News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-05-04


"My dear, you are severe" began
Miss Phebe.
"There, I knew it. You've caught
the infection-speaking POLITICALLY"
81 didn't mean to, assure you, my
dear, though in my youth I wrote and
published number of verses that we're
But no matter. You will behave nicely
to Peter Now promise me you will,
Verona"
81 will do more. I'll try to be all
he would have the maiden of his
choice And if he don't like me you'll
be content ?"
'II be content" And Miss Phebe
rose to go, as somebody near by whis-
tied loud and clear. "What's that ?"
'sThe first bar of Charlie is my dar-
ling" replied the girl, mischievously !;
and she proceeded to whistle the second
herself, in a bird-like manner, as she
leaned out of the window. A slender,
1.-the young fellow stood in the garden
below. On catching sight of her face,
he nimbly climbed the old pear tree
that stood directly in the garden path,
and reaching the bough that brought
him opposite the snuggery, he seated
himself thereon with an absence of
formality refreshing to behold.
Moonlight row tonight, Verona, :"
he said. ST just stopped to tell you,
though I'm in an awful hurry-going
down to the depot to meet the governor.
Hello, Miss Phebe,"
"Arthur, are you never going to leave
off your monkey tricks p asked Miss
Phebe, with as much sternness as she
was capable of, which wasn't much.
"Never," answered the caller, with
great GOODNESS, as he slid down the tree
again.
"Oh dear what would young Candy
think of him? ?" almost groaned Miss
Phebe. "And, Verona dear, please
don't whistle any more"
"Not whistle, you darling! how can
1 help it 1 whistled when I was
baby girl, and 1 never knew you dis
liked it before"
"WelJ, I don't know as 1 do dislike
it myself. In fact, I'm afraid I rather
like it. But don't whistle before Peter,
that's all. And, Verona, couldn't you
you seem to have some influence over
him-induce Arthur Willis to behave
with little more dignity? A young
man of two-and-twenty climbing trees
like squirrel or a monkey is really too
absurd"
"Mother Phebe, have you known
Arthur from before he was born-his
mother was an old schoolmate of yours,
too, 1emember-until the present time
not to know that he can't be anything
but himself2 And 1 shouldn't want
him to. For my part, think he's too
awfully cunning for anything"
''Too awfully cunning !" repeated
Miss Phebe. "WeIl, perhaps he is.
He's a good young man anyhow, and
very kind to his parents-though do
object somewhat to his calling his
father governor
''His father don't, laughed Verona.
"But by -the-bye, darling, when do you
expect this id mean this cookbook
ing, well-educated, simplicity-loving
gentleman ?"
son the very next train. He will
dine with us, and I have told Betsey to
serve dinner earlier than usual. So you
bo5 l1a++or hao;p draooiDO o. oooo
And Miss Phebe left the room, and
Verona did ''begin dressing at once"
Oh, what o sparkle came into her lovely
black eyes, what saucy tilt the turned
up nose took on, and what bright smiles
chased each other over the full red lips
And no wonder, for never made maiden,
dressing to meet a would-be lover, so
elfish toilet before. First she dipped
a hair brush into basin of water, and
vigorously brushed the fluffy curIs that
lay upon her forehead (Which, unshaded
by them, seemed trife too high, and
the waves that rippled over her head,
until there was no hint of curl or wave
left. Then she undid the coils and puffs
of her luxuriant hair, made to look more
luxuriant by being arranged in these
same coils and puffs, and gathering it
all together into one hard knot, she
fastened it with one hair-pin high GA
her head. An accident a year or two
before had cost her one of her pretty
white teeth-a front one, most unfor-
tunately but, thanks to the dentists
skill, no one had ever even suspected
that the one which replaced it bore no
relation to its neighbors. This tooth
she removed, and her mouth lost its
symmetry, and her smile its charm.
Then she donned muslin gown of Miss
Phebe's some twenty years old, and con-
spicuous by reason of the green leaves
and blue fag-lilies of enormous size
that were profusely scattered over it,
which, Miss Phebe being rather short
and quite stout, and she rather tall and
quite slender, effectually concealed her
shapely form, and left unconcealed her
feet In stout low shoes two sizes too
large for them. About her neck, which
was long and slender and graceful in
the soft ruches and laces she always
wore, she pinned fiat linen collar, and
just behind her left ear, so that it
dropped over against her cheek, making
her brunette complexion look positively
sallow, she pinned spray of the bright
est blue larkspur.
And thus she presented herself before
the much astonished Miss Phebe
and Mr.. Peter Candy. If the latter
was also much astonished, as beyond
doubt he was, having heard glowing
account of her adopted daughter from
his hostess, he never betrayed it farther
than by slight opening of his dreamy,
half-shut eyes. He was a willowy
youth, with fair, willowy hair falling
nearly to his shoulders, forehead low
but not broad, and chin decidedly the
reverse of his friends and teachers.
And he wore dark purple velvet coat,
and a white lace and lavender silk scarf,
and there foated about him the delicate
perfume of the violet. He rose when
Verona entered the room, and greeted
her with languid bow, which she re
turned with an awkward courtesy, while
Miss Phebe's face became a marvellous
study, from the wonderful commingling
of expressions there, as she led the way
l.