Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-11-30

and went, softly singing to herself.
Presently the fat valet entered, and handed
his master the inevitable dictionary then
Libby brought some household sewing, sat
down Just in beam Of afternoon sunlight
and leisurely worked The marquis fingered
the dictionary awhile, and then said to me:
'Vill you be 80 good monsieur, 10 bring
here the slow man-BinnsS And, monsieur"
he added, ''also the respectable Marta, the
slow mans wife"
They both came in wonderment, and sat
down as far of as possible
Monsieur 10 Dooteur," De Villsnteuil be.
gan, II must request you to inform these hon
est people Eat haf long and mooch consider,
and haf formed my mind upon serious
subject"
Binns never could make out verbal convo-
.lutions, so l set over the sentence into idiom
"All right" shouted the landlord made
up yer mind to go, l suppose. All right"
81 do not comprehend one word Eat ze per
son say, remarked the marquis. "Tel him
Sc taire-to keep still-hold tongue. haf
write to French consul at Quebec. There sail
come here two priests and one notary"
Binns caught a part of his meaning, and
howled:
"Rooms for three-friends o. yourn-fetch
'em along, adding with a grin and sotto Uoce
cant be worse'n he is
be most honorable. Tell Eat to re bonhomme
Binns 1 am garcon yet-nevaire marry
forty two years old My wife sail haf all zat
queen may haf-a fine chateau, hotel in
Paris, diamonds, all zat woman can desire
in zis world"
He stopped, and everybody nodded; yet
nobody understood but Uncomfortable me
Libby had paused with her threaded needle
laid against her lip, in an attitude Of amused
attention. The marquis stepped toward her,
bowed, and, with suave dignity, said:
''Mademoselle, l am acquainted wiz all ze
accomplishments Of re great lady l haf
heard sing, seen paint. speak re languages,
wear re fine costumes But only now haf
meet beautiful woman who can vanquish me
when l am i'll and enr-raged, and who can
cook an excellent dinner which can digest.
Mademoiselle l lofe you"
Libby dropped her hands in her lap, and
said with slow dawning Of wonderment
"What-on-earth-- rth--do-you-mean p
"Mademoiselle, his demeanor was grace
full and respectful-"I haf all make ready.
Two holy fathers and your respected parents
sail conduct you to Quebec In three days
you shall be the Msrquise de Villanteuil-my
wife"
He reached out his hand, and gently took
one of hers
Go way % calculated Libby in her sharp,
high voice-''go way" and shook him off
without even troubling herself to rise. why"
she added scornfully, you'd oughter know
better I wouldn't marry you for nothin',"
and she resumed her sewing.
The marquis caught his breath he started
back, started forward again, turned to me
with desperate interrogstory gesture
"Que veut ellie dire Vat means she 2"
''She refuses you," 1 answered, with quiet
satisfaction.
"Refuses? Quoi? Ellie refuse-moi, mar
quis of France? Dieu vat means-vat-vat
-" And the marquis beat his breast, and in
his rage lost all dignity. ''You say''-and be
thrust his ugly face within six inches of her
pretty one-''you say you will not marry viz
me 2"
II say"-and Libby stared full into his
wicked little eyes without flinching-"I think
you're an impudent old monkey"
"A-a-vat p screamed the furious suitor.
"a monkey? Vat means zat-eh ?"
Nobody enlightened him. He thumbed the
dictionary, found the word in a moment and
yelled, with horrible sarcasm, Monkey
singe! I'm singe! c'est ce que je suis. Grand
Dieu I'm singe I"
In his hysteric rage he fairly jumped from
the floor
Libby looked a triAe scared, and, going to
the door, called ---
He came hurrying from the barn, and to
Jake Davis, the lazy, handsome, unsteady man
of all work my beautiful Libby ran for pro-
lection in Jake's arms she nestled, and into
Jake's face she looked confdingly.
took no further part in the scene. The
last situation was too much.
''Vraiment !" hissed De Villanteuil, venom
ously, ''zis peasant boy will be your husband,
Ell ?"
1, Ill a.;l 7 a. 7
him, and I'm not ashamed of it, I was sorry
for you when you was sick, but now 1 just
detest you. Go way"
''Deteste-elle deteste !" and the marquis,
seizing his dictionary, rushed at Jake to strike
him with the closed volume. The strong fel
low only showed his white teeth in hearty
roar, and dexterously sent the book spinning
off into the air, as he remarked, smisbly,
'Sho you're regular viper, amt you ?" De
Villanteuil, wildly beating the air, rushed up
to his room, and Israel and Jake followed to
| prevent mischief.
Left alone with Libby 1 said, grimly
enough, $50 it's Jake you've been blushing
| sbout?"
Yes, answered Libby, beaming with shy
| happiness Il felt real silly that day Jake
came into the kitchen when 1 was maxim
pies"
"And you called at my Office only to ask
my influence in your lovers favor ?"
"Of course"
"Humph and have you never cared for
anybody but Davis, Libby ?" looked woful-
| ly at her.
Never, doctor. Why, who should care
for ?"
Certainly, stammered Eyes, who in
deed Certainly. And you don't want to be
a great lsdyp"
T'Oh, doctor, believe me"-and Libby new
er was so beautiful as in that moment when
had lost her forever-"I don't want to be
anything but Jake's faithful and loving wife. "
The marquis packed up in a great hurry
and went off. We never saw him again.
Libby soon married lazy, handsome, un-
steady Davis. He grew more lazy and un-
steady and less handsome every day, and his
wife had many new cares in the shape of a
small Jakey, or a wailing Martha, or a chubby
Israel She used all her housewifely skill,
she made a heroic struggle, but the great vel.
vety eyes grew anxious and her wretohed old
rag of gown hung loose on her wasted fig
ure. Poor Libby couldn't stand it.
left Kinnewssset, settled in a large city, and
didn't meet her again for dozen years.
good deal of luck and pluck have made
me somewhat known in the world, so it would
not be hard, perhaps, even in France, to learn
my address. Five years ago received note
from Paris lawyer informing me that the
Marquis Victor-Maurice de Villanteuil, re-
Gently deceased, had bequeathed to Elizabeth
Davis, of Kinnewasset, Maine, legacy of five
hundred thousand francs. A clause in his
will read, ~ leave this souvenir for the most
beautiful and the most honest woman l ever
met"
l carried the money to Libby. She wa
broken down with worry and work. Her hus-
band turned out lounging, drinking, good
for-naught, not unkind, but utterly shiftless
broke the news gently. 'Oh, doctor,
she cried, in great Joy, sis it true-is it really
true ?" and the simple, single-hearted woman
who had braved a hard life with the man sh'
loved, and never given way, buried her fac
and sobbed aloud.
''Apd you're contented p asked, looking
at Davis numbering up the garden path.
"Oh, so oontented / can take care o.
Jake now-dear dear old Jake |" and the sec
ond time in my life l had TO see Libby ii
that unworthy fellows embrace.
Libby wasn't ambitious. She bought I
good farm, and supports her husband and th'
rosy children, who are growing up finely
This year she writes, with the Thanksgiving
hamper;
= Poor old Mr.. Markee he made me hap
py, after all. Jake is splendid-looks afte
the poultry for me nicely"
Jake-alwsys Jake And she is happy
Tihhv vouiFa middla- apad nOW and IN