Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-02-22

real good fire of pine logs in the old
chimney. There is a carpet loom
there and spinnin' wheel and all
the fixin's and I'll show you how l
used to spin flax when l was gal,
and weave rag carpet.
''Will you?'' SAID Aileen brighten
ing up. "Oh, grandma, how very
kind you are. and can l roast chest
nuts and apples in the ashes ?-and
will you tell me about your sailor
lover that was drowned before you
ever saw my Grandfather Harring-
ton?"
eyes," said the old lady-''yes
Well hev our New Years by our
selves-me and you, child.'
So Aileen put away the pretty, lit
tie, blue merino gown that she had
retfimmed for New Years day, and
donned instead the brown Merrimac
calico that made her look like robin
redbreast and just about the time
that her three cousins were quarrel
ing for the possession of the biggest
| dressing glass to do their hair, she
and her grandmother were adjusting
the ancient spinning-wheel in the
barn chamber, and piling wood
in the cavernous recess of the huge
fireplace.
They had very pleasant New
Years day, after all, though the
tears came to Aileen's blue eyes once
or twice, when the carriages rolled
by over the hard frozen road toward
the house.
And at dusk she lighted the cheer
ful candles, and sat down to prepare
grandma's supper with fresh corn
cakes baked into the hot embers, ac-
cording to the receipt of aunt Felicia,
the colored cook, fragrant coffee,
and sweet apples roasted and eaten
with cream.
But Captain DuIany, riding his
Morgan horse, Hotspur, through the
pine woods, drew rein close by the
old stone barn, whence he had not
seen the red lights beaming out for
ten years.
"What can it be?" he asked him
self.
owe children used to play at ghost
up there of an autumn evening, when
the Vladimir family lived there. Or
perhaps the careless servants have
set something on fire.
He jumped off his horse, flung the
reins over a projecting pine-bough.
and went in to see what the meaning
of this unwonted illumination might
be.
The door stood wide open-the
whole room was aglow with warn
ruddy light. Grandma, enthroneC
in big splint chair before the blaze
was drinking her coffee, and Aileer
sat spinning at the old wheel, will
cheeks softly redeemed and blue eyes
sparkling-a very picture of healtl
and beauty.
Both started at the sudden appari
ton of the captain on the threshold
"I-I beg your pardon ~ said cap
tain Dulany, lifting his hat. 81 say
the light shining out, and | wa
afraid so mething had happened"
Something has happened" sal,
Aileen, ,laughingly, Il have learned t.
spin. And grandma and | are hav
ing picnic. Will you come in, Cap
tain Dulany?"
well, since your coffee smells S
good, l think l WILL said the gal
d liant young officer.
His cup-which for lack of NOR
expensive china happened to he
mug-was scarcely poured out, be
I fore their numbers were augmente
by Mr.. Ferrars and young Docto
I Fenchurd, who had seen the lights
: and had also observed ''Hotspur
fastened to the fence.
"May we venture to intrude? !?
said they, peeping in over the stail
rail.
ooh, certainly" said grandma
3 smiling.
And Aileen distributed handleles
: cups and hountiful slices of golden
y brown corn-cake, yet steamiLg fror
the fire, to her guests.
> eve are hardly prepared to enter
y tain so large a company" said she
II composedly but We can, at all event
e give you sincere welcome.
Two-three-ha a dozen NOR
dropped in. Old Pomp was summon
S ed to pour fresh pine-cones on th
blaze and bring more coffee and corn
cake.
He grinned from ear to ear.
''Pow'f full like the good old times,
said he to Aunt Felicia, when he re
) turned to his cabin. ''De berry crear
OBJ de gentry enjoyin' de corn-bone
: an coffee like dey was our own oil
!. marse's folks. Amt muffin lik
u corn-bone for rale good flavor, ds
; they amt. An de pretty youn
: lady from de Norf, she's as prett
as peach. Reckon de captain fink
y so, too. He, he, he! y
S And Old Pomp shook his side
: with an inaudible chlckle of glee.
!. Later in the evening the gentle
men went up to the house, wher
q stood the three Misses Harrington i
simpering row.
o Ruf thar Ill fhorQ waC ipClni1 an