Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-19

with Lady Dolly, the little mink Of A school.
glrl who had bewitched my godfather into
marrying her, and 30 disposed effectually of
AL my prospects OF heirship; prospects. / am
bound to admit, OF the most airy aud baseless
nature. :"
Within half an hour after my arrival at the
torlorn, ont -at-elbows old castle | had struck
up friendship with the little childish bride
that was to last my life. She was so romantic
IN her devotion TO her handsome. middle-aped
bridegroom, 80 splendid in her scorn Of apv
| advantage that his wealth might bring her. and
so determinedly loyal to my interests when il
came 10 question of settlements, that it is
| less than wonderful that she should touch NV
| heart as no woman could before or since The
day after the wedding sailed for India. and
| we never met again.
In my letter TO my godmother 1 made as
| amusing story as I could Of my meeting with
MIS- Darsle Pierpont, and even assayed a word
picture of pretty Miss NAV Ieyland which I
guessed would bring me into dire disgrace. Nv
godmother, good soul, oblivious of the years
| That had rolled over my head since we parted
had let sip in 1ne of her las, letters hint of
| certain romantic scheme in petto.
| My godfather had remembered me hand
| somely beyond all expectation IN his will but
the bulk OF his property was naturally left to
| his wife for her lifetime. She in her child
| less Wldowhood had adopted pretty penniless
| relation "the sort OF child wa myself" she
wrote; and knew what her freduept mention
eral dehghtsomeness meant; and [ gave no
| sign in return.
| was punctusl to the time named at Tama-
| risk Lodge next day The drawing-room was
empty. and had time TO look about me and
| note the traces of its occupants with approval
! Leaning up against the wal. was a violopc,lo
| that grnned me a welcome from its every
| string. was gazing amicably at it, thinking
Of a certain cherished household god of nv
own, and, suppose, whistling involuntarily.
| for
Beethoven. c minor, No. g." remarked
Mrs. Pierp1ints voice behind me. 'sYuu don't
mean 10 tel me you play the violin l thought
L saw something like it, case when We came
yesterday, but did not like to ask That's
Mays cello. She will be here presently"
Then in she came, fresh as a rose.
We had glorious practice The two ladies
knew all my fayorites as well As | did aud had
| piles Of thugs, new and Old, that it was per-
feet feast for me to plunge into. Mrs Pier
| points music was something out of the COM
| mon, too. She played Us Chopin, while NAV
! polned out afternoon tea. aud let my cup get
cold untasted as listened. When we parted
Mrs. PIerpoint had given a half doubtful CON
sent to my suggestion Of drive to Shingle
Bay next DAY, and luncheon with me after,
with an inspection Of my collection of Indian
| curi0s 70 follow. We were to meet for prac-
tice in any case before long, and blissful
vision Of days to come stretched out before me
as took my way back to my quarters.
The days flew by with harmony on their
wings; how fast, l hardly guessed, ill found
with start that GOdmother Dorothy's letter
had fallen due for once without my having
counted the posts to lis arrival | was en-
gagged 10 dine at 1amarisk Lodge that dav We
had some music in the evening, and after that
strolled out together on the terrace under the
summer moon.
found myself telling Mrs Pierpoint great
deal about myself, and learning very little
about her in return. She had seen a great
deal of the world, and her life had been a sad
one-that was all gathered. Nv life had been
a lonely one, too, she OWNED ins;inctively-
here, half nnWittlngly, let GodmOther DOro-
thy's name fall. IL was followed by a sudden
chill and silence, as If a cold mist from the
sea had blown in upon US. My companion in
deed was shiyerlng. May May Z" she called,
come in. 1t Is damp, the dew is falling
Nav obeyed, her wavy locks Strengthened and
stiffened by the salt air. her cheeks rosy. We
went back to the softy-lighted room and
slipped our coffee and talked commonplace for
a few minutes; then May disappeared, and her
aunt sat down to the piano, as if to avoid any
further speech. She sang song after song in
the rose-t,nted gloom-sang them 70 me, every
word, and listened until my heart grew full,
and my eyes wet and the years seemed 10 roll
their long length backward, and, instead of
the elderly bronzed old major had left in my
looking-glass that afternoon, was the care
less subaltern, with the world before me and a
heart'u of hopeless love for little Lady Dolly
again.
When entered my room, there on the table
lay letter from my gOdmOther, with the Paris
postmark. An odd misgiving came over me as
opened It, but it was just the same as ever
amusing, friendly, sympathetic with bright
little comments on my bits of news.
Il utterly decline TO be interested in your
new friends" it ended. ~ mistrust that wan
derlng widow, without baggage or escort, aad !
should not be surprised to hear that Colonel |
Wriothesey knew no more about his charming |
cousin than do. L must decidedly exercise !
my godmotherly privilege, and come down TO |
look after you as soon as | can get free The |
meeting at the station reads so very like put |
up thing. Miss Leyland may be the sweetest |
bud tkat ever bloomed, but buds are not such |
Good-by, my dear boy. Take good care of /
yourself till the arrival of your loving god
mother"
laid the letter down, laughing to myself. |
There was an awkwardness, q sort Of forced /
liveiness, in the whole of the last paragraph, |
very unlike the rest Of the letter. Il read as |
If go3mOther had felt obliged to say something |
when she had nothing good to say, and l |
fancied detected fash of mild spite in the |
reference TO Miss Leyland that bore out the |
supposition. Poor dear godmother If she |
only knew how indifferent was to the charms |
of that dangerous little bud, except from an |
artistic point Of view. As for Mrs. Pierpoint, |
she had only to be seen and known to dispose |
of all criticism. As soon doubt that the stars |
are fire, in fact much sooner, than suspect her |
10 be Of a Brummagem origin. l forthwith /
opened my letter-case and told Lady Dolly so |
Indignantly three posts before my letter was |
due.
Then, with a parcel of new music for eK-
cuse, / sailed forth to call at Tamar:sk |
Lodge, and obtain material on which 10 form |
nv opinion. | devised few neat diplomatic |
little questions that should extract sufficient |
particulars OF the birth. pAreQtage and social /
position of my new friends to set godmo,her's |
doubts and-must it be confessed my own |
likewise at rest for ever.
May was alone and defenceess. "Aunte |
has a headache and is not up to music to-
day" she explained l expressed due regret. |