Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-27

allow me to make you acquainted with Mr.
Philip Farebridge? 1 have known him all
my life, and can unhesitatingly speak of him
as capital fellow, whom you will find it a
pleasure to know. take the opportunity of
adding my unchanging regards, and with un.
failing devotion l remain
Very sincerely yours,
PH1LP SwEErsER."
Margret hesilaled moment Here was tho
way out Of her difficulties but, fomininoly
enough at this indication of a readiness on
her husbands part to humor her caprice. she
became unwilling to end tho farce. The
clevorness Of his device amused her, but it
also stirred her up to match against his her
skill in parrying 1t was hardly ten minutes
after Phil dispatched his mssivo before the
servant returned to him accompanied by a
tiny note, which said
Mrs. Merryweather regrets missing the
acquaintance Of Mr.. Farebridge, especially
when he il so cordially ndorsod by an appar.
emily distinguished third person but as she
is not aware of having in the world friend
whose name is Philip Sweetser, she is sure
there must be some mistake in the delivery
of this letter to her"
This note dispatched Margret sat waiting
for nearly an hour expecting some farther
demonstration on the part of her husband,
but as at the end of that timo nothing had oc.
l
both amused and vexed. The intricacies of
the situation grew more and more evident.
She lay tossing about in bed, vainly trying to
sleep, becoming more aud more restless every
moment
She heard the sounds ia the hotel subsids
gradually. The beams Of the late-risen moon
struck at length the top Of her window, throw
ing mellow light through the chamber.
Mnrgret lay lstessly watching the golden
glow as it moved slowly down the curtain.
when her attention was suddenly arrested by
shadow which began to define itself upon
the window shade. II was the silhouette of
mans hat, beneath which the shape of a
mans shoulders, and in time his whole figure.
except so far AS it was obscured by the balco.
ny chair in which he sat. He was smoking,
and something in the pose of the shadowy
head convinced the watcher that tho nocturn.
al visitor was her husband
Margaret had raised herself upon her Il.
bow, following the development Of the figure
upon the curtain. When it was complete she
slipped softly out Of bed, and dressed hastily.
Her hurried toilette completed she hesitated
moment then walked boldly to the window
and drew up the shade.
The window was open and at the first
sound the smoker turned toward her. He
started as the moonlight fell upon her face.
Halo ~ he calculated. rs that you,
Margie y
Hush ~ she said, in petulant whisper
you knew it was l, or you wouldn't be here. "
Il hadn't the fantest idea whore you were.
retorted Phil ~ was incoming here. irving
to think what you meant by treating me SO,
and"
DO speak lower" she interrupted some
body will surely hear"
"What If they do p
DO you want to compromise me?"
Compromise you z"
Yes, compromise me / should think
you'd care more for the reputation of your
own wife than to have it known she was talk.
ing with a strange man at midnight from her
chamber window"
He threw back his head and laughed long.
chuckling laugh, which broke out afresh un.
der every attempt to smother IT, "Margie."
he gurgled, you paddy you'll be the death
OF me never heard such delicious bull
in my life"
"For heavens sake, Phil! - she exclaimed
IN hoarse whisper, leaning out OF the win.
dow IN her eagcrncss and putting her hand
over his lips Miss Sparl's room is directly
over mine, and she has cars like lynx"
'Iil come inside, he said, rising lightly
and making motion to put his foot over the
window.sill.
mo, no, no. - she cried
Then suddenly closing the window in his
face, and locking it, she sat down on the floor
and burst into foolish tears. Her husband
stood helplessly regarding her by the clear
moonlight. He tapped on the pane softly
once or twice then, AS she paid no heed, he
trimmed his cigar and walked away with an
air of injured dignity, and was seen no more
that night.
Mrs. Merryweather dressed herself with es
peclal care on the following morning and ney-
er had she looked pretter than when she took
her seat at the breakfast table.
Her husband was already there, but with |
the first glimpse she had of his face she per
ceived that he was seriously yeIed He gave |
not the slightest heed to her presence. not
even acknowledging her presence by the stir.
ring of an eyelid lie finished his meal in |
silence and before Margret had done more
than sip her cup Of coffee he left the table
Half an hour later, AS she sat at one end Of |
tue piazza, while her husband strobe up and |
down the other her gloomy cogitations were
interrupted 10y tine appearance OF Miss Spart, |
who with an air of mystery took her seat by |
Mgrgrets chair and drew out her embroidery. |
"A very handsome man - sine said after a |
moments silence
Mrs. Merryweather started with the sudden |
consciousness IS that she had been watching her |
husband intently, and that her companion had |
intercepted her glances.
Who 7" she asked, eudeavoring to appear |
Indifferent.
Mr.. Farebridge. You looked as if you
thought So too.
ION, is that his name Who is heY Who
knows him here z"
Il don't know" was the reply; but" |
A significant pursing of the lips left the hear
er to infer that awful things remained unspok-
en-.
But whatg"
"Oh, nothing Only"
What are you limiting about p Mrs Mer. |
ryweather asked, with a shade of impatience |
in her tone. "What do you know about him." |
Nothing Oh, assure you, positively
nothing returned the other; ''only thought !
| heard his voice on the balcony last night
in the night you know-and that fast Mrs
Turner's room is almost under mine"
Fast? Pm sure l never thought Mrs
Turner fast"
"Oh, she must be, or she wouldn't be talk
ing on the balcony in the night with man.
l couldn't be sure it was he for l haven't |
heard his voice much. Though, now think |
of it," the gossip went on eagerly as new
idea seized her, "he asked me to present him
to you. I'll do it now, and that will give me
a chance to hear him speak while l remember
the sounds Of last night"
But" began Margret.
'Oh, you needn't mind Miss Spart inter
rupted. He must be respectable, for he's a
friend Of the Horace Grays"
And away swept the excited little woman,
shortly to return with Mr.. Farebridge
Mr.. Farebridge Merryweather.
And before Margaret had time to recover
herself she was sitting there talking to Phil
as If they were the veriest strangers. 1t WAS
too supremely ridiculous yet there sat little
Miss Spart shrewd, alert, eager for morsel
of scandal as is the early bird for the pro-
verbal worm, and Margret was far too plucky
to yield herself to the tongue of any woman.
She scarcely followed the earlier portions
of the conversation with its usual common
places, which needed no very close attention.
But all her energies were aroused when her
husband threw down the gauntlet by saying;
1T is strange, Mrs. Merryweather, that |
never heard the Grays mention your name.
Horace Gray was my ohum at Harvard and
have known him all my lfe.'
Indeed ~ Margret returned, coolly, rails
ing her eyes to meet his, and ignoring the
main point of his remark. II should have
said that Mr.. Gray's Harvard chum was a
Mr. Sweetser. l certainly met such man at
the Grays'."
"There was Sweetser in our class, :" re-
torted Phil. Capital fellow; the girls all
used to rave over him. "