Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-08-13


scroll saw decoration and the glare OF
white paint and green blinds.
With all its jostling eagerness to KEEP
abreast of the times, Orodelphia still
hung back in respect to that style of ar
chitecture known as Queen Anne, with
all its vagaries of paint, the few speci-
mems they had to show in that line be-
ing generally regarded in the light of
curios obligingly provided by eccentric
individuals for the diversifying of the
landscape and the entertainment of their
fellows, the popular taste still fondly
clinging to the style of home most COM
mon at the east when the ''fifty-niners"
crossed the plains. But nothing could
appear really common or ugly in that
fair setting of greenery, against that
grand mountain background which was
the richest possession of the place. For
countless miles the eye might follow the
folds of the foothills, cleft here and
there with gulch or canyon; here and
there. standing on tiptoe, as it seemed,
TO look over their rugged shoulders, a
big brother in snowy draperies tattered
and torn, all masquerading in new forms
and colors with every passing cloud, a
fresh vision Of beauty and grandeur
every hour of the day.
1t was sight to thrill the dullest soul,
the blaze of glowing color in which one
August day was sinking to its close, the
snowy peaks flushed with softened re-
Elections of the sky, fair as the rose of
i ~. lIAn,,,ft.fr ,,f,IAr loxraf1
first kiss; the hills below turning dull
blue gray, rs starved of color as the
/ shadows that fall over the heart when
/ loves sun has set, and joy has burned
| itself out, like that sunset sky, in ashes
of roses. Colder and more grim the foot
hills grew as the roseate lights faded
slowly out, and twilight fell upon the
heated valley like cool hand laid on a
feyered brow. The work of the day was
over, and the designations of night were
not yet begun.
Donald Bartels. screened from observa-
ton by thick vines and shrubs, which
yet afforded a glimpse of what little
might take place in the quiet street be-
yond the lawn. his feet disposed ON the
piazza balustrade. his chair tipped back
TO luxurious angle, comfortably sur
veyed the world through the haze of his
after dinner cigar His wife, slowly
swaying in a rocking chair near by, was
anxiously regarding him.
If you would only be reasonable.
Dom she urged deprecatingly.
But, my dear Nita. how could | be
more SOP he good-humoredly retorted.
1T is the most reasonable thing in the
world for us to wire your amiable aunt
that it is not convenient for us TO receive |
her now, and ask her to see US later.
but she is not my amiable aunt; that
is the trouble, with Il perpexed laugh. |
"She is capable Of being very unamiable |
if we We're to send her such telegram.
She would conclude at once-and quite |
naturally. too--that we didn't want her
at ALL
well, we don't, do wes' imperturba-
bly, blowing smoke rings into the air.
I'VE should not yearn for her under any
circumstances; but now, when we have |
been planning this trip to the mountains
for months, when. as things are at the
Office, ! must go now or not at all, to
have her come dropping down upon us
like this is little too much like the last
straw that finished the unlucky camel"
"A straw! 1t is as bad as a whole stack
at once" cried Anita, with miserable
little groan. But them" Frightening
somewhat, ,she says, You know, that
these friends are getting up a party to
cross the continent, and she may come
with them; but she is not altogether de-
cided about il. If she comes, she will
be here soon; but we may still cherish
small hope of escape
But that is the worst of it, ex-
claimed Donald holly. THE idea of
changing ali our plans for an uncer-
tainty like that God save us from our
friends, say l. In the long run they
make us twice as much trouble as our
enemies"
but you must remember how much
owe her; that my home was with her
for ten years" urged Anita. extenuat-
ngly. "And the trial | was to them
Aunt Martha and Aunt Jane-those
prin, properly minded old maids. Think
IF that. Don" with ripple of laughter ,
1t the memories aroused. They never ,
sould get over it, You know, that my
mother was Mexican, and that my
lark face advertised the awful fact that ,
|, too, was mejicsna And my temperl j
Oh. was a scourge to them. can tell
Tou."
The ghost Of a smile fickered under ,
he tawny mustache which Donald was
stroking. The impulsive {
emper of his wife was to him natural
a sort of spiritual geyser ,
whose ebullitions were governed by no
aw comprehensive to his easygoing ,
That what We're to him ,
he baldest trihes-a careless word, the !
orgetting of a goodby kiss when he was
hurried, an unmeaning compliment idly 6
ossed to a pretty woman-that small !
hings ike these should be so large in :
,ower to stir up tempest had been to
him an amazing revelation of married i
life I2einp man of soma decoration,