The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-04
Select Storp.
Our Seryant-Maid.

pout on her lips and frown on her
brow, looking out on the road with eyes
that saw nothing, and utterly oblivious
to the fact that her dear rosy-cheeked,
bright-eyed little sister was Juggling at
her skirt with one small hand and hold
ing up her doll with the other, while
she piteously complained, "There's
sumfin berry awful wrong er matter wifi
my baby, Baba; hers broke in her in
side an can't cry any more to sabe her
life," until the speaker, as though to
make up for this deficiency on the part
of her baby" burst into loud, long
and fearful cry herself, and even then
Barbara only pulled her dress out of
the dimpled little hand, and said, in a
decidedly unamiable manner, "Oh,
botherl"
Barbara Darling was not pretty-that
is, not very pretty-at least there was
diversity of opinion about her. The
young men, abiding to her eyes and
hair, spoke of violets and buttercups;
the young women, on the contrary
Young women are so unpoetical when
bv hemselvesl-sneered " Blue china
and molasses candy" The young men
liked the deep dimple in her chin; the
young women said it was "awful baby
ish." The young men called her ga
fairy" the young women " a dwarf"
She was the eldest of eight children;
had no accomplishments, unless singing
a ballad or two passably well could be
called one; she was eighteen years old,
poor, d-and-well, to tell the honest
truth, rather high tempered. And yet
she had for lover handsome, talented,
proud, wealthy Anthony Ditto, the
match that all the girls in her circle
had been making eyes at for year be-
fore he, with his heart still untouched,
had met "wee Bab," as he called her.
How he came to notice her at all
goodness knows, unless the comicality
of the introduction struck through the
dignity which enveloped him as man
tie, softening his heart as honest fun
always softens hearts, let her steal into
it, and then, being bury sort of a
little body, he couldn't get rid of her
afterward.
"Miss Barbara Darling" said that
provoking Ned Parker, g Mr. Anthony
Dtto;" and we Eyes VEIN Bah OAR
ling) burst out laughing, the names
were so odd following each other in
that manner, you know, and from that
moment we were excellent friends until
the day we ceased to be friends and be-
came lovers.
Papa and mamma were delighted
with the engagement, and so was l.,
for of course l loved him dearly; and
vet for the life of me / couldn't stop
what he called Z" flirting" You see
everybody is so very kind to little
woman that it is almost impossible for
her to be dignified. She gets used to
being treated like a child, and accepts
pet names and bouquets and bonbOns
and gloves and the best of everything,
and talks and laughs and sings with
pleasant people Of the opposite sex
Just as child would.
Now Anthony didn't like it-absurd
fellow wasn't going to marry him?-
and he used to look, oh, so very grim
and ogreish, and lecture me on the inn
propriety of my conduct, until l felt
myself the most miserable of sinners
but ! don't know how to account for
i'll always forgot the lecture as soon
as it was over, and was in disgrace
again Immediately.
Well, the other evening-Fourth of
July evening it was-a party of us
young folks went to the village green
to see the pyrotechnic q had to con-
suit the dictionary before l ventured
on that wordD display, and arriving
there rather late, found ourselves the
last corners, and consequently on the
outside of the crowd. Ned Parker and
tried to push our way to the front,
but we couldn't and l didn't see a
thing, excepting few rockets and
blue lights, until the very last, when
Ned lifted me in his arms so that L
might catch a glimpse of Washington
blessing his countrymen and women
with one fiery hand, while he pointed to
Roman candle that had just gone
with the other.
Anthony was few feet away, talk
ing to Meta Brooke; and when / Joined
him, expecting to meet with a terrible
frown, he greeted me with charming
smile. And all the rest of the evening
he was as amiable as possible, and
though he had several five-minute
chances to scold me, never said re-
proving word-never referred to the
George W. episode; but he did worse
he flirted himself.
That / had never dreamed of, and
must say that thought-at the time
it was real mean thing for great tai
fellow like him to revenge himself or
a mite like me.
Yes, he fiirted for two long, very
long hours; and when Ohe party ended
at our house, the children proposed 8
kissing game, he, my naughty, reserved
lover, joined in with that bold Brooke
girl, and chose her for partner y
every time, kissing on the mouth-an6
she has pretty mouth-as he did so.
l should have liked to box her ears
and his, too, for that matter, but didn't
of course not. l sauntered about will
Ned Parker, and looked up into hi
face as if every moment discovered
some new beauty in it; and when Netti
babe me good night (Anthony coult
find no excuse for offering to wall
home with her, her brother Dick beins
there), kissed her, and hoped she haC
enjoyed herself.
ooh! very much-very, very much
indeed" said she, flinging a look which
she meant to be tender, but it WASH
she has big, black, shallow eyes-a
Anthony. Z" never enjoyed myself 81
much"
But as soon as the gate closed behin'
them l took my engagement ring from
my finger and flung it upon the ground
and / actually-I'm ashamed to tell o