Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-05-14

| him IN the least to blame. lie was Always
the most punctilious, the most strictly hon
orable, Quixotic creature. 1t was the wom-
an, of course She is twenty years older
than he"
mo, papa" from Susie ''she's just nine
teen."
~ know what am talking about All
college bellies are twenty years older than the
men they elope with and he so trusting and
eonAding The unhappy, hot-headed crea-
ture to think he has deceived this splendid,
beautiful, wealthy girl under my roof Why,
almost felt like not sanotioning the engage
ment, because, taking place here, It looked
Great Ctesarl
Hush, papa !" said Sue, clasping his arm
as he frantically tore up and down the room.
"Give me the message"
YALE COLLEGE, Sept. %, 1873.
John Lane and lady will arrive at p. NJ.
Meet with carriage at station. Prepare sup.
per and rooms. E. SNEED."
"Oh, mamma it is true, then, he is mar
ried and il at Yale, to that Peters. What
shall we do ? Poor Florence she is devoted
to him, it will kill her. Oh, Jack Jack and
to that scrubby girl Don't let them come
here, mamma. I'll telegraph"
mo he shaH come here" cried Jacks
mother. "Its terrible, but the poor dear
trusts and loves me. See, the telegram is to
me, and you can't expect me, dootor"-turn.
ing with some violence on the almost insane
father-"even yOu can't expect me to side
| against my only boy 1 have on earth"
"Come here p said the doctor, almost
| calmed by the excess of passion in his bond
slave. "Of course he's coming here he's
got no other place to go. He hasn't married
fifty thousand year, has he But the ques-
ton is, Who will break it to that splendid
creature2 / can't tell her can't tell her
by Jove l can't You go, Sue, and break it
TO her. Give her a hint. You women are
clever enough at inveigling" a glare
at wife and daughter that made the very cap
strings palpitate Tell her he's dead, and
then that he is married that will ease her
down a bit"
"Oh, don't say such a thing of my poor
darling!" cried his mamma, instantly sum
moning up the image of the recresnt John
pale and beautiful in death.
"Whats all this commotion sbout2" cried
fresh young voice. Something about
Jack isn't it? Why, what ails you all He
is-not t-dead-is he ?"
YES" said the doctor, nodding violently,
the appropriateness of his suggestion almost
stunning him dead and buried Oh no,
my dear, as he saw the light die out of the
proud, pretty face. That's my way OF
Sue, he's married. He is coming here of all
places, with his bride to night, in a few
hours, and, Of all people, that beggsrly Pc
ters's daughter, who is twenty years older
than he is, and not a dime to bless herself.
Don't tell me she's not twenty years older
than he, Mrs. Lane l know these college
bellies. She is twenty years older if she is a
day, and"
Read the telegram yourself, Florence"
said Sue through her tears.
The Heroine stepped to the window and
stood in the recess for Ave minutes, her back
70 the other three. "Well ?" she said, pres
emily.
"Well?' rte;hoed the trio hanging on
her words.
''He has been entrapped, " said Florence,
looking tall and stern. 81 blame her entire
y. She made him do it. l always said she
was the most maneuvring, deceitful- Oh,
my poor Jack !" cried the Heroine, in a burst
of bitter weeping
II hear the carriage coming up the avenue,
Florence, said Sue, in low voice, as she
tapped at the door at seven o'clock "Why,
Florence, you are perfectly lovely, all in
white like bride, and with your diamonds
on ! What lovely color in your cheeks,
too! Oh, dear, what made him do it ?"
What made her do 1t 2" said Miss Max
well, with set lips. wait one minute. Does
my train set in the backY She will be dirty
and dusty, the little"
Never mind we will 60 down to meet
them"
Sue trembled, and Bertie's fifteen year old
eyes we're red with weeping but they de-
scended together "Your train rustles Just
as Lady Macbeth's does in the sleep. walking
scene," whispered the youngest girl, and
Florence took momentary comfort in this
momentous resemblance.
The doctor and his wife were in the hall ;
the carriage stopped the door few open.
"Well, nanny, here she is, cried Jack-a
big good-natured college boy, with an honest
pair of ugly gray eyes-and out stepped a
wizened little old lady with jolly kind face,
for all the world the prophecy of Sues at
sixty five.
why, it's Emily it's Aunt Emme!
When did you come? Where did you come
fromS How are you here?"
From England, on the Srythid," cried
Jack, answering everyb body at once. 81 told
Sneed to wire you, but dare say he forgot
Aunt Emmie's name. l had only time to
shout out to him l wanted the carriage at the
station. Why, what are you all SO dazed and
solemn aboutl Anything wrong? And you,
Florence What, my darling, crying-when
I've brought you a beautiful diamond ring,
with 'Fideais Gd mOrten as big as life in.
side ?"-Hdrper's Bdzdr.