The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-05-07
RUBY'S VISIT.

RUBYS VlNll.
"Let her come to the farm" said old
Mr.. Ennis. She'll enjoy the blue-bells
and the peach orchards, and the white
clover blossoming along the roadside.
1t will be great deal cheaper than
Newport and more sensible than Cape
May
"Oh. papa, do let me gow said Ruby,
clasping her pink fingers estatically
together. Mamma, say yes"
A year ago, Mr.. and Mrs. Alden Ar
cher would have considered this sort
of thing as nothing more nor less than
banishment. The Misses Archer had
never been anywhere else than at Sar-
atoga, Long Branch and Atlantic
City. But times were altered now.
The Financial pressure" whatever
that might be, had acted very unpleas-
antly on the atmosphere of the Archer
household. Euphelis, the eldest
daughter, had just discovered that Mr..
Fontenoy Favrier, to whom she had
engaged herself, was not next heir tc
an English baronetcy, at all, but de,
faulting clerk from Threadneedle
Street, with half a dozen detectives
alter him; and Alicia, the second
blossom of the family-tree, had beer
unceremoniously deserted by Mr.. Dal.
las, of the Polo Club.
"If a girl -aw- hasn't got money
you know--aw," said Mr.. Dallas
there's no use-aw-in keeping VI
the thing. We amt like waveas now
adays, to be fed by-aw-the prophets
We must-aw---have cash."
"Dut, mamma" pleaded Ruby, 'yol
said was to come out this winter"
"Child, don't be absurd" said Mrs
Archer. Il said you should be intro
duced into society. if Euphy and Alli'
were married, but they're not; and
can't 20 into bathrooms at the head o
regiment of daughters. What woul,
people say?'
at isn't my fault that they are no
married." pouted Ruby; "and l am s.
tired of the nursery. Mamma. can't
go to Atlantic City with you?"
Certainly not!" said Mrs. Archer
"And mind. Rubina, if any one ask
you how old you are. you mustsay six
teen."
"Why?" cried Ruby, with opel
brown eyes of astonishment. "But
was seventeen last birthday
"There's no sense in your growing
up so fast" pronounced Mrs. Archer
irritably.
How can help it?" said Ruby, al
most ready to cry. 81 can't put
stone on my head, can II"
"There are the girls to consider,
said Mrs. Archer. sorrowfully.
"How are they to be bettered by m
telling lies about my age?" retorte
Ruby.
And then her mother told her t
hold her tongue and not speak agai
until she was spoken to.
| So that old Uncle Ennis offer wa
truly welcome when it came, an
merry little Ruby was like lamb lie
loose upon the hills that sloped dow
to the blue tides of the majestic Cor
necticut River.
She tore her dimpled brown finger
with blackberry briers; she rifle
birds'-nests for additions to her collet
tion of eggs; she romped like chilt
whistled like boy, until all of sue
den she was recalled to the facts {
real life.
She had come in from the blackberry
fields all sunbrowned and happy, he
cherry lips stained with the purpl
Ives of the fruit, to find Uncle Enni
poring intently over a couple of let
ters.
"Well, little one," said he, "what d
you think? Here are two surprises fe
you'll"
Two, uncle?' she cried.
"One to picnic-party at the Gre;
Gorge"
"Oh, can 1 go2" exclaimed Rub
jumping up from her bowl of brea
and milk. jerome Franklin told n
that"
Hold on, lassic-hold on!' said Vi
Gle Ennis. "The other is proposal I
marriage Mr.. Dubarry wants n
sanction, and all that sort of thing
"Mr. Dubarry, indeedF' said Rut
turning very red. IA stuffy old pr
fessor who don't know anything e
cept about the ruins Of Pompeii ar
HerculaneumW
"You don't like him. Pc"
"No, indeed, 1 don't"
Then" said U:.cle Ennis, indu
~ontIv ahar. ia an end of the who