Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-31
brakes AND WHITE VILETs.

BRAKES AND WHITE VI'LETS.
MARY Z. WILKINS IN HARPER's Bazaar.
One afternoon Marin Lawson had company
to tea. There were three women near her
own age-she was seventy. Her withered
aged figure sat up pert and erect at the head
of the table, pouring the tea from the shiny
britannia teapot into the best pink china
cups. She never leaned back in a chair /;
there seemed to be kind of springy stiff
ness about her spine which forbade it. Her
black cashmere gown fitted her long shrunk-
en- form as tightly and trinity as girls she
had on her best cap, made of very pretty old
figured lace, with bows OF purple satin rib
bon. She wore her iron-gray hair in two
little thin dancing curls, one on each side Of
her marrow sallow face, just forward of her
cap.
In some other positions she would have
been called stately old lady she could be
now with perfect truth. Her old character
had in itself true New World stateness and
aristooratic feeling wholly independent Of
birth or riches or education.
Marm Lawson was not duchess; but she
was Marin Lawson. The "Marm" itself was
a title.
In more ambitions and cultured town
than this it would have been Madam but
the Marin proved just as well her simple
neghbors recognition of her latent dignity
of character.
Her three guests sat each at one OF the
three remaining sides Of the square table.
Levina sat meekly, half trans6xed apparent
ly, at corner.
She was a slender young girl Marin Law
sons granddaughter, her son Oharles's daugh-
ter. She had lived with her grandmot her
ever since the death Of her mother, some ten
years back. Her fair coorless hair was
combed smoothly straight back from her
pale high forehead her serious blue eyes
looked solemnly out from beneath it, She
ate her warm biscuit and damson sauce deco
rously, never speaking a word in the pres
ence OF her elders she had been taught old
fashioned manners, and they clung to her,
though she was important fifteen.
Conversation did not flow very glibly
amongst the guests, though they were ordin-
arily garrulous old souls enough. When
they spoke, it was precisely, and not like
themselves. Every nerve in them was braced
| up to meet the occasion with propriety. This
state afternoon, Marin Lawson's china tea.
cups aud company damson sauce and pound
cakes, coming right in the midst OF their
common every-days, we're embarrassing and
awe inspiring. They were like children
they regarded Marm Lawson RS children will
a suddenly elevated playmate, with a feeling
of straugeness and respect. The one who
| felt this the least was pretty, silly old woman,
with front piece of reddish brown hair.
She crimped it every night. Her cheeks
were as fair and pink as young girls, her
china blue eyes a. bright,
She ate her supper with a relish, and nos
and then eyed Marin lawson with a pleased
| consciousness Of her own pinky old cheeks.
"How awful ysller she is! she thought.
| But there was never any evidence of the
thought in her placid blue eyes, nor about
her tiny mouth, into which she was stuffing
| great pieces of cake like greedy baby.
The one next her, who looked younger
than she was from being heshy, and so hsv.
| ing no deep wrinkles, was a widow, who
lived with her married daughter; the fair old
woman was widow too, and so was Marin
| lawson but the fourth had an old husband
| living. He was deacon of the orthodox
church. lie had been asked to tea, but had
been too busy planting to come. "Pm dret
full sorry the deacon couldn't come" Marnl
lawson had said, when she was seating heI
| guests at the table. The pink old lady men
tally resolved that she wouldn't have sat at
corner if he had she was jealous, and al
ways on the lookout for sights, and careful
of her own interests. She had fixed on the
| lhTRbhl DleCb Ol Chkb III tue Dlhlb DeIOTG II
was passed then she took it, defantly.
After tea, when they all sat in the north
room with their knitting again, they fel
more at ease and their tongues moved faster
Marin lawson had opened the north roou
to-day. The south, on the opposite side o
the entry, was her usual sitting. room. Tn,
north one was shut up except on occasions.
The china closet, where she kept her bes
china, was in there, the best hair cloth rock
| ing chairs and Mrs. Hemans and Mrs. Sig
Quincy in red and gold on the mshogan!
work table. Everything hair-cloth furn
iture, the books, the beaded lamp mat-haC
| peculiar north room smell, not disagreea
BILE, but characteristic, as much the room
own odor as flowers. 1t clung to the thing
when long removed from it, too. Leyina
years sfterward, and far away, putting he
face down to the red and gold Hemans book
could smell the north room.
She overheard the old ladies speaking he
name several times as she went about clear
ing away the tea-things, which was her work
but she paid no heed. She had no morbit
interest in herself, and therefore no unlawful
curiosity. She was quietly strong minded
conscientious young girl but she was to-
delicate. That was what her elders wer
talking about.
'Ssems to me Lsviny's lookin kinder pind
lin, amt she ?" said the Aeshy old lady, VIII
was Mrs. Potter; she had buried a good ma
ny children of her own, years ago. Their
had been two young daughters about Levi
mas age.
~ thought so too" agreed the deacon
wife. ~ couldn't keep my eyes off he
when we was havin' tea. She made me thin
a sight OF your Jenny, Mis- Potter"
Marin Lawson sat up straighter and knit
ted firmly. 81 don't see any reason why lie
viny amt we'll. She alters looks pale it.
her natural color"
"It amt 10 much the pale, said Mrs. Pot
ter, "but thar's sOmethih' else, a kind of
look around the nose an the mouth that "
seen good many times" and she sighed
Don't you think it's just leetle damp here
Mis- Lawson Do you s'pose 1t altogethe
suits Lsviny ?"
Marin Lawsons knitting needles clicked fu
riously, aud the lavender bows on her ca
trembled. 'No, l don't think the house
any damper than any other house. Nv
heard bout 'nough bout it. I've lived her
all my life, an been well 'nough. l don
see why Leviny can't"
''Now, Mis- Lawson" said the fair old Il
dy, "how kin you say it amt damp JeI
look at all them brakes under the winders
they alters grow whar it's damp, an ths who
medder out this side is too wet to walk OF
an Jest kiveTed with white vi'lets."
"Fhar's a good many other houses in tow
got brakes under the winders an' meddeI
of white vilets pretty near EN-"
"Levinys mother died here, you know,
J added the fair old lady.
"She'd died anywhar consumption WI
in the Crane family. Leviny's well 'nougt
I guess I'd know il she wasn't. I've got 'bo
as good opportunities of judgin' as anybody
The others subsidized under this thrus
9 Poor Marin lawson was 30 excited as TO
j near forgetting her hospitality. But the SUI
9 ject was revived amongst them on their WI
g home.
b "Marm Lawson was dretful rilsd cause
. said what did, said the fair old lady "b
Q l don't keer. 1 bleve that gals goln' je
= like her mother"
81 wish her father'd take her away, " sa
Mrs. Potter" somewhar whar it's drier."
y "Talk about that house not being damn
;, just look at that great streak Of mildew
: the front of IL ; thew can't keen il of