The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-05-11
UNDER FALSE COLORS.

GA literary man, eh?' said Octavia
Glenn. Author of Stray Leaves
and Floating Fanciesp Then why in
the name of all the muses. and graces
isn't he about his work."
Little Fernando drew herself up
with some excitement.
Gle is having his spring vacation"
said she. "He is resting his over
wearied brain a little, before the public
shall become clamorous for more
writings from his pen"
"Oh p said Octavia.
YES" nodded her younger sister.
"And, oh, Octavia, you can't think
how charming he is have always
sighed to know an author. And heisn't
a bit conceited or set up y
"Isn't hep"
"Not a particle. He has written
his autograph in my album, and given
me a copy of Floating Fancies.' And
Mary Martinez is quite wild about
him. And, Octy-"
"Well?"
"Please don't say anything about
the store" coaxed Fernando. 81 have
given him to understand that you are
taking a course of lessons in music and
thorough bass. 1t isn't genteel 20 be "A
shop-girl, you know. and"
"Hoity toity !" said O~ctavia, with a
tess of her really handsome head.
"This is a pretty state of things, and
all about a man who writes bolks.
Isn't it just as genteel for me to sell
buttons and cologne and lace barbes
as it is for him to sell his writings?
And haven't l a fight to earn my own
living in any way that l choose
Fernando, 1 didn't think you were such
q goose"
"He is very particular about such
things" said Fernando. "He didn't
want an introduction to Melissa Plumb
after he heard that she worked in the
factory
"More fool he" said Octavia,
crisply.
HE is a gentleman, you know
pleaded Fernando.
"Pshaw 7" said Octavia.
"Octy's right-Octy's right, my
dear" said old Grandfather Glenn, who
had been sitting so still in his armchair
heal by that neither of the girls sup.
posed that the subject of their dis,
course was known to him. "a true
gentleman honors the woman as earns
her own bread. There's a deal OF
electroplate in this world, and some Of
it is laid on so skillful you can't dis
tinguish it from real silver. But thu
%siiver's silver for all that, and the
others only humbug !"
Having uttered which oracular sen
fences old Mr.. Glenn once more re
lapSed into silence.
"Grandra is 50 queer," said Fer
nanda, with an injured expression o
countenance. "But you'll promise me
won't you, dear?"
But Octavia only laughed, and wen
out into the kitchen to see if the breaC
was light enough for the oven.
Mr.. Fitz Arragon was c~ertainl,
rather handsome. He was dresser
very elegantly, also; he wore wha
was either a diamond or a very ex
cellent imitation of one on his finger
and his cravats were simply supert
He looked at Octavia Glenn with som
interest when they wGre introduced.
"You are fold of music?' he sale
in that soft, insinuating way whic
Fernando found so irresistible.
81 don't object to it," said OctaYii
bluntly.
Its a divine gift" said Mr.. Fit
Arragon. May ! ask if you are tai
ing lessons from Ferrani or Agri
Worte?"
"Neither one Of EN-" said Octayi
And at that juncture Fernand
hurried the literary man away to loo
at a beautiful cluster of trailing a
butus which some one had in
brought in from the woods.
There's no telling what Oc'