The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-09-18

"A small remittance. said the colone!
glancing back over part OF the letter
There was Just the slightest ring Of dis
dain in his voice.
For several years we never 80 much
as inquired ut the postoffice or dreamed
of letter." he presently added in softer
tone, "and the mail service has been quite
as demoralized in the south as politics
and finances"
"Well, we must begin to prepare at
once" said Mrs Chenier, lacing the fin
gers of both her hands together, and
glancing from her husband to Adelaide;
I'VE shall have no time to lose."
But mamma, what can we do? How
can we prepare?" cried Adelaide EN-
phatically
"Oh. Marguerite is a plain, sensible
woman, after all, said Colonel Chenier,
trying to speak lightly, land l don't
doubt that we shall get along all right
But, Wilton" interposed Mrs. Che.
nier, 'you know we have no room. and
not even spare bed for her."
iii give Aunt Marguerite my room
and bed," said Rosalie quickly. The
women looked at each other.
"Bless my little girl" cried the father,
pulling Rosalie down upon his knee and
kissing her cheek She seemed a mere
child to him -..
Colonel Chenier, for the moment, had
forgotten all his troubles in a sudden
realization Of Rosalie's beauty and sweet.
ness His wooden leg had vanished. He
had not lost his fortune. The old mill
was castle in Spain.
Mrs. Chenier and Adelaide began at
once to plan certain arrangements OF
the household furniture and to talk over
possible additions to the pitifully scant
supply of necessary comforts.
Resale was entirely free from the EN-.
barrassments OF. the situation She had
never known q MI State and her sur
roundings hada5V9f.a distressed her. The
birds of those fragrant mountain groves
were not more free and happy than ehe
in the ignorance and innocence of her
healthy and feryid youth. The simple
food. the pure water, the mountain air
and the variegated scenery had made
her growth perfect. She had come up
as flower, She had developed, as do
the wild things Of the forests. to the sym
metry of natures model.
While the family was thus grouped
and intently busted with the matter in
hand, tall. angular youth came Sham
bling up the road. bearing to the mill
heavy bag of corn.
Rosalie went into the mill to make it
ready for grinding the corn
Inside the mill the boy set the bag
down, united the string at its mouth,
,hen lifted it and poured the bright
golden grain into the hopper, smoothly
yrooved by the friction Of long usage
Rosalie took out the toll in a little
'edar measure, pouring it into the mills
reasure box. Then she pressed the lever
which raised the food gate, and i'm
nediately the music of the Aume and
he creaking of the gudgeons began.
The old building trembled throughout
ts frame from roof to foundation.
When the grinding was done, and the
mill had been stopped, Rosalie held open |
he bag while the lad. with small
wooden scoop, shoveled the meal into it.
The meal was now all in, and Rosalie
topped to tie up the mouth of the bag
"There," said Rosalie,. drawing her
elf lightly up and touching the bag
With her dainty foot, tits ready for you
low."
AS he took up his. load and went
way, the young girl followed as far as
no door. Her mother and sister were |
discussing the dreaded visit 0. |
Chenier Roosevelt Colonel |
,henier had resumed his pipe and novel