Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-10-26

gan to throb in sympathy with the hot pulsa-
tions OF the hot air about her
An hour had dragged its length when Jose
phine suddenly lifted her head aud listened
painfully A mans voice singing and the
splash of oars, and, yes in On instant boat
swung slowly round the bend. One man sat
in 1t, lszily singing.
'Its that blasc creature who watched us of
this morning" thought Josephine. "Its a
type l detest. And to think he should sec
me here It's really more than / can en-
dure," The girl looked with envy on the tor
tose which slipped easily from the base Of
the rock into the water as he heard the dis.
turbing sound of oars.
81 hope he'll have the good taste to sup
pose l came here Of my own free will He
wouldn't think Of interfering with me,
hope. What believe he's coming straight
toward me"
Josephine turned the leaves Of her book
with an interest that grew every moment
more intense. But at length decency re-
quired some recognition Of the nearing boat
The young man was rowing now az il he had
renewed interest in life. lie Was soon at the
base of the rock.
81 beg your pardon, " he said, as he raised
his bat 'oan be of any service to your
"You are very kind, sir. You find me in a
very absurd condition"
you have evidently been shipwrecked
Are you the sole survivor Z"
"No, not shipwrecked, but put ashore and
abandoned by my cruel tyrant Of a brother.
To tell you the truth, sir, l am the victim of
a practical joke. My little brother has left
me here while he goes further up the lake to
visit some friends who are camping there
"I beg you will make use of my boat, then,
to return. l will come up to you in one mo
ment."
Lsapng out of his boat before Miss Vail
could say a word, he drew it up on low
shelf of the rock and quietly reached her
side
Let me help you" the young man said,
with such a firm assurance of good breeding,
that she made no resistance or attempt at in.
dependence, but accepted the profered aid
in quiet, matter Of course way.
You boat your boat sir" she suddenly
cried 1t was too late. The rising breeze
drove the water with such force against the
the rock as to disodge the boat and before
Adams could grasp it, it was gayly fitting
about half dozen yards away.
The two looked at each other moment
and thea laughed, though both were con-
scious Of its being questionable taste.
Adams sobered and said Can you ever
forgive me- Miss -"
Miss Vail. l am Miss Vail"
And am Mr. Adams. Can you be mag
unanimous enough to forgive me z"
That is the question | should ask you"
"Ah, you eyade mine At any rate / shall
never forgive myself worse bit of bung-
ling never saw. The truth is, Miss Vail, l
have had very little experience in rescuing
fair ladies'. You are the first whose life l
have tried to save. l am no hero, as you
see"
The genuine annoyance of her companion
rpuupH ha ~ Joaapbina nd
she began to talk to him with desperate
cheerfulness and acceptance Of the situation.
What cold blooded little villain that
brother of yours must be, Miss Vail, to de
sert you in this fashion. suppose we must
throw ourselves on his mercy when he comes
back. How are you going to account for me !?
Consider me your man Friday"
Beneath their light talk ran an under. cur
rent of more or less bitter meditation on the
part of each Miss Vail shuddered to think
what good story this adventure would make
to circulate among her friends, while Adams
| foresaw how it would add to the conviviality
of his club. He began with the fervent
wish that he was out of this confounded
| scrape.
He ended, / am obliged to confess by
ceasng to envy Robinson Crusoe his desert
isle, and considering his own far preferable
| There was a breezness about this girl that
made him forget the mountain thermometer
| She had way of going to the point, and
moreover she had point, two things which
Ben Adams told his sister he appreciated in a
| woman.
| In short, by dint of making the most of it,
Miss Vail and Adams we're both able to ex-
press surprise when boat appeared in the
distance and on taking out his watch Adams
| found it to be 3 o'clock.
Now :" was all Josephine said, but there
we're conflicting emotions in the monosylla-
BILE.
"Hulo.o," shouted a shril voice across
the water.
"Hulo-o, called Adams back.
Blank astonishment wiped all expression
out of Toms face at first, but broad grin
finally made its appearance.
You're a great one, Joe" he muttered.
'Td like to know where you wouldn't find a
beau. Did he drop out of the clouds ?"
| Hush, sir, you have been a very naughty
boy"
As they rowed home, Adams devoted him
self to cutivating the acquaintance of the
young scapegrace. The latter proved very
approschable, and Adams found no difficulty
in persuading him to go fishing the next day.
When they were at home at last, Josephine
took her brother into her room and turned
the key.
| lOu, you We ltehltu ue very DhulS "
day. What would you give if would not
tell father? You wouldn't like to be sent
back to the military school, you know"
Say, sis, I'll tell you what, and the little
wretch gave wink of immense satisfaction
"if you won't tell on me- won't tell on you.
Honor bright"
Mrs. Adams, said Mr.. Ben Adams to his
wife at their wedding reception year after,
don't you think we might afford to tell peo
pie now how we met / never knew a Sc
cret kept better. nearly ruined myself buy
ing up that precious brother-in-law of mine
Ycu see, l thought on your account l wouldn'
let him tell didn't care; liked it. haC
no business to, you say But liked it new
ertheless. Here are Rutland and his Mary
Let's tell them the story. They know we're
going to Lake Winnipaka for our honey
poou