Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-18

where he could not see II from the outside,
and the Juice has soaked through 1t and COM
pletely spoiled IT, and shall have to burn
poor Sordello /"
"Ob, we'll, Sordello is used to it in purga-
tory. It won't be anything new for him,
said George oonsoliugy.
| He was truly sorry for her, and very sym-
pathetic, but he felt more and more strongly
that California would not be the best field Of
action for this young woman.
81 will light the lamp" said he cheerily,
land we will read something else. What is
| the trouble, wonder can't make II burn. "
Nora turned pale, and flinging herself upon
the sofa, said half hysterioaly:
II forgot to fill the lamps Please, please
never tell Kitty about this dreadful day"
Kitty At the mention Of that name
what picture of household comfort came
before him What treasure she would be
TO the man to whom she gave her wilful, but
warm and loving heat. Kitty, however was
out Of the question for him, and upon his re-
| turn 10 his rooms he found he should not
even see her again before going to the West,
| for letter from home awaited him, telling
| him of the serious illness of his brother.
The doctor bad ordered him of to Europe,
and he aud his wife we're to sail on the fol-
lowing Saturday. School was to have closed
on Friday. He must arrange to have it flu
iah on Wednesday, and this would give him
a little glimpse Of his brother before bis voy-
age. He was so driven with work that he
did not find time 10 go to Miss Trowbridge's
TO announce his sudden departure until Tues.
| day evening. He had some errands to do
first, and among other places went to Miss
| Pinhorn's rooms
Nov" said that lady Hs she handed his
coat 10 him, 1--WE something else for you
that's real good. just look at that delicate
brown gingerbread and take piece"
"Thank you. 1t looks very nice, but I've
had my tea and"
"Oh know you've been having the dys.
pepsy real bad lately, but it's just as light
nobody ever made such gingerbread except
my mother and her. Shes back"
"Who ?" asked George, suddenly changing
color, and looking as Miss Pinhorn expressed
it afterwards to Olarissa, "just a match for
grandmas scarlet wool tidy"
why, Miss Kitty Bradford, to be sure.
She's come hOme because her aunt's sick and
Miss Nora don't know anything about house
keeping. She knows like real old-fashioned
gingerbread, and she always remembers me
when she makes a batch. She looked Just
like fresh rose when she came in this after
noon. Says to her, Mr.. George Russelrs
gone home, for 1 understood you had
gone, and was calculating how to get the
coat back to you. Gone, says she, and she
turned that white, but mebbe I'm telling tales
out of school. Anyway she leaned back
kind OF sudden against the little table, and
knocked of the pink vase my grandfather
brought from Chiny, and broke it all to splin.
ters. Never mind says l. my dear, twas
doomed TO destruction. Clarssy has had
her eye on it these two months, and she'd "a
broke II II you hadn't Where was l, oh
yes, but by this time Mr. George Russell
was out Of the door aud part way down the
street.
Meanwhile Kitty was sitting by the bedside
of Nora, who was just recovering from an
acute attack of dyspepsia.
Mora, said she excitedly, George Rus
sell has gone away without bidding us good.
bye What have you done to him 2"
Done to him 2" Nora actually laughed at
some recollection. Don't make me laugh.
Kitty, because"
Il am not making you laugh !" exclaimed
the indignant Kitty. 1T is no laughing mat
ter. Nora Cavendish, she added perempto-
rily, tell me all about it,"
MY dear Kitty, there is nothing to tell.
unless you call-unless you call"
~ must know about it, Nora
my dear, he never got any further than
asking me il thought life on a ranch in Cal
ifornia would be attractive, and l said il l
were a man should like nothing better, and
changed the subject"
II should think that was quite enough"
said Kitty hotly.
IF 1t were not enough, what followed was.
oh, Kitty Oh, Kitty l had meant not to
tell you )" (here she went of again into hys.
tericAl laughter my dear, there was time
when thought l should answer him as he
seemed to wish. Sacrificing everything to
some one who loved me dearly had its attrac
tions, but two days of cooking cured me of
this, and perceived that my love could not
stand the ranch test. To have to 90 on for
ever struggling with biscuit and wrestling
with pop-overs, oh, Kitty 1 should have
to care more for the man that l would do
this for, than ever could care for George
Russell, and he would have to love me de.
votedly, which George never did. We are
both we'll out of it,"
Mora As If he could help caring for
you very much If he wanted to marry YOU"
just then the door. bell rang and Kitty
hastened down. When she saw George
standing outside she gave little cry. u
Thought you had gone, she stammered.
All Georges diffidence left him at the sight
of the dear, familiar little figure. He seizsd
both her hands.
kitty, my dearest Kitty" he said breath
lessly, "how can tell you how glad am that
you have come home!"
Kitty drew back in surprise. "Aunt Kath-
aripe will be glad to see you," she said coldly.
These words chilled his ardor and his old
self-distrust returned. Oh how blind he
had been not to have discovered long ago
how much he loved her, that he might have
spent the year In trying to make her care for
him.
kitty" he began abruptly, ''you must
excuse my indecent haste. cannot hope
that you love me already. and / should not
speak to you, but that am going away to-
morrow, and cannot go without telling you
how dear you are to me. and begging YOU"
Dear to you!' flashed out KITTY. "Only
last Saturday you would have said the same
things TO Nora II only she had cared to hear
them. How weak you must think me to be-
lieve me ready to take the love that was hers
three days ago Is this all that mans love
is worth, is this"
kitty, never really loved Nora, nev-
er-"
'You think that will make good, useful
wife, said Kitty, still very angry, that l
can cook well aud make you comfortable.
Do you suppose that doing that kind of thing
is 30 attractive to woman that she would
like ranch life without-without any COM
pensating circumstances? How can 1 care
for your Why should you expect me to
care for you when you have SO little to offer
me ?" she ended with a sob.
George turned very pale. 81 am answer
ed, he said. ~ have felt all along that YOU
did not care for me. l believe that | have
loved you from the first without knowing it.
Forgive my having troubled you. Kitty. 1
hope at least that you understand now how
truly love you 2"
KITTY raised her eyes to his. Happily his
face was more eloquent than his words.
kitty" he said desperately, taking her
hand, SAY at least that you are little sorry
for me !"
She smiled at him through her tears, 81
l do not think am, under the circumstances,
she faltered.
Miss Pinhorn and Clarissa made Kitty's
wedding dress, and many we're the wishes
for her happiness stitched into it by these two
good souls.
'She's lucky girl" said Miss Pinhorn,
''for she's got man that is all took up with
her now he's really made up his mind and
settled down to it, and he'll be as true AZ
STEEL"
81 dunno" mused Clarissa, sit must be
real pleasant to be loved by one true heart
but then, on the other hand, it must be kind o.
lonesome in Oaliforny, aud real prosaic hav-
ing to cook for q man with the dyspepsia.
dunno but have the best of II after all, in
my humble but comfortable home, with my
young man all in my minds eye. and 80 just
the way l want him, even II don't fud him