Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-08-02

Tell me, do you always intend to live
so alone-don't you want to marry?"
A wave of color, like the warm
tint to sea-shell, covered Lottie's
face.
81 am going to marry very soon,"
she said, after moment.
care you? And do you mind tell
ing me about it-and him?" ques-
toned the woman.
''He is. teaching French and Span
ish to the children I am nursery gov
erness to, and we meet there very Of
ten. know he is good and noble,
because-because I do. He shows it
in every act.
"And you love him?"
"Ah, yes! Yes, indeed !''
Something in the sweet purity and
rapt expression of the girls face,
made the woman turn suddenly away
and wipe her eyes. And then moth
ing more was said by either until the
dainty supper of tea, toast and egg
was cooked by Lottie and placed be-
fore the woman on tray, covered
with a worn, but snowy napkin.
Then suddenly came the question i:
"What are you going to do with me
tonight turn me out?'
"Oh, no indeed. You shall sleep
on my bed, and 1 can make pallet
here by the fire. My bed is out of
sight now," she added with laugh,
as the woman looked about inquiring-
ly. 81 like to have my room sit
ting groom, so if any one comes to
see me 1 fold up my bed into a
lounge, and put all my toilet things
back of that pretty curtain, and that
leaves me little parfor, you see.
Isn't it pleasant?''
The old woman's face was a mys-
terry as she looked and listened. The
thin lips continually twitched, and
the eyes. with all their sharpness
gone, filled with tears. But she ask
ed no more questions.
Lottie ate her own supper, then
went into the closet, took down the
tiny dish-pan, poured out the water
that had been heating while they ate,
then quickly cleaned up all signs of
supper, working quietly, as she sup
posed the weary woman was doing
when, on the contrary, she was in
tently watching every act of the
young housekeeper. Work done
apron removed, clean cuffs were put
on, the soft curls brushed and taste
fully tied; then Lottie came to the
fire, and seeing her visitor awake.
said: my Robert Is coming this ev.
ening, and you will see if he is not
good and nohle-looking."
"He is coming here ?-this even.
ing?" exclaimed the woman, start
ing up! Then | must goat once. >
"Indeed, no! Where would you
GO? You will stay here,' said Lot
tie, with decision and at that very
instant steps sounded on the stairs
and through the hall; and she added
with quick smile, ,"here he is now
Trembling, and evidently at hel
wits end, the woman sank back into
her seat, and while Lottie went to the
door and greeted her lover in few
low-spoken words she sat staring
into the fire, smile gradually break.
ing over her face, as though con-
sternation had given way to amuse'
ment.
Laying his hat and coat over 8
chair, Robert Claxton came around
to the fire and looked down at the
old woman, as she looked up at him
and there was a moments silence.
randmother % he exclaimed al
last, in voice of stupefied amaze.
ment-"Grandmother, am I dream.
ing?"
"Well-no-I think not. You
don't appear to be-" answered she
as though, after all, it was great
joke.
'But you-what-I-"
didn't l say was going to?'
she said, shortly.
"No, you didn't say what; and
never thought"
"No, 1 suppose not; but l did
See here, Lottie." +"
Like one doubting her senses, Lot
tie had stood listening TO the strange
dialogue, and even at this peremptory
order she had not the power to move.
This is my grandmother, Lottie.
began Robert, as if at loss how to
tell his story.
But she interrupted him briskly.
''I'll tell you about it myself, Lot.
tie said she. II am his grandmoth.
er, and | am not poor; and no more
is he, as he has made you believe
On the contrary, he is to have all
my money; and l had set my hear,
on his marrying Maud Daw ber-yes
the very young woman whom you
teach-and he set his heart on find
ing out for himself what she was
like. So | humored him, and he left
off his last name, Bennett, and went
to the family with glowing letter OF
recommendation from me. He was
engaged; he saw my pretty Maud in
her home. and do not need to tell
you how he found her to be shift
less. spoiled beauty. He also saw
you, and never could repeat all his
love rhapsodies. l was chagrined
that nv choice had been found al