The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-09-21

with a brave heart. Her French ac-
cent-for Grandfather Brantome's
blood had never filtered through Can
ada-brought her employment in a
school in the town near by. The long
walks back and forth kept the roses
blooming in her cheeks, the boys were
good-sometimes-and she, being busy,
was happy. 1t requires leisure to be
successfully miserable.
The burying-ground typifed to her
the daily martyrdom of private life"
And now, looking at it, her heart grew
light. The new hat would cost but a
trifle. Surely there were more straw
berries ripe in the garden, the canary
would lay more eggs, the jacket could
be mended, and old Speckle had proved
superior to the fish-hook.
But what could the boys b. scream
ing about?
"The bug-man the bug man !" they
were shouting, trotting toward her
with all their might on their sandy
little feet. 1t was certainly strange.
Why should stranger call twice :?
That he should come once was not sur
prsing-but twice?
ave showed him your photograph"
said Popsey, "and lie said you didn't
look like old maid bit"
"And he said" went on the other
terrible infant without pause. wasn't
we proud to have such nice sister he
wished he had and he had such lot
of bugs he puts them to sleep with
medicine and sticks pins through 'em
and he has gold watch and he let us
wind it up and we told him to come
again some more and here he is?"
Charlotte was speeches., but in
some way she found herself rising to
her feet to greet a gentleman who was
taking off his hat to her and bowling
with grace which even Grandfather
Brantome would have approved.
Miss Brantome, | believe"
She acquiesced in silence.
81 am gathering materials for an
historical work, and was directed to
you for information concerning the
antiquities of this region. And [
might as well say now that l have
references and all that sort of thing"
"Then you are not" She stopped
he smiled.
"No, am not exactly a bug-man,
as these little fellows have called me,
although | must plead guilty to slight
leaning in that direction. Yet just
now l would joyfully part with the
biggest bugs of my collection if in eX-
change 1 might examine your grand
fathers papers"
He was so gracefully genial that one
could no more be absurdly digniiied
with him than with the golden robin
singing on the Indian cross.
"Will YOU walk in"
81 will sit out here instead if you
will permit me-"
So Popsey and Wopsey dragged a
chair and then stool motionles and
wonder-eyed, listening to the talk of
discovery and adventure. They did
not understand it very well until the
conversation turnel to Indian lore.
Indians and bears they could compre-
bend. Then the mother, attracted by
a strange voice. drew near the door in
her melancholy, wavering way.
"The postmasters wife thought that
La Sale was an Indian chief" Char
lotte was saying, land she had heard
of Father Marquette, but supposed
him the priest down at La Paz.'
81 met a woman the other day who
thought herbarium was bug" re-
marked Mr.. Duncan. Then they
laughed.
But everything comes to an end.
The boys began dumb show behind
the strangers back to indicate to their
sister that they were perishing of
hunger so she let the conversation
lag in order to end the call. Come to-
morrow and see the papers if you like, -
she said. ut will be Saturday, and |
shall be at home to answer questions
He thanked her and withdrew,
jumping over the rail fence which
skirted the field of rye in order to get
a near view of the cross. on which not
one, but a dozen, golden robins were
holding vesper conclave. And the
tea-kettle was soon singing in the
Brantome kitchen song as gay as
that IF the robins, and Charlotte was
not her usual careful self as she picked
the Strawberries for tea.
"Half of them green" said the dis
gusted Wopsey 'Spect She think
ing of the bug-man."
X x X
1t certainly Was astonishing how
much consulting the Brantome manu-
scripts needed. And, to-, Mr.. Dun
can required so much assistance. 1t
was Miss Brantome, will you kindly
read this list while l copy it," or
Miss Charlotte, really can't make
out whether this is an or an i" al
the while. Grandfather Brantomt
would have begun to inquire as to
marriage settlements and SCOT II pedi-
grees had he been alive to see those
chestnut locks, innocent of bangs, and
that dark mustache in such dangerous
proximity. 1t was the old story-twC
] vounO heads hen6ipu oVpr tho can1f