.
"No-indeed We are not-in
trade !"
What possessed her to utter this
falsehood, Medora could not after
ward have told. Partly the sting of
false shame, partly disinclination
for Mr.. Herbert Valance to know
that to use her own expression, "la-
dies and gentlemen"
Mr.. Valance looked up at the sign
over the door.
eyes," said Medora, angry at her.
self for blushing SO deeply, ''but we
are no relation
Mr.. Valance thought over the mat
ter; afterward he had met Miss May
at an evening party given by a friend,
where pretty Grace Craxall was also
present-he had taken rather fancy
to the bright blue eyes and delicate
blond beauty of the former. Val
ance Hall on the hill just out of the
city was solitary enough, now that
his sisters had all married and gone
away, and perhaps man might find
less attractive and graceful wife
than Medora May. But he could
not be mistaken, he thought, in Grace
Craxall's identity.
And so the next evening, about
the same time, he sauntered into the
shop. Grace was behind the dainty,
clean little counter, taking some
newly baked maple caramels off the
pans. She looked up with a smile.
"Good evening, Mr.. Valance"
said she.
ESQ.," he thought, 81 wasn't mis-
taken, after all. And the blue-eyed
seraph is mortal enough to tell lie
in spite of her angelic appearance")
But he looked serenely at Grace.
II did not know that you were in
trade" said he.
"Didn't you? Well," merely re-
torted Grace. II am my Aunt Deb
orah's shop-girl just at present! 1
always come here in the evening to
help her. Because" she added, with
a sweet shade of seriousness coming
over her face, "Aunt Debby is old
and poor-she didn't know quite how
how to maintain herself in independ-
ence. And unfortunately my wages
at the factory are not enough for us
both. So l advised her to open this
business. And she did. And she's
doing very well. She bakes the most
delicious bread and pies you ever
ate, So" with saucy twinkle under
her eyelashes, "if you know of any
customers, you will recommend our
frm?"
s'To be sure SHALL" he answered
in the same spirit. "And / am very
glad Miss Craxall to see that you are
not ashamed of being a working
girl"
''Of course am not" said Grace,
"Why should 1 be?''
'sBut your cousin Medora is"
Grace gave a little shrug to her
shoulders.
every likely" she said. ''Medo-
IA and differ in many things
Mr.. Valance bought a pound of
caramels and went away.
"She is beauty" he said to him.
| self. "She is sensible beauty in
the bargain. One of those rare
avises in our country, thoroughly
well-balanced girl
| He must have been very well pleas
ed with his purchase, for he came
the next evening just in time to walk
home with Grace. And they talked
over Aunt Deborah's affairs, and
concluded that as -four was low just
then, it would be favorable oppor-
tunity for the old lady to lay in her
winters stock through Mr.. Valance,
who was acquainted with one of the
great New York grain merchants.
Only few weeks had elapsed,
; when Medora May was electrified
with amazement to learn that her
| cousin Grace was "engaged."
"To some master baker, OF journ-
, ey-man confectioner, 1 suppose .
said she contemptuously.
, ssNo," said Grace, with eyes ro-
] guishly sparkling, ''to Mr.. Herbert
r Valance"
D sI-don n't-believe-it,'' said Me-
dora, growing red, then pale.
''But it is really so,' said Grace.
"And we are to be married in three
: months. Aunt Debby is to come to
the Hall and live with me, as soon
as she can dispose of her business to
: advantage. And, dear Medora,
hope you will often come and visit
; me there"
h Medora May did not answer. She
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