Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-11-30

ano. and began those trils and roulades
with her voice that at first enchanted the
neighborhoJd, then drove it to distraction
Miss Britannia remained in her chair
She allowed the little maid to clear off the
table unassisted. Her cup of tea had re-
mained untouched she had not eaten q
morsel since she had heard the name OF
Grimshaw. She was living in a Thanks
giving twenty years ago. She was back
again in the old house in dngy town. A
heavy, damp, unreasonable day oaths and
scuftles and shril voices Of feminine gossip
the Dlare of the band from passing target
company distracted her ears mingled odors
Of turkey dressing and chloroform sickened
her nostrils. The shabby back of her faith
ers coat as he knelt at the bedside the
patchwork quilt the green mosquito net
ting the gaudy coors in the wall paper
everything offended her sight, except the
white wan, still beautiful face of Rose. her
stepmother, her friend, the young, lovely
creature her father had married only one
year ago. The ugly brass clock ticked off
the last poor little minutes with the same
monotony. Britannia remembered that it
struck twelve horrible grating, discordant
bangs upon the old gong, when the bell
rang.
The big beautiful eyes in the white face
upon the bed suddenly opened wide upon
Britannia
at is Mr.. Grimshaw, whispered the pale
lips
Britannia felt the cold little hands close
like wise upon her own. An eager, strained
expression pleaded in the dying face.
'What is it, darling, What can | do
for you ~ said Britannia.
"lt-is-Mr -Grimshaw ~ fatered the
poor woman. "My-babies What will be
come Of
"Your babies, Rose l will take care of
them. | will never forsake them. May
God do so TO me as ! to them ~
A heavenly light suddenly shone in the
dying face then faded the white lids
closed She was dead.
Britannia remembered so well when she
went in to Mr.. Grimshaw. How was it the
twins spoke of him just now Poor chill
dren, if they only knew Cold, grim, i'm
passvei All, no 1t could not be the
same Mr.. Grimshaw. The color deepened
in the poor lady's cheek her eyes shone
with soft radiance she was half ashamed
of the old memories, so warm, so sweet
Cold All, no he was never cold. But
cruel--yes
Her tears, her sobs her cries of pity and
and regret, only seemed to harden him.
1t is time you should be relieved of all
this care and misery, he said. Your father
was a fool TO marry again he must abide
by the consequences. The time has come
when you must choose between your father
and me.
1t is not a question of duty to my faith
err she had said Think, dear-do think
of these helpless babies ~
"Babies ~ he cried. care there two Of
them :"
"Yes, dear they are twins-a love ly
boy and girl
Twins :" repeated Mr. Grmshaw, and
grew in proportion doubly stern. "What
a fool your father was :"
IL promised their poor mamma | would
never forsake them, said poor britannia,
And what did you promise me, Tanne -
"To love you, Harry with my whole
heart and soul and so | will forever and
ever
He put away her caressing hands The
poor dying Rose might well have fears for
Mr. Grimshaw.
Love that is shared by 50 many" he
said, becomes very atteuuated and thin d;
have no relish for such an article Let
your father get nurse for his babies and
do you come to me "
How well she remembered the long,
wearisome, heart breaking dispute Before
it ended the strong cable of his love seemed
to dwindle to a thread At last it snapped
in twain, leaving ali end of it with her
She must have gathered up the other too,
for her love seemed doubly strong, while
his faded quite away. For he would never
relent from his decision, and how could she
from hers
Her father, poor man, had never recov-
cred from the shock and died shortly after
his young wife, leaving a small insurance
upon his life to Britannia and the twins. 1t
was very small 1t had taxed every energy
of her being to exc it out to the extent of
feeding clothing and educating the twins
in manner beitting the natural gifts God
had given them in exchange for the life of
their young mother We're there ever
children so beautiful so bright, so altogeth-
er lovable and enchanting She could not
be quite unhappy with such a heritage as
these. She had no time to mourn over lost
opportunities or thwarted hopes. Her
whole life was merged in the dual ones she
had adopted We're they glad-she was
delighted. We're they sad-she was in de
spar Their triumphs were hers, their
sorrows more than her own. Toms first
prize in the drawing class made her heart
beat so high with rapture it brought on an
attack of palpitation, from the effects of
which she had never been able to rid her
self Rosys triumphant debut at an anna
teur concert cost her a fit of illness from
overjoy. They confded in her, adored her,
made her their companion and friend, gave
her the place of mother and comrade in
one. She had tasted to the full the happi-
ness meted out to those who are never
weary in well-doing. Had she yielded t.
her love for Mr.. Grinshaw, and been faith
L,,, h.,,, 4
her for that which she would have aban
doned All, no She could hope for moth
ing from nature capable of such cruel te,
nacity.
With one bound Miss Britannia leaped
over twenty years. She flew into the par
lor, and interrupted Rosy's efforts to reach
the high c. which was the summit of her
every ambition.
Rosy" she said, "is it possible you
would marry a man twice your age, that
you care nothing for merely for the sake
of little money ("
The beautiful mouth which had opened
wide to give vent to the coveted note closed
demurey.
For little money, did you say No,
Tannie, indeed | would not but | made
careful inquiries, and l am positive there is
a good deal of money involved And for d
y
fish as to consider my personal wants
though even these could be moderately sup
piled. box at the opera, the power t.
pursue my musical studies at home OF
abroad to dress befitting my superior mind
to have built and furnished an abode befit
ting my superior taste-all these, Tannie
, are trihes not to be despised. Then ther,
, is Tom, poor boy. To procure for him
, studio filed with stuffed horses and dog
and cats to get him few hundred yard
of canvas and an unlimited order for tube
of paint-it would be pleasant to give hin
, this happiness But above all it is for you
revel in the thought of Mr. Grimshaw'
preference. Do you suppose l don't know
2 how you have screwed and managed, an,
5 tortured and devised, for the sake of you
abominable twins Do you suppose | an
Indifferent to all your little wiles TO depriv
yourself of the actual necessities of life ST
that we may thrive in luxury You haven
F., had a new gown since Tom and were born
nor decent piece of lace, nor civilize,
shoe or stocking, or petticoat or glove. No
wait till Tom and have had our fill befor
a you touch dainty, and the only reason
humor you in this self f-denial is because
hate to see YOU miserable But Mr.. Grim
b shaw All, Tannie, in that name lie plent
/ and power and comfort unlimited for u
all to murmur that name is to think of yo
e in silk attire, with siller to spare, AM
! warm, soft, lovely wraps, and plenty o
, old lace. Yes, indeed if he stood ther
g where you are standing, and remained
mere interrogation point of inquiry, l.
r say, Yes, yes oh, indeed, yes. ~
. Rose, Rose, you break my heart HOY
5 can you | will never consent to it
n never"
n Then the game is up, as Tom says, fo
n never will do anything without your con
r sent. But you'll think better of it, Tannie,
q "No, no, said Britannia. And she neye
d did think better of tin many ways sh
:. thnnrht mnrsn hut she never cnnld find