Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-02-08

the boat rocked uneAGlly.
THAT mans coming over, is her said
Bud
"Oh, yes wish was little turtle that
swim in this sweet water"
"You don't have to get married against
your wil?"
Rose Marie snapped her finger and thumb.
"Tante Justine, that is her affair. Me, l
am too young to judge Monsieur Posee,
does he make your marriageY"
'Father'd be willing for me to marry if l
wanted to-" exclaimed Bud, with his heart
beating in his ears His long-growing, silent
alteration was bursting into flower. And l
don't like the trade Mamzelle Shusteen is
making"
Rose Marie repelled his words with wave
of her hand.
"Your wife will be Madame Bud Posee-a
nosegay."
my names Daniel Hanna" said Bud
flushing. But the oldest boy always gets
nicknRmed Bud for brother. It's Kentucky
way we have among us"
"You shall be Paul" said Rose Marie con-
sidering him gravoy.
The young man was dyed in rod delight.
yes have long wished for Paul, add
ed Rose Marie. "Auguste is too grizzly, or
he might do"
Bud pulled his disgust.
That's the way you talk to me, when
could sit here and never take my eyes of you
till judgment day"
Then YOU will not be Paul p said Rose
Marie, looking up the river with meditativo
gaze. The sycamore leaves behind her turn
ed their white sides outward and tapped in
the growing wind.
"Yes, l do want to be Paul urged Bud ;
''but don't want old Auguste and everybody
else Paus too. | wish l could see you every
day. l wish you'd teach me how to dance
and how to act-and how TO suit you. Soon
as it's FROST and the fall works well started,
we're going to have our party. Now won't
you come? I'll take you myself
Rose Marie incredulously stared at him.
"But you could not"
why, yes my boat will clean up better
than Auguste's I'd take good care Of you.
But, Paul, l could not go without a chap
eron. And Tanto Justine" The girl shook
her head.
whats that, anyhow 2" innocenty in
quired Bud. "Tll go all the way to New Har.
mony for the thing, if you want me to-"
Rose Marie laughed out in music.
"A chaperon. You do not buy ohaperon,
She guard she advise. All young ladies
must have one. Even when / am Virginia,
and l roam around the island and make you
Paul, Tante Justine VOLTA, tossing heI
head backward, ,-"she is my chsperon."
1--WE don't have shap'runs in this section, "
stated Bud, dubously 1T may be fine
thing, but l should think they'd be nightly
in the way"
"lhey are in the way always" sincerely
answered the French girl. It's their role to
be in the way. l shall not need a chaperon
long, she deeply sighed.
Her head darted up with an instant atten.
tive gesture.
"Rose Marie called a voice, cracked and
high, but able to move swiftly up the slope
of Moccasin.
That's Miss Lasher," said Bud, with dis
content Now can't you come to our party
il bring one of my sisters along for shap'
run Z"
Rose Marie was already up and away. She
ran buck aud hung her head an instant over
the rock.
''Adieu, Paul. Bon jour. Adieu, Paul -
"Good-by, then-this time" was mis- reluc-
tant answer. Aud when he was left alone he
leaned his head on both hands. The Wabash
rippled against Moccasin's heel, and drove
his boat up to CRATE against the rock. Here
and there a cloud .speck drifted over the riv-
eF's surface. He saw that the woods were
turning crimson and yellow in splashes and
dun film was coming over the green of dis
tant banks. The familiar scenes OF child
hood and youth lay all about him, and EN-
phasized themselves upon his senses. But
he himself WAS an altered creature since talk
ing so long with the French girl on the Moe
casin.
Frost came and the fall work was we'll
started. Bud Posey sat in his boat late OF
nights, fishing near Moccasin. He fitted
from side to side and from point to point
and he took no interest in the approaching
party. Every neighbor's wife knew better
than he the number of pies and cakes and
turkeys and hams preparing for the occasion.
His mother, in the midst of her hurry, tried
| to dose him with dandelion root and ginger
tea. All the common, wholesome enjoy
ments of his life were tasteless now. He
told himself secretly that he wanted the
moon, which he never would get, and plung
ed into the woods with his gun. The spring
of frosty turf under foot, the breath of an.
cient moors, and the sight of game to lure
him on, brought the natural tingle back to
his blood. He was keenly alert and alive un
til he tramped back to his beat at sunset.
The river lay in glory, rejecting bank and
| cloud, aud Moccasin's shadow stretched al
most TO the opposite shore. A large row.
boat, with an awning over one end, was
beached at the island, and some strange men
were helping Auguste carry and stow into
this certain articles from the house. Bud
looked few moments and turned his back,
1t was broad, open moonlight when he
| pulled past the island from his aimless drift
ing down river. There were lights in the
house, and figures still moving about it. He
pulled around to his old anchorage behind
the heel of Moccasin, and let his boat CRATE
against the rock, while the stars drifted over
head There was a screech-owl in the woods
uttering his occasional whOop, as if left out
alone in the autumn chilliness by all its fel-
lows. Buds hands were cold, and he kept
dipping them in the Wabash and occupying
his mind by this heroic treatment.
In the course of minutes or hours a voice
above him piteously spoke paul" and he
leaned back in the rower's bench, and fasten-
cd his gaze to the waist and head in glitter
ing brooade and high.pufed hair which lean
ed over the rock.
I'm here. I've been here pretty much of
the time ever since"
"Oh, Paul, am to take adeu of the island
o-night, By myself, We go at sunrise"
Hes come has he ?"
Eyes, he has come"
"Nirginia !"
"Oh, that's we'll that's we'll !"
''You didn't more than commence that sto-
ry about the boy and girl. You SEQ I've re.
membered what / heard of 1t. What's the
rest z"
'Paul, tounu the nttle pigeon tea under
the bushes here, and l found the silver
watch"
'They weren't fit to give you, he mutter
ed
-''and the pigeon take in my arm. But
the watch-catch it here"
'Throw it in the boat" said Bud. 81
knew you'd despise it. But it was the best
had, and used to be my grandfathers."
II cannot receive jewels" said Rose Ma
rie-'T who am to be so soon married"
Don't do it, " said the young man, straight
ening himself. 'If was fit for you to wipe
your shoes on, I'd beg you and pray you tc
take me. Here am away down under YOU
feet Don't 60 away from Moccasin. Or &c
with me-"
"Paul," said the girl, her eyes shining
from the midst of luminous pallor, 81 love
to hear what you say, but it cannot be. w
are too young to judge. Tante and monsieur