Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-03-02
Only Herself to Blame.


BILE, sat a tall, good-looking young
man, partaking of an eleven O'Clock
lunch.
He was evidently just from the
field, for he was in his shirt sleeves,
and a sunburnt straw hat lay on the
grass, while he partook, with a
healthy, hearty appetite, of the light
biscuits and fresh milk and butter
placed before him.
And as he ate he looked at the two
young girls in the porch, particularly
the prettier of the two, whose light
yellow hair the breeze had "fuffed''
most becomingly about her fair face.
She had something of coquettish
look and air, while her companion
was quiet, with thoughtful grey eyes
and an almost diffident expression.
"Mother," called the young man
presently, looking towards the open
kitchen window, ''some more milk
if you please
Mrs. Wheeler came to the door
with her sleeves rolled up, and Il small
pitcher in her hand.
Both girls rose to take it from her;
but she placed it, as if instinctively,
in the hands of the light-haired girl,
saying:
"Tom seems thirsty to-day; bnt
meadowing IN July is warm work.
"And hungry work, too" Tom re-
marked, laughing. ''Thank you,
Lottie; but won't you stay and talk
to me here while / eat?'
"No indeed; I've too much to do
to be able to waste my time here in
chatting
''Why, that's something new
Don't you always sit and talk to me
at lunch time
"Not always, by any means. And
because Eve done it occasionally. is
no reason why should keep on do
ing it all my life
He looked up at her enqulringly.
"What's the matter, Lottlef Any
thing happened to vex you?"
mo, indeed? How unreasonable
you are, Tom! If | am not always
laughing and chattering, you think
am out of temper"
The girl on the porch looked uI
gravely from one to the other, bu
= said nothing.
Tom slipped his milk slowly. His
appetite seemed suddenly to have de
serted him.
r The girl stood at a little distance
partly turned from him and sewing
, on the ruffie in her hand.
After a while, setting down his
empty mug, he said in lower tone
"Lottie, wouldn't you like to drive
+ to the picnic tomorrow in my nev
= buggy?"
n 81 don't know that / am going.
she answered without raising he
V head.
"Not going! Why, for what rea
= SOM"
''It will be so hot, and the road s.
- dusty" she answered hesitatingly.
: "Well ! don't wish to take yo
: against your will" he answered
e little coldlv.-ssI wonder if Alice wi
go?'
L II dare say she will. She expect
. ed to 90 in the carryall with the Bul
tons, but of course she will enjoy
t. buggy ride more-W you Allie
So Tom Wheeler. who had intend
e ed merely to pique Lottie into accept
ing his offer, found himself quite III
y expectedly drawn into an engage
= ment to take Alice Brown to the mex
days picnic,
a And what was very puzzling
IS hint was entirely Lottie's dong:
d What could she mean by it he wor
s. dered-for until now she had neve
= refused his escort anywhere.
Lottie was distantly related to tt
;s Wheelers, and was in the habit {
ID paying frequent little visits to tt
O. farmhouse.
he Mrs. Wheeler liked to have youn
people about her; and she was, NOR,
IN over, particularly anxious that HI
" only son, Tom, should marry an
r ''settle down. with his wife on tt
~ farm.
She had seen enough of late
is convince her that Lottie was to /
IN her sons choice, and she was we
Ii satisfied, though the girl was lit
'u "fighty." and not quite so sensib
s ns and sterling as she could wish.
But that would wear off after ma
nt riage; and Lottie certainly was a fiji
Is girl, and Tom loved her; so Il
OF mother was quite content to let To
al have his own way.
- Only now and then she would catt
~ herself wondering whether Ali
Brown, the niece of neighbor al
u' old school friend of hers, would n
make Tom more suitable wife, al
ee herself more desirable a daughte
on in-law.
ae That evening, Tom Wheeler, COZ
ing up from the meadow, caught
;e? distant view of Lottie and Alice, in
th lane leading to private road whi
ae ran as boundary-line between
@ ~ farm and that of Squire Redmond.
Alice was gathering flowers in t
hedge, while Lottie swung on t
gate with a careless grace peculiar