Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-10-08

Now she was dead. His father had died year
before, when Sllas was young boy. He hac
been a hard.working, penurious man, anC
had amassed in bis lifetime what the towns
folk considered quite a property. He owned
bis house and land clear, and had, besides,
little sum in the bank.
In his lifetime Sas and his mother, who
was meek, sokly woman, had been pitiful
| ly pinched. After his death, when the re-
strictive cause had ceased, they found it diff
| hcult TO rid themselves OF the habit OF being
80. Many time Mrs. Vinton would looh
scared when some extra expenditure came in
| question, and say, "Oh, Silas, what would
| your father say 2" Tue old man g iron, grind
ing will still lived on in his house after be
was dead.
Still they made some innovations. Sias
took the larger part Of the garden for flow.
era, and cramped the vegetables into a small
or space. Sllas aud his mother had not been
allowed room for QUE little flower bed before.
After his mothers death Slas went further
He would not sell his vegetables, but gave
them away to any one Of the neighbors who
wanted them. He took the grestest delight
IN 1t. The sale OF vegetables had always
been quite an item TO them, but he never
thought Of missing the money. He was nat
urally generous and giving was what singing
would have been to him had he been musical.
In apple and cherry time, too, the children
swaEmed about his place. They were very
fond Of Silas, and visited him great deal at
all seasons. H. seldom had any other Wis
itors.
Sias had never seemed like other young
men, whether il was owing to his having
been with his mother 80 much or his own
natural disposition. He never had any asso-
cistes OF his own age, of either sex nobody
ever dreamed Of his getting married. Peo-
pie called him a little simple. They were
simple country folk themselves. He was
probably no simpler than they, only his sim
plcity took such a different direction that
they recognized it as such
Silas had always loved flowers. As he
grew older, aud especially after his mothers
death, when all direct human interest was
gone, the love of them turned his whole self
He was natural enough to grasp after some
absorbing interest, and his gentle taste seem.
ed to point that way the easiest and he
might have turned worse way, though it
might have been a nobler one than into beds
OF lilies and thickets of roses. He was so
fond OF his dainty pursuit that it was only
very dimly that he felt the need OF anything
else. He ruminated 70 long and heartily
over his flowers that it might have been with
him as with Marvels farm, "Lilies without,
roses within" His very thoughts might have
been tnctured; he thought principally Of his
flowers, and his brain was full of true images
Of roses and lilies and apple blossoms
But now be began to think OF Althea At
ter she came for the parsnips she slid into his
mind along with the flowers continually. He
hoped every day her mother would send her
again on some errand, but she did not. Sas,
without knowing that be did so, watched and
waited every day for her Finally, after a
week or so, 1t occurred to him that Altheas
mother might like more parsnips.
SO he carried her great basketful. After
he had gone he would not come into the
house, but fingered a moment in the yard
looking wishfully at Althea, who stood in the
door behind her mother. Mrs. Rose eyed
her daughter knowingly aud sharply.
''Silas NInton didn't come to bring me pars-
nips" said she.
Althea looked up at her, frightened. She
still stood few PAGES behind her mother it
was her way. II they we're out on the street
together, Althea followed after her always.
When her mother attempted to face her Al
thea always stirred softly round behind her.
HE came to see you" said her mother,
turning round again. Althes turned too,
and looked more scared than before, and
made some unintelligible dissent.
Eyes, he did" said her mother; don't
you contradict me, Althea!"
1t was easy enough, after seeing Mrs. Rose,
to understand how the daughter got her Pc
culiarities. The mother had moulded the
daughter after her own model as exactly as
she could, and more exactly than she was
herself aware. Mrs. Rose must have looked
very like Althea in her youth. She wore her
light, partly gray hair cut squarely around
her ears, just like Althea's her dress had
the same prim, uncompromisng cut.
She was arbitrary and full of q self conf
dence that was absolute power and 80 was
Althea. All was, the girl had not shown her
disposition her mother by her older, strong.
er will, and force of habit, as yet kept her
down. She only rebelled furtively. The
stern rule she had always been under gave her
shy, almost cOwed demeanor once in a
while the spirit in her gave fash, as it we're,
and that was ALL
The two were alone they had no relatives
They had a small pension to live on, and
owned a small house besides. Mrs. Roses
husband had died in the army. They never
called on the neghbors, aud the neighbors
never called on them. "Queer folks" they
called them.
Mrs. Roses opinion seemed fortified when
Silas came the next Sunday night and made q
call
He wont to evening meeting first, and then
walked down the shAdowy road toward the
Rose house. The Roses were not meeting
folks, and he could not walk home with Al
thea and so break the ice However, Sllas
was not bashful II is doubtful il he realiz d
be was going counting at ALL He had a great
bunch of flowers in his hand, and he was
merely going to carry them to Althea he
did not look much beyond that. His horizon,
blue and sunny though it was, came close
around him always.
So he sat in Mrs Roses sitting room that
evening and eyed Althea sweetly and kindly,
but was not perturbed, though he said very
little.
Hes coming after you, Allhea," said her
mother, after he had gone.
Althea, sinking behind her mother, burst
into tears
What are you crying for?' asked her
mother, sharply.
'I-don't want him TO"
Get your candle and go to bed"
Silas came regularly every Sunday evening
after that, but he met with an obstacle in his
wooing which might have nonplussed some
lovers-the mother always staid in the room
when he called. There she would sit, straight
and hercely watchful, her bushy short hair
curVlng around her ears. However. Silas
was not annoyed. The need of a formal dec
laration never suggested itself to him he
supposed Althea kRelo, and there was no
need OF saying much about it anyway. It
would have puzzled any one to have told Al
theas opinion when Silas's attentions became
persistent she was shy and docile, but new
or expressive. Still it was all right with Slas
as long as she did not repulss him He had
had 80 much TO do with flowers that he de-
rived his notions of girls from them. He did
not look for much return but sweetness and
silence.
At last Mrs. Rose grew impatient. Spring
had come round again, and Silas had visited
Althea whole year, and still nothing decis-
i've had been said. She could not see why
1t was singular that with her keen character
she should have been so stupid, but she was
She did not dream that her own watchfulness
and intense interest might delay matters.
One night she spoke out bluntly when he
was taking leave. Look here, Silas Vinton.
think If you an Althea are goin to git mar
Tied, you might rs well be about itl"
I'm ready when Althea is" said Silas
He gave one glance over at her behind her
mother, then he did not dare TO look again.
he was outwardly calm, but the shock of
Mrs. Roses sudden remark was over his very
soul. He felt as If he we're still in paradise
but as If some angel had given him a rude
shake.
''oh, she's ready enough" said Mrs. Rose
she don't need to have anything more'n a
dress new, an we can make that 10 week"
"A week ?" repeated Silas, half in rapture,
half In stupidity. "Well, Tn all ready when
Althea is. I'm all ready" He kept saying
It over as he backed down the steps,
I'm git the STUFF for the dress tomorrow,