The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-05-28

of things to amuse herself, she thought,
if she thought of it all, that her brothers
would be equally fortunate.
So, by little and little, the present de-
plorable state of affairs had come about /;
Just how or when no one could tell.
The evening was not quite half spent
when Flossy, wanting to refer to some
book, went down to the library to get it.
Her mother followed her out of the
room to ask: Flossy, do you know where
your brothers are !?
"No; / havn't seen them since supper
time"
81 feel very much troubled about
them," the mother said, anxiously "they
spend so many evenings away from home. +"
ooh 1 presume they are with some of
the boys" Flossy answered, lightly.
81 asked them once where they were
going, and they said to Wilson's rooms
kind of gathering place for boys and
young men. But am afraid they may
not always get into the best company"
81 should think not, if there is where
they co." thought Flossy, uneasily.
Smother can't know anything about
the place. Well, / won't tell her tonight,
anyway it would only add to her worry,
don't see why the boys should want to go
to such places"
Then Mrs. Claymore went back to her
uncut magazine, and Flossy to her essay
But her essay had suddenly lost its in.
terest, and the article which she had
brought up to read was unaccountably
dull. Her mothers question rang in her
ears and the troubled face haunted her.
At length she impatiently threw down
the book. al don't see what ails me to-
night. Why should have such guilty
feeling? l am not responsible for my
brothers"
Just then there flashed through hel
mind the old question, cam l my
brothers keeper ?"
Flossy's checks tingled with shame
and she said:
"Well, perhaps I ought to pay little
more attention to my brothers. | will try
to keep them at home tomorrow night
Music will keep Hal, and of course Frank
will stay home if Hal does"
Thus lightly Diminishing the subject
she began again to read and write
though with little pleasure. AT about
eleven she heard her brothers come in
Alas for Halls "home early"l
Early the next evening, while the boys
were lettering around the sitting-room IN
restless manner, Flossy came in.
"Hal, have been practicing some O.
your music. Will you try little of il
with me, and see if l can keep time with
your violin ?"
eyes, indeed" Has answered, delight
eddy, as he started toward the parlor.
"You may come too" Flossy said
turning to Frank, and be our audience
if you won't be too critical"
Flossy and Hal were soon deeply en-
gagged in the music. Frank watched ant
listened for few minutes, then grew
restless, and, before an hour had passed
he slipped quietly out. Presently thu
music came to pause, and Flossy, with
out turning, said, laughingly:
"Why, Frank, how remarkably still
you are tonight We will stop minute
to allow you to make remark, if yo1
wish"
Receiving no reply, she turned TOWARD
his seat.
"Why, he isn't here, Hal " she ex
claimed. 81 didn't see him 60 out. Whel
or where could he have gomez"
"Perhaps just into the other room; III
go and look" answered Hal, laying dowi
his violin.
After some delay he came back ant
said, with an unsuccessful attempt at care
lessness
al don't see him anywhere. / presum
he has gone out to see some of the boys
Probably he will be home soon."
A worried look came over Flossy's face
but she said nothing, and they went bacl
to the music.
Soon, however, Hal said
You look tired, Flossy; mustn't keel
you any longer. Go and rest, and wi
stay down till Frank comes home"
J When Flossy reached her room sh
threw herself down in low rocker, b,
fore the open coal CRATE, and for a mo
ment buried her face in her hands.
dts of no use. I've wasted the Who'll
evening, and, after all, it has not amounte
to anything. 1t did not even keep bot
the boys home this one evening, and te
morrow night they will both be off AGAR
1t worries me, but don't see as there
anything can do about it. Probably the
, will get disguised themselves at sue
company after awhile, and come out a
right"
But the question was not so easily di
posed of. Flossy, still greatly trouble,
raised her head, and sat gazing into th
fire, while the little fire sprites made pi
lures for her.
The first picture was pleasant hous
cheerfully warmed and lighted. In tn
library man was sitting, deeply burie
in papers and account books; near him
: woman, with troubled face, trying to reac
, upstairs, in cosy, pleasant room, youn
girl reading and writing. The rest of tn
} house was deserted, and there was hus
| over it all.
r The next picture was a Brilliant
lighted room, with pictures on the wal