The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-09-25

n catingly, 81 have but few moments
stay. can't you let Miss Chenier sho
y me the rest Of these picturesp Pm
genuine child about looking at picture
Of any sort"
Aunt Marguerite affected not to hea
him.
"Come on. dear" she added; and Rosa
lie obeyed.
: "Goodby," he said, holding cut hi
. hand, which the girl took.
, "Goodby." she responded.
, AS their eyes met he said: 81, too
should like to hear you read Won't yol
read some for me one of these days?"
"Oh, yes, sir, if you would care to lis
ten," she replied.
"Come on, child" persisted Aunt Mar
guerite.
The cavalier darted quick, intens,
look into the old lady's eyes, then lifting
his hat and bowling very low, turned
mounted his horse and rode away up the
valley.
Aunt Marguerite was wise. She did
not venture word to Rosalie about this
young man just then, much as she felt
like saying what she suspected. It was
too often the case, she reflected, that a
young girl would develop sudden and
ly approached in matter of this sort
She preferred to bide her time and com
pass her duty in the surest way. She be.
gan gradually.
SIS this young Mr.. Ellis very nice
young MANI" she demanded of Rosalie
some time after he had gone. The ques.
ton was put in the most careless way,
and in tone indicative of no special de-
sire for an answer.
"Oh, yes, very NICE indeed" respond
ed Rosalie, looking straight into Aunt
Marguerite's little eyes "He's the best
young man | know. He's so brave too
He will fight any one.
Mrs. Roosevelt attacked her smelling
bottle in way so vigorous that it made
Rosalie laugh The old lady was begin
ming to think that these up country folk
must set a high value on fighting She
had heard much said on this subject
within the last few days
"What good is there in fghting?" said
she; "the war is over 1t would be much
better if young men would think of no
bier things"
ooh, they don't fight much," respond
ed Rosalie, Except when Yankee detect
ives come in here to interfere with their
business. Mr.. Ellis told me he should
not want to hurt any one, If he could
have his rights without"
"What is his business, dear?" asked
Aunt Marguerite.
"Why, don't know" replied Rosalie.
Il could ask papa It's some sort of dan
gerous business though. The Yankees
are trying to break him up; know that
for he told me-"
"Where does he go when he rides past
here up the valley? There's no town up
that way, is there?"
ellis business is up there somewhere
don't think there's any town."
"Hes an ugly fellow"
"Ugly?"
eyes, don't like his eyes, they are so
restless and soulless. think he's bad
Rosalie" .t.
The young girl gave her aunt quick
searching glance, then her face grew
quite pale. Mrs. Roosevelt pretended
not to notice this, bat she was studying
Rosalie's face and trying hard to divine
her thoughts. No doubt selfishness had
much to do with Aunt Marguerite's deep
interest in this matter She had once for
all set her heart upon taking Rosalie to
Savannah. Already the minutest details
of her plans were perfected, though she
had never more than limited them to the
household at the mill. Lately she had
been telling Rosalie a great deal about
her mansion and its surroundings, its
books. it's furniture, its garden and its
tropical plants and trees. She had de-
scribed the fine shell roads, her carriage
and horses, the beautiful suburban places,
Bonaventure, Thunderbolt, Tybee and
the many grand old homes in the coun
try. Then, too, she had spoken freely OF |
the young gentlemen and young ladies
who often came to her house: of how the |
gentlemen talked and of what the girls
wore; of how these gay young people
made the house ring with mirth; how
the grand piano would fill the spacious
rooms with music. Rosalie would listen
with lips apart and eyes darkened with
intense interest.
When Aunt Marguerite began to sus-
pect that her niece might be growing too
tender toward the mysterious young
cavalier, she at once conceived the plan
of hurrying her away out of reach of this
threatened calamity She had frequent
ly asked her how she would like to GO
live in the Roosevelt mansion, and min.
gle with the happy young folk of that
grand, shady old city, and Rosalie had
said she would be delighted; but there
was Colonel Chenier, would he let his
child go? The question had to be an
,wered. Why not now? As for Resale,
4 her heart had not been too deeply
she would be easily managed
And SO Aunt Marguerite at last fell to
work in earnest, laying siege to the
Chenier household, and attacking from
very side at once. She was irresistible.
She carried the place by storm, and had
her way.
Mrs. Chenier consented when Aunt
whispered in her ear the
loubt she entertained respecting Frank
ellis intentions. Colonel Chenier finally {
rave in to the educational argument
sosalie ought to have liberal advantages
t was a shame for her to be wasting her
recious beauty and youth and rare men
al gifts here in this dreary, dreamy lit
lie valley. AS for Adelaide, she soon
anne over to Aunt Marguerites assist
ncA aud tho Etrht ,v,c xvAp | d.