Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-10-19

fshness, and feel my heart growing colder and
colder every day. have beautiful things in
my house, but they don't satisfy me- want
living beauty-something which may really
care for and do for-something which shall
make my life complete. And il was to talk to
you about this, Miss Lirripip, that came to
see you this evening"
Lydia experienced acurious sensation which
she had never felt before.
"You know, suppose, Miss Lirripip," he
continued, "what l mean. You know that
since l first saw you, three or four years ago,
/ have loved you" And Horace took Lydia's
unwilling hand. "Can you," he went on,
'earn to love me a? Win you be my"
Ratatattatsttattst There was knock at
the front door, aud Lydia was greatly relieved.
as somebody coming up asked Horace
snxiously. "Oh, want so much to tell you
ALL Say you are not in. Send them away.
But let me stay. Promise to let me stay"
A voice, evidently Mr.. Merton Murleys,
was now audible from below, the drawing
room windows being open and the voice be-
ing loud
ut is Mr. Murley," said Lydia. 81 expect
that he only wants me to give some message
for him to my father. He will not detain me.
But if let you stay, you must not talk any
more as you have been talking, Mr.. Freske.
At this moment there we're footsteps on the
blhlFCa5b, anu uOEaCB WlluOut huUtutE WOEut
fed incontinently into the back drawing room
and rapidly drew the curtains behind him so
as to conceal himself from the newcomer,
who Immediately sfterward was announced.
Mr. Murley was not so nervous as Mr..
Freake had been upon his first appearance.
He shook hands with Lydia in an easy and
light hearted manner, paid her an airy compli.
ment seated himself comfortably opposite
her, and, without many preliminaries, reveal
ed the object of his visit. "Iknow that your
father is out, Miss Lirripip," he said, land l
may as well confess at once that have delib-
erately taken advantage of his absence to
come and see you upon subject which near
ly concerns my happiness. l should have
spoken about it last night but that could
not command your attention save for a few
minutes at time. Now, however, we are safe
from interruption"
"But, Mr.. Murley," said Lydia cit would
be so much better if you would call when my
father is in"
'Oh, that is not important, my dear Miss
Lirripip. 1t is subject that may be settled
by you alone"
"Please, Mr.. Murley, do not tell me about
it now" pleaded Lydia 1.-The windows are
open, you know, and there are servants about
the house, and"
Ratatattatattattat!
This time Horace, as well as Lydia, was
greatly relieved but Mr.. Murley was furi-
Gus. Let me see you tomorrow, he said
hastily.
"Yes no! mo-" returned Miss Lirripip,
thankful for any opportunity to get rid of
him. Goodbye, Mr.. Murley, goodbye !"
And the servant who showed up Sir Pertina1
Popinjsy showed down Mr.. Merton Murey,
who glared at the Baronet with look which
| spoke volumes
''AIy dear Lydia, said Sir Pertinax as he
offered both his hands to Miss Lirripip; ''you
we're really charming last night. never
saw such perfect sylph in my life, and ma
ny people agreed with me. You were the
| belle of the room. There is no doubt about
it."
"I'm sure 1t is very good of you, Sir Perti.
max, 10 say So" returned Lydia. "But
thought that the Countess herself"
''Oh, the Countess She and you cannot
be mentioned together, my dear. Every one
said so. And besides, the Countess, of course,
| is married. She has met her fate. Ha, hs
| But you-you are still-my dear Miss Lydia.
l may be a fool but upon my honor, have
come here this evening with the determined
intention of asking whether you will have
me. You know worship the very ground
you stand on" And, to Lydis's great con-
sternstion, the old gentleman, ere she could
prevent him, gallantly knelt at her feet and
took her hand, with the evident intention of
pressing it to his lips.
do get up" please, Sir PertinaG, said
Miss Lirripp, forgetting for moment that
Horace Freake was within hearing, but anE-
ious that the Baronet should not make him
self unnecessarily ridiculous even to her.
"You can talk Just as we'll il you sit down
but really you mustn't talk in that way.
don't want to be married indeed, l don't.
You know like you very much, but could
not possibly marry you"
Sir Pertinax rose with dignity and looked
rather disappointed. II had hoped, Lydia
that you liked me we'll enough even for a
husband. What you say, however, may moi
be final, because nothing can alter my regard
for you, and perhaps in the future you may
think better of me-
81 need not think better of you than do,
returned Miss Lrripip feelingy, land yor
do not know how sorry l am that this hai
happened. We can never again be the same
to each other. I am so sorry"
Sir Pertinax began to feel sorry too, for
up to that evening, he and Lydia had alwayt
been like uncle and niece, and in an uneasy
way, he turned the conversation into another
channel. But he could not for long carry i
on, and in less than quarter of an hour h
said good bye like sensible man as he wa
in spite of his weakness, and departed.
No sooner had he quilted the room thar
Horace emerged from his hiding place LydiI
blushed to remember all that he had over
heard but he did not allude to it. Lydia,
he continued, almost as if nothing had hap
pened to disturb him. II love you truly
and with all my heart. Will you, can you
learn to love me, for your love alone vii
make me completely happy2"
"Do not ask me" replied Lydia, who wa
once more seated "You know what 1 hav,
Just gone through. My head is in whirl.
''But think how happy you can make me
Lydia? You would be everything to me, a
indeed you are already, and would spend a.
my days in making you happy"
1t is unnecessary to chronicle the whole
the further conversation that took place
Suffice it to say that at last Miss Lirripip dis
covered not only that she could, but that sh
actually did love Horace FreRke little, an
on the strength of that she promised to MAI
ry him.
Horace was in the act of presuming upol
this promise by kissing Lydia for the frs
time, and was enjoying one of the happie'
moments of his life, when another of thos
furious ratattatats shook the house.
Another ?" said Mr.. Freake with smile
/ 81 shall go back to my retreat until we kno'
! who has arrived, for now must be on tn
> spot to look after you" And in spite of Lye
| las protestations he once more retired to th
3 back drawing room.
1 Two minutes afterward, the General, yer
hot and very angry, stamped up the stail
C and burst into the presence of his daughte
= Everything has gone wrong" he exclaiu
9 ed. "They voted me out of the chair the
0 flew in my face they decided that Ii
/. wretched foreigners don't want cold baths.
= And he pounded with his stick, which he ha
s brought up with him, and looked at Lydia I
t though she were the cause of his disoomh
Q ure
g swell, papa, said Miss Lirripip soothing
s ly, "all the better. Now you wont have
}. 90 to any more of their horrid meetngsl !"
o At this junoture Horace, who was trout
n led with a slight cold, gave forth stifed al
= infnitesimRlly small sneeze.
o LYDIA" cried the General, as he thre
II himself weRrIly into An armchair I'm SUI
o there's a cat in the back drawing room. G
a and turn it out" And Miss Lirripip, haviI
l. no alternative, went cautiously behind Il
n heavy curtains, and was there received in b
1t lovers arms.
70 "You cannot speak to him tonight, 81
l. whispered He would not listen TO 20
= You see how cross he is. Come again to-mo
n row."
a Horace therafora ailantlv took anoth