Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-03-02
archly, ..you ought to know if any

Il? What have | TO do with il p
s'What look of injured innocence
But really you ought to be asham-
ed to firt so, and cut out poor Tom
Wheeler, you naughty man p
And Miss Triplett smilingly show
ed her false teeth, and playfnlly tap
ped Redmond on the shoulder with |
her fan.
Greatly, Miss Triplett, you speak
in mysteries.
''You don't really mean to say that
you did not know that Tom Wheeler
is as good as engaged to Lottie Stew
ard? Why, it's been an understood
fact for year past"
Redmond colored. He had adj
mired Lottie, and been much struck
with her pretty face and sweet man.
ners; and this news regarding her
had somehow affected him unpleas-
antly.
"Is it possible? But then you have
been here so short time. Well, in
that case we will exonerate you. But
there is no excuse for Lottie Steward.
A girl that can change as suddenly
as she has towards Tom Wheeler
must be altogether heartless.'
Archie Redmond overheard one or
two other similar remarks during the
day, and watching Lottie closely, he
saw that while she gave him undoubt-
ed encouragement, she yet seemed
anxious to not entirely break off with
Tom.
He was panied, for he had, uncon-
sciously to himself, become interest
ed in the pretty, sprightly girl.
"She is deceiving either him OF my
SELF" he thought, "and in either
case, is not the right sort of a girl
for me.
'sTom,'' whispered Lottie, with
one of her sweet smiles, s'as Alice
Is to 90 home with her mother from
the picnic, TIL ride back with you
in the buggy. Eve told Mr.. Red
mond that ! was too tired for the
| long walk back"
"Thank you.'' said Tom coldly.
"But Alice won't ride home with her
mother. I've promised to take her
home in my buggy"
Lottie turned and looked around
for Archie Redmond. She would
have to explain, and walk back with
him, which was no disagreeable pros
pect, despite her declaration of wea-
riness.
The weariness, in fact, had been
assumed; for she saw that Tom was
not pleased, and wished to put him
in good humor.
"Where is Mr.. Redmond?' she
said hastily to Katie, who was at
the moment skipping past.
"Cousln Archie? oh, he's gone
home with the Calverts-Miss Cal
vert asked him-and I'm going to
ride home with mamma and the rest.
Not half so nice as walking, is it p
Poor Lottie both of her bow
strings had failed her-a predicament
she had not foreseen, or, to accept
Toms vel lsion, she had come to the
ground between two stools.
However, kind neighbor gave
her a N'lift" in his wagon, in which
situation she had the modification
of seeiog Mr.. Redmond drive past in
Mrs. Calvert's carriage, beside prel-
ty May Calvert, while Tom and AL
ice in the buggy had left them far be-
hind.
She was very angry with Tom
though she had to admit to herself
that it was all her own fault; and
when she left the farm a few days af
ter. she and Tom hadn't quite made
, it up, neither had Archie Redmond
again called on her.
Lottie had promised to spent
Christmas at the farm, and she made
up her mind that she would be salts
fed with Tom, and marry hiE aftel
| all.
But before Christmas time she hat
, heard two astounding reports. Mr.
Archie Redmond was to be married
to his cousin, Miss Marion Redmond
and Alice Brown was engaged to-
Tom Wheeler There were to b,
two big weddings at Christmas, ant
Lottle was invited to both.
There was no doubt but that sh'
was bitterly disappointed, for, as sh
confessed, she really liked Tom.
But she had also to admit that onl,
herself was to blame. She had triet
to sit on two stools at once, and sh
I haJ oor,o to tho cvonn1