Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-06-15

COVeTy Ildu WoTD OH, anu ne ndu TesOiVeO
upon his course.
1t was wonderful thing tc find him.
self, the next moment, actually being pre-
sented in formal style to the hour Of the
hammock. Just how Aunt Sarah man.
aged it he did not know, but before long
Tom Jerome had gone off in the carriage,
and the houri and himself were strolling
along together on shady little woodland
path, and he was saying:
Have you ever been in Italy, Miss
Sevellon2'
ooh. yes; mamma and spent almost
a year there" was the quick response.
Have you ever had your portrait
painteda" was the next abrupt question.
Never" said Miss Sevellon, coldly, as
if she observed and disapproved the bad
taste of this informal catechism.
Nor ever posed for an artistf"
"Never," in tone grown positively
icy.
Mr.. Temple looked at her with gaze
Of uncomfortable surprise.
"Most extraordinary he said, half
under his breath. His exclamation was
not so low, however, but that Miss Sevel-
Ion heard it, and it did not serve to mod
ify her expression. She walked along at
his side as stately as a white pigeon, her
head alert and her manner distant and
cool.
you'd have no motive in misleading
me, suppose" Temple went on, after a
momentary pause, land can't help be-
Geving you are playing trick on me-"
"Playing a trick on you, Mr.. Temple2'
said Gertrude, Indignantly, chow could
such an extraordinary notion ever enter
into my head, or yours, either?'
Temple saw he had given offense, and
when he was forced to recognize the pos
sibility that he might be mistaken in his
surmise, the fact was not hard to account
for. 1t was very hard indeed, however,
to believe in that possibility, and it was
only by dismissing the subject from his
mind as far as possible that he could
carry on the perfectly conventional con-
versation that he knew to be the only
one which his slight acquaintance with
his companion warranted.
He made great effort to be entertain
ing, and by the time they reached the
house he was able to feel that he had
done something toward celebrating the
disgraceful impression of his first style of
address.
When the early Sunday dinner time
arrived, and Miss Sevellon appeared with
out her bonnet, having changed her
church dress for more relaxed style of
| garment, the likeness to the picture was
stronger than ever. 1t was not likeness,
1t was positive identity; and when, dur
ing the afternoon, Horace found himself
near Mrs. Savellon, in spite of all good
resolutions he had made, in defiance of
every instinct of good taste, his intense
interest in this matter led him on until he
had contrived to turn the conversation
on Italy, and he then asked Mrs. Sevellon
if none Of the Italian artists had never
prevailed on her daughter to allow her.
self to be painted.
Mrs. Sevellon had just responded in the
negative, and was going on to say some
thing more, when he became aware that
her daughter was standing near them in
the recess of the window, and that she
heard his question. And this was not
ALL He saw by the impetuous flush that
came to her face, and the look with which
she glanced directly at him for an in
slant, and then away, that she resented
as well as heard.
One evening Mrs Leaton's guests got
up some tableaux for the amusement of
the company, and Mr.. Temple, who had
declined to act, found himself seated on
the front seat beside his aunt, a very list
less spectator, except when Miss Sevellon
figured in the scenes, which was very
often, as she was the acknowledged
beauty of the party.
He had left his seat and had strolled
over to corner very near the stage,
when the curtain went up for the last
scene. 1t was fortunate for him that
every eve was fixed on the stage, for
otherwise the great start and smothered
exclamation he gave vent to must have
been observed. And no wonder he was
startled, for just below his very eyes, in
hammock ingeniously swinging in the
midst of clumb of large shrubs that ad-
mirably simulated a garden, was Miss
Sevellon in an attitude and costume that
exactly reproduced the picture. He al
most held his breath in the absorption OF
his attention as his eager eye took in
every detail, even to the Greek pattern
in the border of her dress and the silver
coins in the bracelet on her arm, and
yesl there in a little group, near the
rounded elbows, were the three little
dark specks. Could circumstantial evi
dence go farther?
AS soon as the tableaux were over hi
made his way to Miss Sevellon's side
eager yet tinid. To his delight he saw
that she seemed to welcome him, and b,
half fancied from her manner that sht
made hasty resolution to let bygones b'
bygones, and to make friends with him
She was so flushed with pleasure and an
imation, and so surrounded herself by
appreciative feeling and praise, that i
seemed difficult to her perhaps to be Sc
| we're upon another. She still wore tn,
beautiful white costume, in which sh,
looked far lovelier than the picture ha(
portrayed her, and his delight knew NJ
bounds when he found himself present.,
absolutely leading her to quiet seat il
the hall and supplying her with refresh
ments from the supper room. Whel
; they were seated together on a wicke
, sofa, eating their ices in q friendly tete-a