Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-09-07

the different faces and TO watch the various
expressions. Why, even the noses are a study"
she continued, laughing. "Did you ever look
about you in a street-car and notice the varie-
ty of noses ? The Insignificant little nose,
the sharp, prying nose, the sly hooked nose,
and, as Dickens says, the composite or mix
ed nose But you must not stay here, or
shall not get my work done in time to dress
for the opera"
She appeared at the dinner.table in her
best dress, a black silk, with knots Of scarlet
ribbon at her throat and waist Her black
hair was wound in heavy braids about her
head in q most becoming style, and rich
color dyed her cheeks. Never had she looked
80 pretty, and Arthur Fay realized for the
first time that he would like to WOO and win
his landlady's niece. But thoughts of love
aud marriage were not for him, and he must
| put them aside As soon as dinner was over
| Mr. Fay went out for moody stroll and
smoke. When he returned Flo was playing
an accompaniment while Mr.. Stowe sang The
latter was, doubtless, to be her escort to the
opera. Probably this was the cause Of her
| excessive happiness this afternoon. Mr.. Fay
resolved to seek his room and forget his un-
| pleasant thoughts in hard study. Mr.. Hall
stood at the foot OF the stairs with an opera
| glass under his arm, trying to draw over his
fat hands pair of pale lavender kid gloves.
"What an insufIerable puppy Stowe is
said Mr.. Hall in confidential growl "He
knows Miss Flo is going to the opera with
me, but he keeps her playing in order to show
OF that wretched voice of his Why, he
howled for a mortal hour last night, and kept
her pounding away for him all the time. Con
found these gloves Why don't they make
! EN- to fit the human hand and not inf the
shape of a birds claw Here comes Miss
Carson perhaps she can button them for
me-"
That lady smiled oblgingly, and made sew
eral Intellectual efforts to make the glove meet
across about two inches Of Mr.. Halls swollen
palm.
81 am very much afraid the gloves are too
small, observed Mr.. Fay coolly.
They're not" snapped Mr.. Hall ARE
they, Miss Carson -
"Oh dear, no, not at all, said Miss Car
son family, as she tried to make the obstinate
button meet the still more obstinate button
| hole.
"well, then the hand is too large for the
glove something is evidently the matter,
said Mr.. wilkins, who appeared just then on
the scene.
why how strange never thought OF it,
exclaimed the andlady, drawing bunch Of
keys from her pocket, to which was attached
a small button hook.
Trust woman for helping fellow out,
said Mr.. Hail.
Miss Carson smiled and redoublcd her ef-
forts.
"Ah! have sighed for rest!
Sang MIR. Stowe from the parlor, when sud
denly Mr. Hall gave vent to prolonged 90
| oh :" which sounded like false note in the
song
''You have dragged my whole palm through
that button hole think. Here, let me try
it."
He gave the glove a vigorous wrench, aud
split it across the back He said nothing
however, probably thinking he could not do
the subject Justice but, making little ball
of the gloves, he opened the front door and
threw them with unnecessary force into the
street, after which he went to his room for a
fresh pair.
"Old Hall is crazy about that girl, " observ-
ed Mr.. Stowe to Mr.. Fay that evening. Il
doA't blame him, either. She looked stun
ming TO night. l shouldn't mind taking her
myself.
But possibly Miss Sheldon might object to
being taken by you, " said Mr.. Fay coldly, as
no left the room.
1t was true that Mr.. Hall was in love. AL
most the first glance Of Flo's eyes had capti-
waited him. Usually quite careless in his
dress, he now became very particular. He
threw away the soft felt hat which he had
hitherto worn for comfort and bought low
crown felt with stiff brim turned up with
satin. As sack coats were worn short, he or
dered the shortest that could be made. He
wore light blue and crimson ties, and the
latest style of collars and cuffs
He could not see why Flo Sheldon would
refuse him. He had 500, 600 well invested
and a handsome house on Prairie avenue.
lie was neither young nor good looking, but
surely Flo was too sensible a girl to care
about the mere personal appearance of man
OF property and better still, man OF intel
lect. He was so sanguine that he even hint
ed to his tenant that he might want the
house on Prairie avenue himself by the lst OF
May.
"Auntie," said Flo, the day after the opera,
'Mr. Hall is desperately in love"
''In love !" exclaimed Miss Carson, making
great blot on her account book.
"Yes, and with you" continued the niece
"With me p murmurod Miss Carson, blush
ing.
Anybody would know it, said Flo
Doesn't he make every excuse to be where We
are Didn't he 60 to church twice with us las
Sunday-the first sermon he had heard il
years He took me to the opera just to please
you. To court the whole family is an old
trick of lovers. l am the only member oi
your family that he knows and he wants tC
get me on his side. 1t is evident that Mr.
Hall has become convinced of the fact that
he can't live without you. Accept him
sunte He would be the prince of uncles.
The more Miss Carson thought over Flo'
, words the more firmly convinced she beeam,
: that the girl was right, so true it is that the
wish is father to the thought.
: Mr.. Hall become jealous of Mr. stowe, o
Mr.. wilkins, of Mr.. Crane, and madly jeal
Gus of Mr.. Fay. That the latter was tn
handsomest man in the house he could no
deny, and Mr.. Hall hated him bitterly.
Finally matterg came To climax Mr.
Hall peeped into the parlor one evening whei
he knew Flo and Fay to be there alone. II
!, heard the word "Darlug'-he saw Mr. Fa
kiss her hand
1t was enough. He went to Miss Carso
with the whole story. 1t was improper.
was shocking. Who knew anything abou
s Fay Who knew that he had not wife a.
ready 2
3 Miss Carson agreed with Mr.. Hall as a mat
= ter of course. She was severe with her nice
= for the first time.
J, "what do you know against Arthur Fay
J asked the girl.
o "Well, nothing definite, but Mr.. Hall doe
9 not like him, and"
% Flos eyes flashed. Mr. Halls meddlin
e was uncalled for, she said, and when his aC
d vice was needed she would let him know.
II After this she snubbed her elderly adore
! numerically. II he ventured to remark sh
d answered so curty that his breath was almo
g taken away.
Mr.. Hall became wretched. He resolved
O. lay the whole case before Miss Carson. Wit
3. her aid he might yet win the wayward CIR
4 who, perhaps after ALL was only hrtiu
ID with Fay. He found his landlady seated
= the dining-room window, pensively darning
stocking.
IN Miss Carson" he said, drawing cha
4 to her side, ~ want to speak to you abol
ar somethinp that has lain on nv heart for Il
as last four months"
or Miss Carson's hands trembled 80 much tn
~ she could hardly hold her darninR needle.
"You are a shrewd woman" he resume
ID "You cannot be blind TO the subject of n
Id attentions to your niece"
She tried to speak, but the words died
ae her throat. She made an effort to thread b
ia needle. Anxious to engage her whole atte
n ton, Mr. Hall took her hand and uttered
So sharp exclamation as the needle pierced
e, thumb
- Gtqlo al tbfg - xphianarad Miss Dq