Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-10


thought of the i'll fitting garments OF old days
a. she noticed the shapely cut Of coat collar
snd the grace Of self f-possession In Sir Rich
les every movement. Dick had red hands
and big boots, aud suggested bull in a Chi.
ma shop. Was there some mistake after all
moment, and then he raised his head, and
she caught the old merry smile and the fash
OF the quick grey eyes and halt. blinded
and bewildered with the rush OF recollection,
Stella made her way 10 the piano, in obedi-
ence to Mrs. Boucher's nod and smile.
Why had Mrs. Boucher asked her to sing
Golden Days p II was Dicks favorite
song long ago, and Stella felt a. IL il would
choke her. Her voice shook, so that Mrs.
Boucher's guests thought their hostess had a
good deal over.prsised her governess style,
and Mrs. Verney near by remarked To Sir
Richard Fell0wes that she did not admire that
treB'oo kind Of manner 80 many girls affect
cd.
"Ah, for the days beyond recallingi
All, for the golden dsysl"
sang Stella, with something that was like
sob like that she pulled herself up sharp
ly, and felt il she had fallen forever in
her own respect.
As she rose from the piano-sionl, her eyes
met those Of Sir Richie standing close TO her
side. There wAs nothing beyond the most
casual recognition in the slight bow on both
sides, aud then Stella got away somehow 10
her own quarters, to find vent for the pas
biOuate How Of tears which overcame all her
self lf-controL
Next day was TO be the grand garden party.
Miss Howard was supposed to be unostenta-
tiously in the background dressed in her best.
to keep a supervision over her little pupils.
Ethel and Maude, wild with delight, hastened
her out TO the tennis lawn long before any
a.a.a. al a .N.l. L
Just one little game before people come,
to try the ground, Miss Howard, they beg.
ged. "You know We mayn't play when all
the grown-ups are here, and we do 80 want a
little tiny game
Miss Howard, mindful OF her bost cream
gown, and the difficulties of tennis when
combined with plumed hat and long gloves,
vainly endeavored to escape.
only little scrap Of play" they said.
"Ah you know you can't refuse" And
Stella WAS forced to laugh and yield
SO that was the picture that met the eyes
Of the idle gentleman who sauntered down
the shrubbery path among the fragrant syr-
ingas, and turned the corner by the terrace
steps-a girls figure in creamy gown, vivid
IN the hot sun against the green hedge and
the trees behind a shady hat, which threw
into relief the crisp bronze hair and the soft
flush ON her cheeks; a racquet poised aloft,
aud futter Of white winged pigeons towards
the dark blue sky. lie stopped short as il
spell bound.
"Oh, Sir Richie g. 4hrieked the children
you're just in time Come along. and
have game with Miss Howard-do, do"
Stella turned with violent start the
racquet slipped from her gloved hand and
struck her left wrist violent blow. The
pain turned her faint and giddy, and she felt
heraelf Vphifa 10 hos
mo, no, young women" she heard the
voice that was 70 like, yet 20 unlike, the
voice OF old days say-'Miss Howard won't
play with me-she never would"
Then with a sudden change from the laugh.
ing tone
Have you hurt your arm Tn afraid |
startled you :" and he canle forward hastily.
But Stella drew away a. he approached.
'Nothing-its nothing" she said, almost
Grossly. Pray don't trouble :" and, as
stream Of gaily dressed people emerged from
the conservatory door, and began TO spread
themselves over the terrace and approach the
lawn, Stella actually turned and He'd into tho
shrnbbery.
She had reached the fountain by the statue
OF. the dancing faun before she WAS over
taken.
Pardon me-" said her pursuer, in tone
that was certainly not Dicks-it was too
commanding 81 don't want to contradict
YOU, but can't quite believe il is nothing;"
and in another moment the little bruised
wrist, from which she had stripped the glove,
was ia Sir Riches firm. light grasp, and
Stella meekly surrendered.
''Sit down here, was the next order and
she found herself placed on the messy step
of the ruined fountain, while, with quick
deft fingers, Sir Richie dipped his handker-
chief in the cool, clear water and bound it
round the slender wrist.
COuh it be Diekl Wasn't it all a mock
ing dream 7 Stella could only hope with all
her might that the awakening might be long
delayed
The splash Of the water in the old stone
basin, and the mysterious whisper of the
pines overhead, were the only sounds that
broke the summer stiffness. The tennis
lawn WAS too far of for them TO hear the
merry players they were quite alone Did
Dick remember the last time they had been
alone togetherT He came and sat down on
the broken step by her side.
Stella" he said, low and gravsly, "do
you shrink from me still After all the
Years that have been working and toiling to
be wOrthier Of you, am no nearer the goal
than when We last parted Must ask in
vain, a. did then, for the very least little
kind word 2"
Not movement, not sound, from the
shrinking figure at his side. His face grew
graver still. and he bit his lip.
Am TO go away again. then Z" he asked
Still no answer. With a sudden impulse
Sir Richie stopped and peered under the
shady hat which hid her face from him.
What crying Stella He was on bis
knees beside her ON the green moss "HAvs
l made you cryl My darling my own"
He was trying to take her in his arms, but
she struggled to free herself
''Ah, Dick !" she muTmured brokenly, 81
told you once our lives we're poles apart, lit
Was false then, but it has come true"
"lf it had, which | deny" no said, 'the
relative positions would bo the same. You
are, as you have always been, world above
me in all things. But love can bridge any
guf, Stella won't you let me try? It's my
trade, you know"
And then she struggled no longer.
Dick, she whispered. by-and.b by, when
conversation had had time To become trifle
less absorbing, do you remember what you
said that night at Churlstone2 You told me
no man could ever love me as you had done.
l didn't believe it then, but know you we're
right now"
"Did l say that p he asked laughing.
"Well yes was right, dare say-Only l
put it in the wrong tense. What should
have said was, not 'as have done, but 'as
do, and shall keep on doing as long as the
world shall last And that would have been
truer still no let it stand like that in the fn-
ture."
Aud that point was settled for once and for
always - CdSseHs Family Magazine.
Caught and Drounesl hy An Oetonus.