Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-07-26
THE IA TE or AN USHER.

an Ju9 9iui plollliHTHs
THE F,AT TIE or an USHER.
The scene was young mans boudoir, if
such ali anomaly can exist the time, late
in the evening, when confidence finds easi
est expression the people were the bou
doris owner, in a neglige compounded of
dress clothes and a smoking jacket, and the
friend of his bosom, somewhat similarly at.
tired, with the comfortable abomination of
a cigarette between his fingers.
Just let me read it to you again, said
he of the smoking jacket, strengthening
himself in his chair, and taking worn
looking paper from the table. Something
may suggest itself to you. | want to have
it all right, you know, so that when the no.
tce is mentioned | shall be ready with a
good suggestion Now, then, listen Mil
ler-W Waldron. On Wednesday, the 2Sth
inst, at the Church of the Seven Angels,
by the Right Reverend Arthur st. John
Forbes, DID,, assisted by the Reverend
Francis Willard Mason, George Northrup
Miller and Alkaline Bell, daughter of the
late Major General Sylvester Waldron,
United States Army How is it Does it
got'
"Gof should think so All those cap
itals will sparkle like diamonds in the sun
But, Miller, wish you would count me out
of the affair, How many weddings do you
suppose have played usher for this spring
Six-no less. q"
odd numbers
There wouldn't he in this case was
Just ready to swear off from all social dis
sipations, and 20 into training until fall,
for the sake Of my health There's Greene,
he's good fellow have him
Miller shook his head. 81 won't have
Greene nor any body else" he said, clasp
ing his hands behind his head and throwing
himself back in his chair. 'I'll have you.
I'm sorry if you're feeble. | wish you
could be best man There's plenty to get
and little to do in that situation but Ada's
brother-confound him Il had to ask
him."
''Of course. don't grudge him the
honor but you know Wednesday is drill
night for me, and"
"I'll pay your fine"
Hang the fine :"
with pleasure but if you don't mind
the fine, I'm sure don't see why you mind
cutting They will work you harder than
| shall, | won't oblige you to carry gun"
Thanks I'm equal to the gun, be-
lieve"
I'm tell you what it is, Brooks, you have
been in no end of a sulk since there was a
doubt about Miss Howard's being maid of
honor. | must say | think it's shabby of
you TO desert me on that account. Still, l
will be magnanimous, and tell you the news,
although it would serve you right if | didn't.
She has accepted, after all her father has
consented to her coming to town for the
occasion. Why he wanted to refuse at all
| can't imagine. But it is like him every
body knows what he is.
Brooks laughed with a more interested
manner than he had shown heretofore. Il
don't, he said what is he :"
"Why, haven't you met him I"
''Yes, but only once or twice, and then
not for more than minute He is hand
some man."
"Oh, iron gray hair gives any man a dis
tingushed look, and he is tall and straight,
which helps out the idea, but he is per
feet tyrant | have heard that he is posi-
lively cruel to his daughter that he bought
this place out of town purPOsely TO keep
her shut up, and that he won't let man
look at her Now there was Radford. 1t
seems that he went out there to offer Miss
Howard his hand and heart, and was fairly
rushed off the place by his host"
Sensible man. Who told of Trad
ford I"
II don't know it was told. l admit
that, excepting financially, Radford is not
much of a catch. He hasn't as much
strength of character as little wee mon
key but must say think that he might
have been declined with thanks. l suppose
it sounds heartless, bnt peculiar advantages
belong TO girl who hasn't any father"
Brooks rose to his feet and dropped his
| cigarette end into a receiver then turn
ing an animated countenance toward his
host, he grasped his hand and shook it
warmly. I'M see you through, Miller, he
said, 'if it takes the last prop of my fail
ing constitution"
After this the wedding preparations went
merrily on. One evening, however, hard
| ly week before the great day, the happy
bridegroom sought out his friend Brooks,
with wrinkle on his brow and troubled
sympathy in his manner. "lt's all up, old
man" he said, with desperate frankness.
Great heavens what do you mean y
exclaimed Brooks, aghast.
Miller laughed little. "Oh, it isn't as
bad as that" he said, "only Miss Howard
can't come she has sprained her ankle
Lucky it was no worse She was thrown
| from her horse. Her father must be an
idiot TO let her ride horseback. l suppose
| he wanted 10 break her neck"
Brooks laughed in spite of his disappoint-
ment. "Oh, you're not yourself at all,
Miller dear, Miller dear" he said ''and
small blame to you. However, as you say
it is lucky il is no worse"
"Yes but what shall you do y
81 l shall send her some flowers, and
a note to say that ! am sorry"
Miller looked relieved, 'And you'll be
on hand yourself all the same :" he said.
"Do you take me for child Z" answered
Brooks, with some asperity. "Of course |
will.
He was as good as his word.
you're a trump, Brooks, Miller said to
him, in a hasty aside at the reception
"YSu have outdone yourself tonight"
Don't say word, " returned Brooks, in
a low, delighted voice. II have a note
from Miss Howard in my pocket, asking me
TO come out tomorrow afternoon and tell
her about it. So am playing society re-
porter tonight, seeing everything and ev-
erybody."
Miller laughed, "Alas poor Radford r'
he said significantly.
On the following afternoon, therefore, a
pretty young lady with an interesting pill
lowed foot was relating circumstantially
the story of her temporary invalidism and
its cause TO a brown mustached young man
seated near her, who showed an absorbing
interest in the subject.
1t was an attractive picture for cOntem-
plation on a warm day. A shady veranda,
with the gentle breeze coming toward il
over an odorous velvet lawn a small af-
ternoon tea table set forth with fruit and
cooling beverages, and young aud attrac-
tive pair of people luxuriously disposed Il
enjoy their beautiful surroundings and each
others society.
1t was a reality doubly fair in the eyes
Of the young man, who was exchanging
for it the monotony of business routine in
the dusty city. Not that his lot was hard
one. An only son in business with his
prosperous father is in the ma ajority of case,
rather overpaid than overworked still
such a situation, and such a companion
formed an unusual combination. 1t wa,
the first tete-d-tete that he had ever enjoyed
with her wherein the certainty of an inter
ruption was not imminent. But now
now no carriage waited at the curb 10 beal
her from him no partner all too prompt