The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-03-28

piiiS d Siiort tiihc subsequently,, pc-
lieve my mother was right. We are
outrunning our income"
"Pshaw~ said Rosamond, who was
sewing frill of point lace on to the
neck Of a rose-eolored satin reception
dress; "what has put that ridiculous
idea into your head, Rufus?'
"Facts and figures" answered Rufus.
"Just look here, Rosie"
"But l don't want to look" said
Rosamond, impatiently turning her
head away, "and l won't-so there!
OF course one can't live without money,
especially if one goes into society"
Rufus whistled under his breath.
"But, Rosamond," said he, "if mans
income is hundred dollars a month
and he spends two hundred, how are
the accounts to balance at the years
end?"
81 don't know anything about bal
ances and accounts" said Rosamone,
with sweet, sportive laugh. "How
do you like this dress, Rufus?" holding
up the cleaning folds of the pink
satin. 81 shall wear il on Thursday
evening"
"Do you think, Rosie" said the
young man, gently, chat it is wise for
us to go so much into society on our
slender income?"
"That arrow came from your mothers
quiver, Rufus!" said Rosamond, with
another laugh. "She was always
preaching about your income"
"And, after ALL" said Rufus, "what
do we care for the fashionable people
to whose houses we go, and whom we
invite to our parties? They wouldn't
one of them regret if we were to go to
the Rocky Mountains tomorrow
II would as soon die at once as live
without society,"" said Rosamond. "Do
leave off lecturing me- Rufus Society
is all that makes life worth having for
me-"
, And, with a deep sig Rufus held
his peace. y
That was long, lonely winter for
Mrs. Mildmay, senior, at The Hemlocks.
Snow set in early; the river froze
over, as il it were sheeted with iron,
except in the one dismal place down in
the ravine, where restisss pool of ink
black water boiled az hubbled, at the
foot of perpendiculG mass of gray
rock, under the shadowSf gloomy ever
greens; the sunshine glittered with
frozen brightness over the hills, and
the old lady was often secretly sad at
heart as she sat all alone in the crimson
parlor, by the big fireplace, when the
logs blazed in the twilight.
And as the New Year passed, and
the bitter cold of January took posses
sion of the frozen world, a vague ap-
prehension crept into her heart.
Something is going to happen she
said 81 am not superstitious, but
there are times when the shadow of
coming events stretches darkly across
the heart. Something is going to
happen"
And one afternoon, as the amber sun.
set blazed behind the leahess trees
turning the snowy fields to masses Of
molten pearl, she put on her fur-lined
hood and cloak.
81 will go and take a walk" said
she. II shall certainly become q
hypochondriac if sit all the time by
the fire and nurse my morbid fancies
like this"
She took long brisk walk, down by
the ruins of the old mill, through the
cedar woods, across the frozen swamp
and then she paused.
II will come back by the Black Pool
she thought. "It is a wild and pictu
rescue spot in winter, with icicles hang
ing to the tree-boughs, and weird ice
effects over the face of the old gray
rock"
1t was a dark and gloomy place
funereally shadowed by the hemlocks
which grew there to a giant size; and
when Mrs. Mildmay got beneath theil
boughs, she started back.
Was it the Elusive glimmer of thu
Observation-Disclosures was it really
a man who stood close to the edge o.
the Black Pool?
"Rufusl Oh, Rufus, my son"
She was barely in time to catch hin
in her arms and drag him back from
the awful death to which he was hurl
ing himself.
When they reached the cedar vain
scoted parlor, where the blazing log
cast a ruddy reflection on the ret
moreen curtains, Mrs. Mildmay looked
into her stepson's face with loving eyes
"And now, Rufus" said she, 'tel
me all about it. The Lord has beer
very good to you for saving you from
terrible crime"
Mother, why did you stop me?" h
said, recklessly. II am ruined man
l shall be dishonored in the sight of th
world! Death would be preferable,