Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-10-01
JACK AND DOLLY.

JACK AND DOLBY.
Within the past few years the old fashion
OF travelling about the country In the family
carriage, or in the single buggy has some.
what revived. The only difference to be OBJ.
served is that the old hairtrunk, studded
with brass nails is no longer seen strapped to
the rear Of the vehicle. The baggage in
these days is sent from point to point by
rail, and the driving parties are only enoum-
bered with hand bags and luncheon baskets.
But in September the pedestrians outnumber
the riders. They come in light walking gear,
the ladies clad in blue flannel costumes and
the men, il young, in short jackets aud knee
breaches. light bag is flung over the
shoulder by leather strap and they are
armed with sticks which they have cut and
carved in the woods.
Occasionally young man comes riding
through the land on a fine horse, in search OF
health or pleasure. lie is generally young
man OF wealth and position, who, tired OF
Newport, Saratoga, and other watering places,
like Bulwer's Keuelm Chillingly, has come
out to the rural districts in the spirit of ad-
venture The equestrian il well mounted
has the advantage over both walkers and driv-
ing parties. He can penetrate into wild
places where no wheeled vehicle IL able to
follow. and he can climb mountains of mod.
crate height without loss of time or lameness
OF MUSCLE He gets the exclamation without
the effort OF walking. year ago young
man belonging to the jettneSse dOrte OF one OF
our large cities appeared in the vicinity of
the village on ine bay horse with one white
foot. You know the saying about the horse
with the one white foot, how it bears it's rid
er safely and brings him in the end good luck
Young Derby had perfect confidence in this
superstition, aud ~ it turned out, with rea-
son. lie was in confidential relations with
his horse BAlduT, and had written one or two
rather humorous poems on him, which ap-
peared in sporting magazine. Derby's
father owned large stock farm where he
reared fine breeds OF cattle and horses some
what at a loss, but being a man Of large
wealth, he could afford 10 indulge an expen-
sive within Of this kind. Through as,ooia-
ton with this place young Derby had acquir-
ed kind of sentimental love for the land,
with vague aspirations toward the life of an
Agricultural. Though still unsettled in his
mind as to what he would be, he had come
out on a tour of inspection among the farms,
partly TO study the best practical modes of
working land. He was lured by many things
and had that fatal versatility which produces
each year large crop OF agreeable do moth
ings. Fashion at times had hold upon him.
and he was fond Of literature, and had dip.
ped a little into political reform. He had
considered the labor question, aud had writ.
ten an article on it for one of the magazines
which, like most OF the screeds on that sub
ject, served only to make darkness visible.
But il the world was out OF Joint, Jack
Derby was young, the favorite son Of his
father, with pretty talent for versing and
stringing rhymes which made the world look
fair. He was endowed with au abundance
Of animal spirits He likedto feel the mo-
ton Of a mettlesoms horse under him, to in
hale the good country air blowing in his face,
and to smell the sweets Of clover fields,
meadows and woodlands. Derby was not
one of those underlined, inferior. looking
young men Of whom all society girls now
complain. as the only men left in the ball.
rooms. He was tall and well formed, with a
red-brick complexion produced by much
yachting and rowing, aud riding in the sun.
Though decidedly plain be had a winning
smile and general agreeableness which made
him friends. The mammas courted him, the
girls liked him, but he had never cared seri-
ously for any Of them though he had writ
ten sets of nonsense verses to nearly all the
prettiest he knew, and imagined his heart
had been broken little less than a hundred
times.
1t was in the spirit of an incipent farmer
united to that of a nineteenth century troub-
| adour that Derby set of on his little eques-
trian journey in September. He could sing
his own songs as he galloped along, and find
inspiration for new ones. One fine, still
evening be came to the outskirts OF the vii
lage just at sunset and stopped to water his
horse at an Overlooking trough under some
towering maple trees near the Haight farm
house The Haight farm is one that has
been owned for many generations by the
same family.
All the Haights are good, snug farmers
They have felt pride in handing the land
down to their sons in better condition thar
they found it. People OF the Haight kline
are the most independent in the world. Theii
desires are moderate. They have some mon
ey in bank. Their family history Is credita
BILE, as the race has thus far turned out ne
black sheep. All have been honest men
| good citizens religious, sober and saving
/ but not n-publc-spirited ready to give
their treasure and their blood when the coun
try called. They have always been promi
nent in the town meeting and on the schoo
committee. At heart they are ~ sound a.
the old oaks and naples that stand abou
their door. Deeply interested in public at
fairs, they weigh all men and measures with
the impartality of honest, upright American
citizens. Such men as the Haights are tn
glory and the safeguards of their country
and they stand backed by the land, in tina
solid relief which only agriculture oAn give
The women Of the family are no less ad
mirable. At least Derby thought 30, as h
drew up to water his horse OF the spring I'M
der the maple trees, and caught sight of
girlish form in a rosy summer gown on tn
rustic porch, which was furnished with cas-!
chairs comfortably cushioned in red, and {
hammock holding some books and magazines
while a woman's neat work basket stood on
small piazza table, and the western sun wa
screened away by \ blue and white awning
Derby inquired il he could stay there TO
supper and have himself and his horse pu
up over night. He was informed by th
maiden in pink that il was not house Of en-
tertainment that they did not take in strang
ers, and that there were good boarding house
in the village. But Jack Derby wished t
stay just there, and he asked to be Above
to AZ a great favor, in his best manner, e1
planning that he was on tour OF agriculture
inspection, and had been charmed with tn
appearance OF the Haght place. while h
looked straight into Miss Dolly Haight's eyeI
and wondered what it was that gave thos
gray orbs such a crystalline oearness, lk
some mountain lakes he had seen,
Miss H4ight did not blush. She met hi
With the easy oomposure she had acquired a
the Lewiston seminary and finally sh
showed him the way into the barn, while
led Baldur by the bride, She pointed OF
in which stall to tie his horse, and where th
oats were, As the men folks all happene
to be away from home at that time, she eve
took the peck measure in her own fair hand
and patted Baldur on the head, and on b
glossy high bred GOAT. For Miss Dolly wi
exceedingly fond OF a fine horse, l think
was this simple barn episode, with the plat
80 sweet-smelling from the new hay, and IL
sheaved wheat piled in great bundles on II
threshing floor, and Dolly looking 30 younl
slim and grlish in her pink gown th
brought Jack Derby down at her feet. Fl
there ia no use in oonoealing the fact that
fell abjeotly in love with this maiden at fir
sight. But Dolly was not an untaught ia
mer's daughter, 10 be caught by any kind
chat, or dazzled by the most perfect ma
ners which society men now essay. The ru