Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-06-07


with a laugh. "She never looked so
charming in her life as she did when
her eyes shone so. She is born
flirt, and / ought not to be jealous,
for I knew 1t before, but l want her
all to myself. I'll make my peace
with Queen Nab this evening, and
try coaxing the next time we disa-
gree"
So saying Harry walked slowly to-
ward the cottage at the other ex-
tremity of the beach, thinking how
much pleasanter it would be with
Nab for mistress there; for Harry's
mother was getting feeble, and his
father was in his dotage, and he, the
only child, would soon be alone.
How is it with Nab? Angry, half
crying, she burst into her aunt's
tidy kitchen in much the same man
ner she left the boat. She threw
the grey-veiled hat upon the table
and went to her room, where, maid
en-like, she went straight to the
mirror. She saw a flushed face,
pouting cherry lips and flashing eyes,
half-filled with tears, and laughs a
little as she winks hard to drive them
away.
"How dare he!" with another
stamp of the tiny foot. "I'll 60
home this very day and never speak
to Harry Rowland again as long as
/ live" But here the tears o'erfow-
ed and she threw herself upon the
bed in tempest of sobs and tears.
"Mabel," called her aunt, ''a gen.
tleman to see you, dear"
''Who can it be?" Nab sits up
and brushes away the tears. "Not
Harry. If it had been my aunt would
have told me so"
She bathed her tear-stained face,
and went cautiously to the sitting
room window. There, leaning back
lazily in his buggy, holding in one
we'll gloved hand the ribbons which
control spirited bay, while the
other toys with his whip, she saw
Charlie Bowers.
"Why, Charlie, how surprised |
am! Are all well at home? How
did you happen to stray away up
here?"
Charlie lightly flecked her shout
der with his whip, and replied, Chow
does it happen? | was dying for
glimpse of you, Queen Nab, and as
your mother was in the same condi-
ton, and in rather poor health be-
sides, ventured to drive out to see
If you was going to stay here all
summer"
Poor mamma | must 90 back
with you, l think. I'll find Auntie,
and we'll have some supper, and
then I'll CO.
Charlie drove to the barn with his
pony, and Mabel went indoors to in
terview her aunt. Long and loud
were her protestations against this
sudden termination to MabePs visit !;
but Mabel was firm, and two hours
later, stood again in the doorway, this
time with hat and shawl on, waiting
for Charlie.
"What shall 1 tell Harry?''
''Tell him mother is sick. The
rest will speak for itself" was the
the answer, as she was assisted into
the carriage and driven away. Just
as the last flutter of the grey veil dis
appeared from sight, familiar form
appeared in the opposite direction.
He sauntered slowly along, whistling
softly to keep himself company, and
now and then smile played about
his lips. He reached the door and
asked carelessly, "Where' Mab?"
"Gone home. Her cousin came
after her. She said tell you that her
mother was sick. They have hardly
been gone long enough to get out of
sight. Come in and take chair,
Harry, can't you now?"
"No, aunt, l can't stop now. Did
Mabel leave no other message for
me?"
"No. That was all she said. She
was in a hurry: and kind of dustered
like, hearing her mother was sick,
you know"
Harry turned on his heel and walk
ed away. This time he neither saun-
tered nor whistled, nor did he smile.
He was angry and perplexed, and
communed with himself as follows:
$50 her mother is sick. Is she
sick, or is it mere subterfuge? /
don't exactly understand you, Miss
Winters. | wish did. | thought
you loved me, but | begin to think
I don't know much about you
We will leave Harry to solve the
mystery as we'll as he is able, land fol-
low Mabel's wanderings for little
while.
Upon reaching home, she found
her mother, whose health was never
very good, rapidly failing. At once
assuming command of the household,
and also the care of her mother, she
for a time succeeded in cIowding
Harry Howland from her thoughts
but when the long weeks, one after
another passed into eternity, and she
heard no word from him, she began
to fear she had teased him too much.
In vain she told herself it was only
in Jest, that if he loved her he would