Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-11-09
THE VALLEY or MATRIMONY.

There is no more thanklsss task that can
fail to the lot of II ddle-aged spinster with
quiet tastes than that of engineering young
woman of any considerable personal attrac
tions across Europe. The trouble began on
the ocean steamer in the shape of a captain
in the United States navy. At Paris it was q
big Frenchman with a nature like that of
dog at Marselles it presented
itself under the guise of dreamy eyed Ger
man at Rome it was silvery tongued Ital
ian at Naples it concentrated itself in the
most violent and vrulent form in the person
of young American doctor.
Miss Sutherland was troubled with cough
an entirely natural and appropriate thing
to a young woman who exposed herself in all
kinds Of weather on ship-board, simply to
know how the sea looked in a storm. The
idea that that cough needed physicians care
was simply prepOsierous but, all the same,
we had not been in Naples ten days before
Miss Sutherland's lungs were as much an OBJ
iect Of solicitude to Dr. Manning as if she
had been in the last stages of consumption
What a delightful thing a cough is-one, that
is which is quite sufficiently slight, does not
keep the sufferer awake at night, or otherwise
interfere with the comfortable progress of ex-
istence There was just enough reality to
Miss Sutherland's cough to prevent her under
but not sufficient to interfere with any mum
Der Of small excursions to San Martino, Capo
di Monte or anywhere else that might be &C.
complished within a reasonable number of
hours. That cough contributed to Miss Suth-
erand Just the one element of attraction she
did not need The rather firmly lips took
on quite gentle, piteous expression when the
irritated throat was trying to relieve itself by
a fit of coughing; slight fever gave the US
ually colorless cheeks and clear eyes bril-
liancy, and the exhaustion that followed re-
duced the young lady from her usual attitude
of sturdy independence to a most fascinating
condition of womanly weakness
1t very soon came to be understood that Miss
Sutherland's carelessness in regard to her
health, her ignorance, and mine also, of Nea-
politan pdt0ts the viciousness of donkeys and
the cupldity of guides, made male escort al
most q necessity in the neighborhood of Ma
pies. Whether the necessity grew out of the
ready provision to meet it, or the provision
out of the necessity, it is not worth while to
argue. Judging from the independence of
other lady travellers, the former theory seems
the more tenable. During the first of these
excursions Miss Sutherland had quite body
guard about her. Two or three hands at least
were put out to help her over every rock and
up every height. But presently the number
fact assumed the same jurisdiction over the
rest of Miss Sutherlands movements that he
did over the cough. That ailment had been
his especial charge from the beginning, and
he seemed to be rapidly assuming the respon-
sibility of whatever else appertained to the
young lady. Matters had been in this shape
for about month, when it became apparent
that something had begun to go wrong. By
using the united intelligence and experience
that have fallen to my lot, arrived at the
conclusion that, as Miss Sutherland had re-
gained her health, she desired to dismiss her
physician was not prepared, however, for
the manner in which she undertook to do it..
The plan was revealed in the simple announce
ment that she intended to change her quarters
to the island of Capri
Unfortunately my relations to Miss Suther-
land are such that for me to hear is to obey.
looked at the bleak mass of rock from my
window and shuddered, it being February and
the vaunted climate of Italy being in fact as
chill as an English May. The effect of the
announcement upon me was, however, mild
to that which it produced upon DR.. Manning.
They were sitting very quietly when it came
she half buried in big armchair he play
ing with the tassels of her shawl.
agnes! ut was a daring venture that with
her first name-''you are not going over or
| that bleak rock 1t will be absolutely dan
gerous for you. As your physician l will moi
| allow it.
Now at this moment the doctor had an ad
vantage. Had he pushed it, dainty Miss Suth
erand, with her assumed dignity and firmly
curved mouth, would have yielded that point
and the rest He blundered, for he added
softly, Don't go, dear"
left the room. l always do at this stage
Miss Sutherland is thorough American il
regard to her lovers. An English or French
| girl would have fed after me. The damsel il
question considered it quite proper for me t
retire The matter under discussion was en-
tirely personal to herself, and required no in
reference from outside parties. The docto
unquestionably went on blundering for al
hour later, when she came into my room, VI
had the following conversation;
"Well?"
YES"
again ?"
Il believe So" This with a yawn, afte
which, to all appearance, her whole attention
was given to getting the hair-pins out of hel
hair
Capri is a beautiful island. The old Ro
mans had good taste, and Tiberius built twelv
villas on it wherein to amuse himself durinl
leisure hours At the same time middle-ageC
women will get rheumatism in damp places
We had not taken more than dozen donkey
rides, ascended Mount Solario, and made th
trip to Anacapri, when certain twinges in m.
Joints warned me of the probability of bein
laid up six weeks in little pension perchet
on one of the steepest rocks in the Mediter
ranean My experienced eyes also informe
me that Miss Sutherland was not precisel.
herself My diagnosis of the case was sool
made out to my own satisfaction. She wa
trying to live up to the lines of her mouth
and at the same time giving way round tn
heart. The doctors stupidity had undoub
edly cost him rejection. But when youn
lady fees to an almost desert island to avoi
the proximity of an obnoxious suitor, an
then spends most her time gazing across tn
sea in the direction where he is supposed /
be, it may explain the matter perfectly to sa
that she is admiring Vesuvius; but If It does
the person who accepts the explanation ha
not much experience of young women.
Is there anything in this world much NOR
excruciating than an attack OF inhammator
rheumatism? This was precisely what Ml'
Sutherland's eaprices in regard to her lover
had brought me to- For two weeks lay vi
on nv bed a hideous mass of red hanne
racked with pain, and hating Capri with II
intensity of one of the captives of old Tib
rius. During this time Miss Sutherland d
yeloped into one of the gentlest and tende
, est nurses that ever took care of the vicli
, of her own imprudenoe. The process of to
ture was going on, six weeks being the a
. legged period for the inhammatory demon
hold sway, when one morning the famillI
face of DIR. Manning appeared above my be-
r For two minutes positively lost sight OF tn
pain in my joints to wonder if he had bee
, sent for. Miss Sutherland took the very mr.
! opportunity to inform me that he had no
| We were indebted for his presence to the Ia
| Al. aaA 10 pf fold
, that both the English ladies at the peaSto
i we're ILL., the elder one very ILL
If anything will alleviate the pangs OF aeu
rheumatism it is having two young peop
q about one both of whom are clearly IN 10
a with each other while each is ready TO d
} rather than make the first sign. The attitu'
a of the doctor was magnificent, He had olea
/ ly come to Capri to save if possible the liv
4 Of two women imperiled by the abominah
q willfulness of one. His recovery from q
\ effect of Miss Sutherland's destinations
a | ,,aarad IN ba eomplete. He administered