The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-06-04

can't do anything with 1t alone; Will you
take pity on me and see If we can study
it out together ?"
OF course Frank would, and soon they
were deep in the mysteries of the game,
while Hal scraped patiently away on his
"fiddle." So that evening was saved.
Then quite often Flossy would invite
two or three friends in to spend an even
ing, and she and her brothers were in
turn invited out where they might enjoy
themselves in a pleasant, harmless way,
and come home at reasonable hour. But
to have something ready for every even
ing, to keep them without suspecting that
they were being kept, taxed her inge-
nuity and strength to the utmost. But
the Everlasting Arms upheld her.
One evening she was busy in the kitch-
en-. Hail. in the sitting-room, was looking
at magazine, and Frank was restlessly
scanning a newspaper. At length he
threw it down and said:
"Hal, let's go down to Wilson's for a
little WHILE"
"Oh, no, Frank, don't go it is great
deal more pleasant here with Flossy."
"Flossy isn't here now"
"But she may be soon."
"Oh, well, it's very pleasant and all
right to stay at home some evenings, and
III admit Flossy has been in a very socia-
BILE mood lately but fellow can't be shut
up all the time"
ooh, Frank, as if we were shut up
at ALI"
"Hal, you needn't 60 if you don't want
to. l shall, however; 80 there is no use
talking any more about it,"
And Frank went out mourned, but not
followed, by Hal.
During the evening Hal, happening to
think of Flossy's essay, asked her how it
was getting along.
"Oh," Flossy answered, with affected
Indifference, Igave up writing that some
time ago."
You did |" Hal exclaimed. "Why ?"
"Oh, because there were other things
of more Importance to do" Flossy an
swered, uneasily.
"Parties, music and chess, for in
stance?" Hal asked, looking at her
sharply.
"Why, yes" said Flossy, trying to
laugh lightly. care they not of more i'm
portance than stupid essay ?"
Hal made no reply, and Flossy fastened
to change the subject.
When Frank came home Hal was alone
in the sitting-room. Frank was unusually
quiet. To tell the truth, he had not en-
joyed the evening. Hal at last broke the
silence.
Crank. Flossy has given up writing
her essay"
Frank looked his establishment.
EYES," Hal added, eagerly, and sus.
pect she did it for our sakes."
"For our sakes ?" echoed Frank.
Yes, 80 she could make the evenings
pleasant for us at home, and keep us
away from Wilson's"
"Did she tell you so ?"w with almost q
sneer.
"No, indeed she didn't like to talk
about it at all. She changed the subject
as soon as she could. But l feel sure
of it,
Another silence, which Frank at last
broke by saying
"Well, she needn't ever do that again
for me. Don't 60 into Mysteries, Hal, but
I've spent my last evening at Wilson's-ol
any other place like it,"
A few weeks later the term closed, anG
Flossy, with little pang, saw the prize
| given to q schoolmate.
When she came home she found in hel
snuggery little package with card at
tached, having on it:
| "Dear F2ossy Please accept, with the low,
and best wishes of FRANK AND HAL"
Inside was beautiful little gold pen
And as it lay there, shining, on its sof
bed of pink cotton, it told in silent way
story of love, yea, "of the love which i
of God."-Cora Van Nostrand, in Chris
tidn at Work.