Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-12-05
LITTLE MISS MOY,

LITTLE MISS M0Y,
"This, l suppose, must be the place =
A lady descended from a carriage drawn
up in front of this great gateway open
ing to the grounds of an imposing man.
sion up the Hudson. This lady was
neither old nor young; she appeared tc
be well cared for; she was well dressed
equipped from tip to toe in prosper
| GUS neatness and womanliness. She sur
veyed the handsome grolndsl "It's q
good place, but it must cost good deal
to keep it up" she murmured, critically.
Truly, it was handsome home; the
soft forenoon sunlight lay on the grass oi
the lawn-on the lilies and the still water
in the great stone basin where o pipe
dripped.
1t was delightful; two or three statues,
pieces of gray, weather beaten marble
stood at agreeable distances, and sun
dial, evidently not indigenous to the
place, graced sunny grassplot
Presently this appreciative visitor
stopped, and, turning, addressed some
one who had kept seat in the carriage.
You can stay where you are, my
dear, or you can come and look about in
the grounds. They are very nice; as for
me, l shall go at once to Gabriel"
She passed beyond the gateway where
two large stone heads grinned at her
from the high arch.
Heathenishl" muttered the lady
"but, then, what could you expect from
painter3"
She paused, for just then man, a
young, handsome man. came out from a
sidewalk shaded with pink kalmia, and
confronted her; he Shad fine mass of
ruddy hair falling to his shoulders; he
wore velvet morning coat, and he was
smoking cigarette; that seemed to be
his only occupation.
The strange lady regarded him mo.
ment.
"Ah," she said; then, smiling little,
81 know the look; you've got the fam
lily look, after all. You must be my
nephew, Gabriel Hertford!"
The young man doffed his hat in cour-
tesy.
THAT is my name, at your service; if
am your nephew, then you must be my
aunt but l beg pardon for not knowing
your name"
"Ah, yes, forgotl l am Miss Pen
field-Mary Penfeld. l came this morn
ing to look you up as soon as l heard of
that shameful business. am sorry tor
you ~
"Ah," said the young man, slowly,
"you are very good to remember me
you are the first one to say you are sorry
for me!n
Il dare say; nobody cares, although
everybody talks about it; but, then,
there are great many others. l call it
a great shame that one man can fix things
so that his falling will drag hundreds of
others down with him. This man,
Gould, ought to be put in Jail"
Miss Penfeld looked about her. Ca
briel had flung his cigarette away and
was looking at his visitor in what seemed
to be a mixture of perplexity and amuse-
mcnt.
"This must be very expensive place
to keep up; it must take lot of money"
eyes" said Gabriel, evidently follow
ing as pest he could where his aunt led ,
''it takes a good deal, but since my
father died it has rather run down. My
being alone, you know"
"Well, don't suppose you will try
to keep it up any longer, even as a
bachelors establishment; you will have
to work now to earn your own living.
You like to work, Ihope, Gabriel7"
Yes, like to work"
Miss Penfeld smiled rather grimly.
81 have come to offer you situation
you know l own all the land between
the two rivers out there"-she spoke as
if she thought Gabriel must have a map
| of the section where she dwelt "out
| there" before his eyes habitually--" and
/ am always on the lookout for good
overseer-a good man to manage. There
are the cattle-such work as l have,
losing thousands of dollars every year
it's my firm conviction that Barker, the
man | have now, sleeps all day and plays
poker all night. You are young and
strong; you ore of my kin, although
must say never approved of my sister
marrying poor man like your father
| just painter"
"Perhaps you don't like painting
yourself, my dear aunt" said Gabrie
Hertford, softly, and with perfectly
serious face.
"Oh like paint in its place-on th'
Iences and outbuildings; catch poor bi
of color on my barns! But come; are yol
going to accept my offer2-are you go
ing with meG Make up your mind.
shall go on the evening express"
Gabriel put his hands in his pockets
and stood looking at his aunt in SOM
perplexity. He was evidently trying t,
say something suitably.
"The salary is good" said the lady
abruptly. ''For you | will make it tw,
hundred dollars more than the presen
man receives"
She named a sum. Gabriel said t.
himself that she was sufficiently gener
Gus.
"My dear aunt, !" he said, aloud to her
'your great goodness-your inexpressi
BILE kindness and thoughtfuness deserv
far better" They had been
while talking, sauntering up and down
side by side, across this lovely pleasul
ance. Gabriel, in the middle of hi
speech, stopped. "Whoi in heavens nam
is that2 Where did that vision com
fromW
For there, before them, right in tn
centre of big bed of lillies-tiger lille
and swect-williams and mignonette, stoo
young girl-a tall, beautiful figure i
gray silk dress and mantle, great featl
cred hat over her lovely brows, and sil
YER chain about her slim neck and wais
shining in the sun. Across her long
gray glovcd arm was laid big stem {
iilies-in the manner of angels bearin