Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-09-19
CONSTANT AND TRUE.

"What an industrious little thing you
Nre, Thalia! l, for one, fear that if
mamma relied for her three quarts of ber-
ries upon me she would have to do with
out"
So saying handsome Ida Minturn leans
her head upon her white hand while she
watches languidly her cousins busy
movements.
1t is sweet, arch face that Thalia lifts
to her as she smilingly answers: "Tired
already? Ida, l do believe you were born
to be drone in the hive. Everything
seems to weary you except going to par
ties and
Flirting, I suppose you would finish
with. Well, you are not far wrong; and,
by the bye, Thalia have found a new
and delightful subject upon which to try
my powers of fascination. Pa should
have thought twice before he engaged
such handsome overseer. To be sure,
he is rather cold and distant; but you'll
see yet how expressive / can make his
dark eyes look"
A delicate pink rushes to the younger
girls fair face as she springs to her feet,
almost dropping her basket of berries.
'Ida Minturn, | am ashamed of YOU !
Indeed, was gong to finish my sentence
In no such way. detest the very word
Irritation, and do not believe Mr. Holmes
would stoop to such thing.h
"Thalia, how seriously you do take
things! If you could only see how
dramatic you look-gory, outstretched
hand and all! But here comes Mr.. Holmes
himself. l believe | will tell him of your
enthusiastic defense. l doubt not but it
would amuse him."
"Oh, Ida, please don'tl"
And Thalia's cheeks grow to the deep
est rose as she pleads.
| But there is no need for fear, as, with
merely grave, courteous lift of his
straw hat, Mr.. Holmes passes on to
where, in a distant part of the field some
men are engaged at their work.
The golden summer months fit gently
by and it is not long before it is plainly
evident to all eyes but Mrs. Minturn's
how affairs are tending between the
handsome young overseer of the farm
and the gentle young Girl who for the
past three years has made her home with
her aunt.
:" think he's perfectly splendid !" liza
says candidly, as with many bushes
Thalia confesses the fact of her engage
ment. "But mamma will never con
sent, and / myself think you're very
foolish, Thalia. Love is all we'll enough,
but for one have too much ambition to
throw myself away on q poor young man.
look for coronet at the very least,
and you, with your pretty face, might
certainly do better"
"Better! All, mol" And Thalia's
face is more than pretty beautiful
she speaks. "My Harry Is noble and
good. What could be better than that9
And if he is poor, am too, but count
myself rich in his love"
Ida is right in prognosticating her
mothers disapproval.
Engaged! And to man not worth
a penny, and of whose family one knows
nothing about! Thalia, am shocked
have seen that you were very friendly,
but l had no idea of this, for we have all
treated Mr.. Holmes with more consider
alton than his position calls for. And
what will your uncle say2 Just what I
do-that the affair must be stopped at
once. am your guardian, Thalia, and
until you are of age you can contract no
marriage without my consent You
know that, and now say that this en-
gagement must be broken"
And all Thalia's tears and .pleadings
are Of no avail. Mrs. Minturn is firm.
In two weeks time they will 90 to Lon
don, and she decides in her own mind
that she shall then see that her niece is
plunged into the very vortex of that
fashionable life from which as yet her
tender years have kept her.
1t is cruel blow to Harry Holmes.
for, relying upon his employers evident
friendliness, he has suffered himself to
build high hopes
"Three years Oh, Thalia, your love
will never survive such test"
Have no fear, Harry" Thalia an
swers, resolutely, for neither time,
place nor surroundings can alter my
heart, and when your time of probation
is over, and | am my own mistress, you
have only to come and demand your own
for / shall be yours then as now"