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

Now, walking slowly, he watched
the two, until the gentleman, lifting
his hat, turned away, and Alice and
Lottie came up the lane towards the
house.
Then Tom hastened his steps and
overlook them.
'sWhere have you been?" he in
quired.
ITO Squire Redmond's to see Miss
Marion Redmond" answered Lottie,
who was looking bright and smiling,
Il thought you did not like Miss
Redmond" he returned little cold
ly.
ssNeither do I. She's so absurdly
dignified and self-important. But
that's not why we shouldn't visit, be-
ing near neighbors and old school
mates"
II thought you paid the last visit
a few days ago." said Tom.
eyes," she answered, coloring,
but this was quite an informal call.
1 wanted an embroidery pattern"
ssAnd Mr.. Archie walked home
with you?''
GAS far as the gate. AS he had
to 90 to the post-office, we would not
let him come any farther"
Then she added, looking down and
carefully imprinting each footstep in
the moist sand:
II shall see enough of him to-mo1-
row, | suppose, at the picnic
$50 you are going to the picnic,
after all ?" said Tom quickly.
She looked up into his face with a
charming little smile.
"Now, Tom, you have no right to
scold. If Mr.. Redmond had offered
to take me through the hot sun and
dusty road in a buggy, l would have
refused. He knew that had refused
your escort under those circumstance
es, so he proposed that we should
walk-he and | and Kate Redmond
through the Marsden Woods. II
is private way you know, and
promised. They say it's lovely
walk, and being q direct path, not
too long
Tom made no answer. Lottie af
fected not to perceive his moodiness
but was all smiles and sweetness, til
near the house he left them and turn
ed off to the stables, to see that the
men were properly attending to th'
stock.
He did not stay long there, HI
felt tired and depressed, and entered
the house, laid himself down upon .
comfortable sofa in the parlor.
The windows were open, and
cool Hreeze, laden with the perfum
of the roses on the porch, came soft
ly and soothingly in.
Presently he heard the girls comm!
lightly down stairs, and then Lottie'
voice at the porch:
where's Tom? Not come in yet
1 suppose. Well, we will sit her
till supper's ready"
"Lottie," said Alice, as the tw
seated themselves inside the scree
of the roses. ''I suspect that Tor
isn't very pleased, and really ! thin
you are treating him very badly"
"How so?''
"You are not kind to him, Yo
know he loves you, and until With
a few days | was sure that you love
him.
''Oh, we'll, we like each other we
enough. What have | done to brin
upon myself one of your solemn let
tures?''
"If you love Tom, why do you ell
courage Mr.. Redmond?'
"Why, Allie, I'm not married t
Tom yet, and don't know that
ever shall be. And, my dear, yo
ought to know a secret-it's alway
good thing to have two strings
your bow. 1t gives you a choic'
you know; or, if one should fail, yo
have the other to depend upon"
"Lottie, you are not in earnest
: "Indeed | am, | like Tom. He
handsomer than Archie Redmont
and richer, too, with his fine farm a
his own, and the money his fath
left him; but some people would sa
that Mr. Redmond was a bett
match altogether"
o "Why, Lottie, if you think in tn
way, you cannot really care for Tor
, / felt sure that you and he wou
o make match y
! "Well, it isn't impossible. On
e he hasn't asked me yet
q ''But he will"
Lottie laughed.
: Suppose he don't? then / ms
e have Archie Redmond to fall BAT
e upon. And suppose | can't g
n Archie? Then there is Tom"
Tom Wheeler rose up slowly fro
h the sofa, and walked softly from Il
e room, out into the yard and garde
d $50 that is her game, is it?
It would not have believed it of he
d Two strings to one bow! Two stoo
: to sit upon rather. Well, she'll cor
to the ground for any support she W
: get out of me- .
a The picnic was very pleasant a
a fair, as everybody said-everyboo
h but Tom Wheeler. Strive as
is would with jealousy and disappoin