The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-07-24
A PRISONER OF WAR.
ny HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

"There she comes now," cried Kitty
Coram, standing on tiptoe to peep over
the great gate in front of the old brick
house.
And George, her elder sister, came
flying up the snowy path, with cheeks
like roses, brown eyes that sparkled mer-
rily, and huge, fiat parcel under her
arm.
500 look like the town carrier'" she
demanded, jubilantly. "Oh, have run
SO fast from the train, to get into the
od-path before the grand sleigh from
Ormistan Hall overlook me. can't bear
Mrs. Ormistan to put up her eyeglasses
at me and drawl out, How do you do,
ma deah9 How's your deah awntG"
"Well, George, what luck?"
ooh, Splendid" the new arrival
breathlessly responded. "Seven yards
of three-inch deep embroidery on white
merino. And we're to get dollar a
yard, if it suits"
"Scven dollars!" repeated Kitty. "a
deal of money, isn't itf But how we
shall have to work for it,"
"It's world of work." responded the
elder girl, clapping her cold hands to re.
store the circulation and making haste to
unfasten the collar of her black cloth
coat. elbow nice the fire looks. Just
like a picture. What blessing it is that
our wood doesn't cost us anything!"
ooh, by-the-way," said Kitty, cold
Giles wanted to chop down the big, black
oak tree next"
"What! The big one on the edge of
the swamp To cut it down! Is he a
Goth, or Vandal?"
'Just what said. It's the only tree
in the neighborhood that has mistletoe
growing all over it. l wouldn't lose that
beautiful old tree for hundred dollars!"
''Neither would l, ;" said George, drily.
Especially as don't know of anybody
who would offer us hundred dollars for
it,"
Just at that moment, by one of those
strange condolences which are more
common in this world than people have
any idea of, old Jane, the rheumatic
servant, came hobbling to the door.
"Does Aunty Anne want us, Jane?"
cried eager George. "I'm going to her
directly"
"'Tain't your aunt, MISS" said Jane.
ats Mr.. Miles, the footman, from
Ormistan Hail."
Georgia turned, with glittering eyes,
to her sister.
81 told you So" she whispered.
"We're going to be invited, after all, to
the party"
"And he says" droned on Jane, s.his
missus wants to know what you'll take
for all the dark-green shiny leaves
mistletoe, you calls 'em, doesn't you2-
on the big swamp oak. They want it for
decorations.
A sudden change passed over Georges
face, such as comes across landscape
when the sun retires behind CLOUD
Kitty froze visibly also.
"Tell Mr.. Miles, from Ormistan Hall, -
said George, ''to give my compliments
Miss Coram's-to his mistress, and say
that the mistletoe is not for SALE"
Old Jane withdrew. Georgia and
Katy stood looking at each other.
"Oh, George, said the younger, ''did
you want SO much to go2 But l told
you how it would be; they never had the
least idea of inviting us. We don't be-
long to the enchanted circle"
"Yet they brought Colonel Hay here
in wild strawberry time to spend the day
down by the Moss Rocks" said George,
in slightly tremulous voice. "And
they always bring picnic parties here in
summer to go over the old house and
row on our lake"
"We are convenience" said Kitty.
owe are not on Miss Omissions regular
visiting list"
''But did think that Colonel Hay
would have called, after all he said that
day." softly murmured George.
"And so he would, you may be very
sure" said Kitty, ''if Dorinda Ormiston
would have let him. She's a deal too
polite George dear, to let him contrast
her thirty-year-old complexion and
pale-blue eyes with your roses and spar
kles."
"Well, it doesn't matter much now,''
said George, mournfully. 81 dare say
he has forgotten us-there's no earthly
reason why he shouldn't. Now l must
60 up to Aunty Anne's and tell her all
my adventures in New York"
For cid Miss Coram sat up in hel
room, neatly embroidering flannel fol-
an order from the South. A lady borr
and bred, yet she saw no degradation il
these bread-earning tasks.
"It's hard on the girls" said she
"For their sakes, 1 could wish that the
Corams had retained somewhat of theil
old prosperity. But for an old woman
like me, it doesn't matter"
Meanwhile, at Ormistan Hall, Mis-,
Dorinda was experimenting the decora
lions OF the great saloon parlor, which
was to be made dancing of, OF
the occasion of the impending ball.
"Spruce boughs and hemlocks are al
very well in their way" said she, "bu
how 1 do wish I'd thought, when l wa
in New York this morning, to get som,
of that lovely, shadowy mistletoe tn,
vendors were selling on Fourteenth
streetW
''lt comes horribly dear!" said Mrs
Ormistan, with the offending lorgnettt
held up to her eyes.
"But the effect is so lovely!"
"Mistletoew repeated Colonel HAY
who was halfway up a stepladder
draping q United States flag over tn
doorway. "Why, saw whole tree full
as we drove from the station. l coul,
easily get it for YOU"
"Could you2" Miss Ormistan's pal
eyes glistened. "But we couldn't thinl
of troubling your"
''It wouldn't be the least trouble i
the world" said the gallant cavalier
'1'm a regular cat for climbing
"Yes, but" Mrs. Ormistan began
when she was checked by glance iron
her daughter, who afterward explaine
her policy.
''Let him get it, mamma" said fai
Dorinda, sit will keep him from f1irtin
al Al