Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-09-29


moment the platform shook aud trem
bled under their feet indicative Of 6
coming train and there was a general
rush for the door.
There said the sweet soprano
she's gone. And look, Susy, She:
left her odd little black velvet bag OIL
/ the seat-and her spectacles? Look
With quick movement she hung
the bag over her arm, adjusted The
spectacles on the bridge Of her nose,
and initiating Mrs. Railroads. odd
near-sighted ways, went peering about
in this corner and that.
The girl called "Susv' laughed =
it was almost impossible to help it.
For shame, Rosamond she said.
Does this train 60 to the depot
said Rosamond, skillfully assuming
the old lady's slight nasal popularity
of voice. Ell? Oh; goodness me,
suddenly reverting to her own natur-
al accents, here she comes again Now
we'll have some fun
In an instant she slipped the spec
tacles and the black velvet bag into
her pocket, and was leaning languid-
ly back on the seat when poor Mrs.
Rufford hurried in.
Oh, beg your pardon, said the old
lady, looking anxiously here and
there, but-have you seen a bag?
Was it lying just here on the seat ?
said Rosamond.
Yes cried Mrs. Rufford, Yes
A boy took it away, said Rosa
mond. We thought, of course it be-
longed to him?
Oh dear me, exclaimed Mrs. Ruff
ford clasping her hands nervously,
and it had my ticket and my purse in
it Oh, dear,what shall | do? Which
way did he go? Can't | run after him !?
w mere tue pOlIcouldu
Rosamond, aren't you ashamed ex
claimed Susy Phelps, Indignantly.
Madam, your bag is quite safe. She
has it in her pocket She is only
making fun of you.
Rosamond burst out laughing. With
a twist of her handkerchief she whis-
ked out the bag and the spectacles.
There they are? said she. And
I'd advise you to take better care Of
them for the future, old lady.
And you had them in your posses
sion all the time? said Mrs. Rufford,
with little gasp. And you saw me
in such distress and never told me !
1t was a shame, said Susie, ear
nestly.
1t was such fun, giggled Rosa
mond, tossing her head. One don't
often see such fine specimen of the
Hayseed family in town.
Young lady, said Mrs. Rufford, not
without certain dignity, you may
regard this as an excellent joke. To
me it is quite a different affair. l
wish you good-day and better man
ners for the future.
She went out and stood on the
platform to await for the next train,
her eyes dim with tears, her heart
humping violently. Susy Phelps
followed her out.
You are right, madam, said she.
1t was cruel thing. Indeed, in
deed, l had nothing to do with it.
L don't believe you had, my dear,
said Mrs. Rufford, returning the
kindly pressure of her hand. Tell
your friend that she may sometime
be old herself, and easily furried.
At the same moment, Rosamond
was gayly recounting her adventures
to a young man, for whom she and
Miss Phelps had evidently been wait
ing, and who had tardily arrived on
the scene, with many apologies.
Such backwoods specimen, cried
she. | wish you could have seen her
prying and peering under the seats
and behind the water cooler for bag
that must have ridden on top of Mt.
Ararat in the ark. l just played with
the dear old trump as cat plays with
a mouse. She was awful mad, of
course, but-Why are you looking so
grave? Sue is out there. We are all
ready for Glen Island.
1t all sounds very funny, of course,
said the young man, but I'm not sure
that it is very good form to play
practical jokes on old people. |
shouldn't quite have relished it if it
had been my mother.
Oh your mother would have been
different thing There
she is now; that's she that Susy is
talking within the crumpled bon
net, and-Why, what is the matter;
In an instant Richard Rufford was
on the platform offering his arm to
to the identical Hdear old trump
Mother! he exclaimed, you here
Why, how did it happen?
Rosamond Wallace blushed to the
very roots of her hair; most I'M
sensation took possession
of her. His mother she gasped to
herself. Oh, I've done it now!
Susy Phelps came back presently.
The Glen Island expedition is post
Doned, said she. Mr.. Rufford says
he must see his mother safe home. /
am invited to go up to the old home
stead, too, and stay over Sunday.
Mrs. Rufford-oh, she is such dear
old lady, Rosamond-says / am to