The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1886-07-30
LILLIAN.

They had been engaged month. The vii
LACE had buzzed audibly over the news thai
Jack Murray had come home from Arizona te
marry bis old playmate, jeanette Prayn, and
had Furthermore bought an interest in Grayton
lis. and gone into business With all hisener-
| gy. The wedding was arranged for October,
and meanwhile
Yes. He was bound to Janette. There was
| no forgetting nor ignoring of the fac.-but
Lillian His heart tugged at its chain each
time she spoke to him or looked his way. The
silken bond had become fetter. Janette was
the Janette be had always known-a womanly
presence, gracious and gentle but be had come
home to find Lillian beautiful surprise. Bright
audacious, wilful, almost reckless, she darted
about from gaiety to gaiety like humming
bird among roses. A dance here, a ride there,
moonlight row, flowers, music, little notes OF
invitations, boxes of bonbons-from weeks end
to weeks end the bright routine went on; and
Jack, whom it did not in any way concern,
kept up his impatient protest.
Cant you see, Janette, that is wrong for
you to allow Lillian to 60 on in this way? A
girl of sixteen should not be permitted such
entire freedom. You ought to curb her little.
1t is wrong to the child-an injustice. You
stand in the place of a mother"
"Jack, dear As if possibly could curb
hern
"Well, her father-some one ought to-
'But she doesn't do anything wrong. She
likes to be gay-that is natural; and these
young people about are boys and girls that
AVE grown up with her-neighbors and class
mates. 1 do not see how she could possibly be
harmed"
"But she is away from home nearly every
day, and all her evenings are taken up with
T ON, Dick and Harry. Her own people scarce
ly get glimpse of her"
"Well, it's vacation now, you know, and be-
sides in a little while, when I am gone, Lillian
will have to settle down. She will know the
weight of care soon enough"
Janette was smiling tenderly, but she could
not smile away the gloom from her lovers face.
81 have scarcely patience with you, jeanette,
be said almost angrily. "Settle down. The
girl is utterly spoiled for anything like domes-
tic life. Do you suppose she will ever fill your
place to your father and the children It was
very unfortunate that she was left without
mother"
Tears filled Janette's eyes. She bit her lip
hard in her effort TO restrain them. Why was
Jack always so severe in bis censure of Lillian,
and through Lillian on her Why did he alone
regard with intolerance this bright younp Great.
ure whom all the world oyedi
This sad questioning had been growing daily
in Janette's meek, loving heart. Suddenly
Jack flung himself down beside her and kissed
her cheek
Don't be sad, dear. 1 only meant that she
that Lillian seems to be independent of us all.
and for so young a girl but of
course it is not your. fault, Janet.e-and shall
shall / reason with herr Do you think if
would do any goodi'
"Not the least bit in the world, dear; but Won
might try
Jack did try the very next morning. JAN
cite took the children and went down to the
village, to give him an opportunity to deliver
his lecture in good form. He found Lillian
dawdling over late breakfast untidy as usual
but as usual exquisitely clean. Her wrapper
had torn sleeve that showed the ivory OF one
rounded arm-her hair was tumbling from its
silky braids. She looked like fresh-crushed
rose.
Jack had dressed himself with unusual care /; |
but then, he was going up TO the city on bust |
ness presently.
swell, Lilian'
How nice You look ~ she said, with sD,''s.
bright and indiff rent. 81 am so tirtd. W.