Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-06-12
FONR IN 4 oOrrAGN.

my dear" said Mr.. Grant Herlford, tap
ping his cigar against the fender railing. and
Watching the ashes fall TO the hearth beneath
this il what call comfort"
Mrs. Bertford laid a pretty, pink tinted
check against the blue head rost of her wick
or chair and smiled contentedly into the face
Of her lord and master, while the wood i'm
prisoned spirit in the huge log on the hearth
hummed softly, and the Pickering lights
made sudden CLEANS in tho darkness OF the
room.
"a very odd proceeding, and not at all ac.
cording to ones idea of the fitness of things, ii
said their dear five hundred and much inter.
ested friends, when the newly married Hert-
fOrds had decided to spend their honeymoon
in q quaint seaside cottage, percbcd on a
cliff, overlooking the wind tossed waves OF
that beautiful stretch Of water with lis ugly
name Of "Buzzard's Bay"
They had forgotten their friends, however.
and ceased TO care for their opinions, in those
sunny September days when the wind blew
fresh over land and sea. Autumn days they
we're, the crown and glory of the year, when
the slopinR banks on either side the curying
bay put on their robes of gold and purple,
and the prim old Puritan shores glowed in
royal colors against the dark green pines that,
sentinel-like, stand looking over the far
reaching waters, in sunshine or in storm.
There we're clear, crisp mornings, when their
white-winged boat skinned over the waters,
pausing often at some emerald island, whose
rough setting of water-woTn pebbles the rip
Piles kissed and left and turned TO kiss again ;
or darting away TO perch, perhaps, at the
lighthouse, standing white and alone far
down the bay, like friend forgotten under
sunny skies but from whose steady, pene.
Is..LN Il q A.
when storm and darkness gather. There
we're dreamy afternoons, when a hot breath
from the vanishing summer days hung a
heavy purple mist over the marshes. Then
they drlfted slowly up aud down the wind
ing creeks, where tall grasses dipped their
heavy heads and cool water weeds aud mosses
glistened in the sunlight. There we're chill
evenings when the salt Wind. with winter in
its breath, swept in cold and clear, moaning
about the chimneys. Then, a. on this night,
they drew their chairs to the old hearthstone,
that bad seldom seen prettier picture, and,
1.-THE world forgetting, by the world forgot, -
were, az Mr.. Hertford most commonly ex-
pressed it, thoroughly comfortable"
Naturally, then, 1t gave Mrs. Hertford a
shock like a sudden, jarring discord in a
strain OF music, when her husband added,
by the way, my dear, believe will write
to Jack tonight and ask him down here for
few days. Dear old Jack 1t is many a
day since he has had such rest a. am get.
ting now, and it will do him no end of good.
You approve, hopeY 2" he said, turning bali
round with the careless assurance of a man
accustomed to having his plans approved by
the woman Of his choice.
In a second there flashed through Mrs
Hertford's mind some words OF that wise
maiden aunt from whose house she was
married. depend upon it, my dear, you
will both soon tire OF that solitary honey.
moon by the sea. Ii is a rash experiment
even for two such thorough going lovers A.
Grant aud you. Take my advice, and break
it up in time. A lovers chains soon seem
irksome to a business man and no woman
can take the place at once Of friends, occu.
patton and outside interests, 10 even the most
devoted OF husbands"
80 it has come to this" she said to her
self "he is tired already" A chill crept
over her at the thought; but only hot flush
colored her cheeks, as she said cheerily, "Ot
course. Do you think he would enjoy II p
"As IL you could not make it paradise foI
any one in the dreariest spot on earth Here
We have everything to offer. few days
fishing with me would brighten up Thornton
wonderfully. You have borne it quite we'll
dear, this pulling about with me IN all sorts
Of weather. but, after all, it takes a man to
enjoy the noble sport Of fishing, and Well
1 have another reason for asking Jack down
here Just now, but believe | will not tell il
| 10 you at present. On the whole, | think
must write TO night"
The next afternoon Mr.. Jack Thornton,
sitting alone in his stnTy law Office at mum
Der II Court street, Boston, received letter
by the last delivery. He pulled out cream
tinted envelope from the legal documents
| yellow and blue, thick and thin, that com
posed the rest OF his mail, aud glanced sus
| piciously at it,
"Hertford's handwriting and his wife's sta
tionery. Hum that looks IA if he were in
deed much married
well, my friend is a friend TIL he gets him wifep =
/ do not know that care to hear his ecstat
les" And, pushing his hat further bacl
from his forehead while titing his chair at
comfortable angle, Thornton hesved a sgt
and read
"Dedr OLD Boy In the third right hand
drawer is q printed notice Out OF town OIL
business. Mail will be forwarded. Stitch
that on the Office door, pack your valise, and
come down by the P. NJ train Thursday
will meet you at the station. The weather
ia glorious, fishing prime. Fan joins me in
the wish TO see you. Don't fail us.
Yours. G. H."
Mr.. Thornton read this very simple note
twice over, then gave low whistle. "PooI
old fellow !" he exclaimed, 81 did not think
he would tire Of 1t quite so soon. Now,
should have said, of all men, he was the one
to take strong dose of married felicity and
enjoy the process. Upon my word, believe
l was enVying him a few minutes ago, and
by to. morrow shall be on my way to con
sole him. Well, well, a few days vacation
will do me no harm, and owe Grant many
good turn. / shall not be able to stand Il
longer than this week, though. IL ever !
slip my neck into the matrimonial noose
shall know better than to follow his example
and bury myself and the beloved one in the
wilderness"
After which wise reflection, Mr.. Thornton
rose and, with unwouted energy, began 10
| hunt in the desk for the printed slip men.
| toned in Hertford's note.
About the time he is thus engaged, some
one knocked at the door of the pretty sew
| ing room in the Carew house IN Marlborough
street The family had returned early from
the mountains aud Mrs. Carew il standing
knee-deep in fall sewing, mournfully review
ing the results Of the ohildren's summer cam
paign. The frown on her forehead, that RUM
the risk of deepening into a wrinkle, smootbl
itself out quickly, however, when the softly
modulated voice of her daughter Ruth /,
heard over her shoulder.
~ have come for some advice, mamma"
Advice is what Mrs. Carew dearly loved tC
! give, so, with eXpectant look, sue settled
herself comfortably in the nearest chair.
at is the oldest thing, but / have just
had a note from Fan Merrill-nO-Fan Hert
ford and what do you think She asks me
TO come down to their cottage on the Bay fo
a few days Il il somewhere on that horri
BILE Cape God, you know, quite out Of th'
world"
Has she made up party2"
Dear me, no That is the trouble. Only
think of coming in an third in such duet al
theirs They were so ridiculously in Low,
before they were married, and now, afte
three weeks of seclusion- Why are yo'
smiling, mammal'
II was thinking that perhaps
"Yes, so was l. l was wondering II yoI
would notice it., Fan is probably tired ou
and lonesome but they decided to stay a
least a month, aud of course she will neve
confess that the experiment has failed. 81
you think 1t is my duty TO gO2 Az l an
Grants cousin and Fans dearest friend,
suppose l must. She expects me tomorrow
Here is the note. Does il not sound dolefu
enOughY
"'My OlOn dear Ruth II have only feV
minutes before mail-time In which 10 propOs
! plan. Why cannot you come down AM