Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-08-27
NO. 35.

in silence after the receding conveyance,
which had been newly painted, while the bur
nished harness gittered like gold in the bright
sunshine.
Edward Everett and Hannibal Hamln"
stepped as proudly as IL aware Of their fair
drivers desire to make a favorable impress.
sion on the critical public Vesta herself was
tastefuly dressed in plain black wool COS.
tune
Jerusalem crickets!" ejaculatod Uncle
Joshua, al Vesta's team ratified over the loose
boards Of the old wharf.
"Ef Their amt Vesty Kellyen, an the old
blackboard lookin' spick-span a. new Hoo.
ray give the gal a s'lute, lads she's spun
Ky critter, N deservin on il. Hooray :"
There was a moments hesitation, not from
any unwillingness to join in the old tar's sa-
lutte, but from sheer astonshment This was
a sensation they had not counted on. Then
the crowd, Justify enough, nov that it had
taken in the situation, took up Uncle Josbuas
"hooray," and the very hills rang with the
jubilant uproar.
Vesta, with smiling face and eyes suspic-
iously moist, waited for the voices to cease.
Then she sprang from her seat to the old sail.
or's side, and giving his outstretched paw
hearty shake, said, in q tone that betrayed her
emotion "Thanky, thanky, Uncle jshws;
non I'm sure of success. Tbanky, all Of
you, looking brightly around at the circle
which had closed around her. II know'd
Drius Kellyen's friends and neighbOrs
wouldn't begrudge goodwill to his daughter"
"Thet they wouldn't, you bet!' cried a
score of voices
SO much of the battle was won, and much
the harder half, for Vesta, in her novel under
taking. had not counted upon the favor of her
neighbors. The remainder of the task would
be easy enough.
At first 1.-THE company" thought il very odd
and rather unsafe to ride behind girl driver
but she soon proved that the innovation after
a few weeks ceased to be matter to be won
dered at and was accepted along with the
rest of the ''peculiarities" of the region
doughnuts, clam bakes, pie for breakfast, and
so forth.
Hardly day passed, clear or cloudy, that
the Kallahan team was not seen driving to-
ward or coming from the Surf House with a
merry load of ''rusticators' indeed, so pop
ulsr had Vesta and her buck board become
that she was rarely out of the drivers seat.
And edward Everett" and Hannibal Ham
lin, to their credit be it recorded, never once
failed in their endeavors to do their utmost for
the enterprsing little Amazon who handled
the reins 80 dexteriously.
September, the month of the hegira for the
guests at the Cove, found Vesta the proud
money, almost double that which she had
hoped to earn. Now she might safely reckon
on Z-mro's becoming the captain OF the Fear
ndugU. There was enough money to lay in
supply Of necessaries for the winter, enough
to buy all the doctors stuff granny would
need for months, snd-blissful thought
enough to buy the beautiful wedding gown
which would adorn the happiest girl in all
Maine before the bluebirds and thrushes re-
turned in the early spring
Rosy meditations of this sort filled the girls
brain as she drove toward the hotel to take
her last load to the wharf. No wonder she
drew up before the door with an extra -four
ish, and with happy chirrup that made her
horses prick up their ears. Her eyes sparkled
with hope and delight, her cheeks glowed
redder than ever beneath their screen of
freckles, as she tripped lightly up the steps
to the piazza where heaps of luggage awaited
transportation to the wharf
"Hello Vesty," called Irene Higgins from
the dining room window 81 was to tell you
to come right into the parlor the minute You
came. Guess you're goin' to git your partin'
| gift like the rest of u.s."
1--WE got all l want" murmured Vesta,
contentedly, thinking of the well stuffed stock
ing carefully hidden at home in the unused
stove pipe In the sitting room.
Good morning, Miss Vesta," saluted the
spokeswoman of the half-dozen or more trav-
| elers waiting in the parlor 1--WE sorry
that we heard only last night of your expected
marriage next autumn. Had We known it
earlier, we should have insisted on having the
wedding before we returned to our homes.
We have concluded to give you a present,
and you can send us an invitation when the
affair comes off. Take this"-giving the blush
ing girl small paper box-"and with it our
sncerest wishes for your happiness and sue
cess You are a good girl, and deserve to
prosper Don't open the box till the steamer
has left the wharf"
Good byes we're now exchanged, and few
minutes later the blackboard was rolling to-
ward the wharf, the dainty white packet tuck
| ed safely in the drivers jacket pocket.
"What d'y s'pose It's, Vesty p whispered
Zemro, who had come with the rest of the
Hackmetack Covers to ''see the company off. -
"Jewelry, 1 dessay that's what the city
folks allus give for weddin' presents she re-
| piled in an undertone. "Tve allus wanted
earings-guess it's that"
"Wish it was a dozen pair, you darlin -
warmly responded her lover.
Then I'd hev to wear em in my nose an
on my toes, you silly boy" she whispered
back, in a laughing tone.
A loud whistle proclaimed the approach of
the boat
Good by, Vesta; good by, good-by,"
called the merry travellers from the upper
| deck. The luggage was quickly carted
aboard, the whistle blew, the cable was cast
off, and the ROckldRd backed out into the
| stream.
Vesta waved her handkerchief with the
rest of the crowd until the boat was well I'M
der way then she took the box from her
pocket, gingerly united the ribbon, and lifted
| the lid.
Money" gasped Zemro; and How
much? how much ?" clsmored the curious
throng, orowidng around the pair. Vesta
took the green roll from the box, smoothed it
out in her hand, and slowly turning over the
corner of each note, counted, the spectators
eagerly repeating her wordJ-. lone, two, three
four, FIVE Five twenty dollar bills-s hun
bred dollars !" Again the surrounding hills
as on the day when Vesta made her first APP
pearsnce in the character of buck board
driver, resounded with the hearty cheers that
rose from the crowd ON the wharf, and were
echoed by the laughing group on the upper
deck of the R0ckLand,
The last glimpse the generous 'rusticstors"
had of Vesta, she had mounted the railing OF
the wharf, and, supported by Zsmro Dow
ling's sturdy arm, was vigorously waving with
hat and handkerchief her thanks and her
eu.-HaTpeT's Bdzdr.