Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-07-18

one was matronly lady
7 of thirty, and the other
some ten years younger.
"You don't mean to tell me, jose
phine," said the elder, rather tartly,
''that you've discarded Jack Rogers"
"Why, not exactly" the other replied,
hesitatingly. II merely told him that
j thought we were not suited to each
other-that we would not be happy to-
gether"
mot happy togetherl And why,
pray9 What is there to prevent any
reasonable woman being happy with
jack Where can you find more gem
erous, good humored, open-hearted fell
low, or one who will make better hus-
bandl Why"-in tone as of trium-
plant argument-'he's the counterpart
of my own husband, although they're
only cousins; and l am sure no couple
was ever happier than Charlie and l. !"
because you and Charlie suit each
other. don't deny that Mr.. Rogers is
all you describe, and / like him well
enough so far; but in some respects We
are not at all suited to each other. We
are not congenial natures kindred
spirits. "
"Kindred spiritsY" repeated Mrs.
Chubbuck, somewhat contemptuously
"What do you call kindred spirit"
''You may not understand me, Char
lotte, " replied Josephine, little loftily,
because you and l, though sisters, are
not cast III the same mould. That is
my misfortune-that 1 am not under
stood by even my nearest and dearest
relatives.
She said this very pathetically, and
with tear in her eye. Mrs. Chubbuck
looked at her half-pityingly.
81 know, Josie, that you we're always
excessively sentimental and romantic,
which / am not, thank goodness! Still,
was in hopes that you would appre-
-ciate Jack, with his good heart and good
sense"
Josie shook her head with little fas-
tidious air.
''He's good enough in his way, but
not the man l ought to marry. He's
too realistic-too matter-o fact, with
nothing aesthetic, or poetic, or spiritu-
ally exalted about him. Why, he told
me himself that he prefers prose to poe
try, that he don't care much for sculp-
tire or painting, that Poe and Tenny-
son wrote nonsense, and that he prefers
Dickens to Byron. How can l feel any
congeniality with such q nature' Then
TO see how he enjoys eating, especially
oysters"
slack does like good living, and so
do Charlie and /, though we are none
of us gluttons. We all 60 for the ra-
tional creature comforts of life, in which
30 much of its happiness consists" said
Mrs. Chubbuck, composedly.
Miss Josephine Heyden gave depre-
catory shrug.
"His very name is distasteful to me.
Jack-Jack Rogers So undignifed and
prosaic And he always has such jolly
sort of look, and-and / think he's
growing fat. "
Josephine, you're too absurd. You
have read poetry and romance until
All, that's Miss Ketchum's knock
Come in"
Miss Ketchum entered, smiling and
siD'pering, followed by a tail, pale
cavaderous young man, bearing coal
scuttle.
"Ah, ladies, don't let me disturb youl
Here, Junkin, put on the coal here, if
you please.
The young man obeyed Daintily,
dreamily, and with far-away and alb
sent-minded look, he placed the Jumps
of anthracite in symmetrical order
within the CRATE. Then, erecting him
self, and looking lofiily down upon
Miss Ketchum, he said, in q hollow
voice:
''Hanything helse, muml"
Miss Ketchum started.
'sNothing else, Junkin-you can go. +"
Junkin stalked with solemn dignity
TO the door, threw back ghostlike, I'M
conscious gaze, stumbled over hsssock,
shut the door noiselessly behind him,
let the scuttle fall in the hal with
great clatter, and so finally disappeared
from sight and soxnd.
"What an extraordinary creature /"
EAid Mrs. Chubbuek.