Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-11-30
mss BRITANNIA TITT'ERMA
rvs LAST TIf1Nh-SGI

1t was fine November morning. As
Miss Britannia sat by the open fire and
waited for the twins TO come to breakfast,
her eyes rested pleasantly upon little bou-
quet of wild flowers she had bought for on
" ten cents the day before She thought
of brown fields garnished with the splen
dors Of the olden year-of purple mists
upon the mountain of blushing leaves
kissed into crimson dyes by passionate WOO
ers Of storm and wind she thought of sol
emn woods, Of the deep crimsoned ash, the
yellow maple, and the silver beech.
And yet Miss Britannia had never been
five consecutive days in the country. The
Iittermarvs had always lived in the city.
They now occupied small flat in an unex-
ceptionable neighborhood up town
| must hasten to say that Miss Brittana,
although perhaps little sentimental and
imaginative was also an extremely practi-
cal little woman. She had prepared the
breakfast with her own hands. 1t was
delicate, dainty repast, but nothing was
subtracted from quantity to add to quality
From the spotess linen to the handful of
fall flowers, everything was made the most
OF. 1t was suggestive of my heroine 5
character. A careful observer would have
noticed that the capabilities of all the ma
terials had been eked out to the furthest
extent.
The door Of the dining-roo suddenly
opened and one of the twins stood upon
the threshold So positive an exemplar of
womanhood rradiated the apartment that
Miss Britannas negative presence was
nearly wiped out upon the spot The full
flower of youth shone there golden hair
blue eyes arched eyebrows, dazzling com
plexion; and following close upon her high
little French heels was another vision of
beauty in an adolescently masculine shape
black eyes, olive skin, vivid color, high
nose. This was Tom Tittermary
why, Rosy, he said, looking admiring
Is upon his sister, You look immense this
morning. And yet you turned in about as
late as | did last night If you keep these
late hours, young woman, you'll find your
lilies aud roses pegging out.
"Oh, yes, said Rose, you have an ad-
mirable way Of turning attention from
your own misdeeds 10y pitching into others
My time was well employed last night.
sang superby and acted splendidly."
Hold on, cried Tom. Lets see the
papers
"Only the Home journal" said Rose
You must remember that | don't sing for
money
Don't you wish you did Z" said Tom
"Oh, don't | = responded Rose And
won't !, if something better don't turn up
very soon e.
Come to the table, children, " said Brit
annia.
Down they scrambled Voraciously they
ate, without regard to precision or pru
dence, Tom devouring one dainty dish, his
sister another, Brtannia's carefully pre-
IL leo ~ir il.ao boH kafn
the wind. AS they ate they talked, gestic-
ulated, quoted dramatized. Britannia S
little cup Of tea grew cold while she looked
upon them. How bright they were how
/ beautiful how brilliant But it was now
/ past eight o'clock, and Tom was expected at
Mr. Joness Office at that hour He had
certainly made an excellent meal, and was
now finishing of upon gigantic fall pip
pin as he listened to his sisters graphic
description of the amateur entertainment
/ of the evening before.
Tom, said Britannia, taking out her
old fashioned watch, lit is past eight"
"All right, Tannie, said Tom. Il meant
to have told you that I've given up that
| job"
Left your situation, Tom :"
Yes, or it has left me it amounts tc
the same thing, | suppose"
Brttania was disappointed, but not
shocked. Tom was the most remarkable
fellow for losing one situation and gaining
another. As proof of his wonderful ac-
tivity and the versatility of his talents in
this way it may be mentioned that Tom
had been known to lose and gain five diff
ferent occupations in week
"You see, Tannie, said Tom turning t.
his elder sister, and taking some scraps OF
/ Al.
fellows have no appreciation for the crav.
ings of genius. They are given over &c
the sordid amassing of dollars and cents
and so greedy TO know how many misera
bic pennies they make in a day that they
want a fellow to plod up and down the col
umns of a ledger, with the same ten fig
ures, eternally Now you may reverse and
twist and turn these hieroglyphics as you
like, after while they become monoton
Gus, and | was taking a little rest with this
sketch for the boys'-here Tom displayed
creditable study in horses heads three
abreast, and straining every nerve to reach
goal beyond the width of the sheet
land this one'-here he showed his sister.
a sketch of life upon house top-"Cats il
the early morning, he called it.
ITS very well done, Tom, said Britain
mia, but perhaps Mr.. Jones'"
Yes, Tannie, old Jones advised me tc
go and hire studio he said his office wa,
not calculated to the pursuit of art-sar
castical you know. But I'll take the ole
fellows advice some time. Don't look blue
Tannie | won't hire a studio today pv,
got another situation"
"Oh, Tom, if you could only keep it ~
II think perhaps | will this time. Th,
gentleman that engaged my services look
like man that expects nothing, so tina
he's not likely to be disappointed He on
ly asked few questions-my name and St
forth-and seemed to be satisfied He
queer, cold, dried-up looking chap by tn
name of Grimshaw.n
"Grmshaw ~ cried the elder aud young
er sister, simultaneously,
"Grimshaw," repeated Tom, What
in his name A rose by any other woul
smell as sweet But it isn't any such in
tangible fragile essence as perfume W
want just now it is hard cash. which thi
Grimshaw seems to possess to excess.
He is cold and dried-up looking, Tom
is he, with skin the color of Tannies bed
stead = said Rose,
"Yes-a light mahogany, something tina
would suit the demand for Egyptian mum
mics"
"Sient, cold, reserved, said Rose.
"Glum and grim said Tom, with
cynical twinkle in his hollow eyes"
That's he That's the Sultan You ow
your situation to me. He fell in love wit
me last night. | was going ON to tell yo
about it when Tannie took out her watch
He came late. knew by the sensation h
created he must he an available party A
the girls began to glover at each Other
and prink up their different styles. On
commenced to languish sentimentally, an
other to converse esthetically, still anothe
to arch her eyebrows and look infantil,
and each and all of them out of the corner
of their beautiful eyes sought the attentio
of this cold, grim mummy of a man. The
made inquiries, learned he was the Sulta
of the season, returned to the city afte
years of patient, unremitting toll, with til
practical results in dollars and bonds an
investments and everything now meaI
to enjoy himself and buy a wife the be-
the market can alford-ahem "-Ro,
; paused, held up her head proudly that
me, she said, impressively,
"You are always more cheeky than gran
matical, Rose said Tom, 'and sometim
D more unreliable than either. How are y
+ 10 know that your vanity has not run awe
e with your veracity Bag your game b
3 fore you boast.
T. "Gve me time, Tom, Let me see, til
i is Il g 9TH of November Thanksgiving
our birthday"
r II don't see why, Rose. l dor't kno
r why we should be perpetually identif
It with gratitude.
81 begin to, - said Rose, "Nous rerro,
wait till Thanksgiving day, In the mel
while don't chatter to Mr. Grimshaw,"
i I'm initiate his severe reserve" sa