Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-04-07


In the dining room at Lanarth stood
Pocahontas, an expression of comica
dismay upon her face, pile of dusty
volumes on the floor at her feet. The
bookcase in the recess by the fireplace
with yawning doors and empty shelves
stood swept and garnished, awaiting re.
posstSlion. In frenzy of untimely
cleanliness SHE had torn all the books
from the repose of years, and now that
The deed was beyond recall she was a
prey to disgust and given over to repent.
anee The morning promised to be sui
try, and the pile was very big. Outside,
bugs and bees and other wise things
hummed and sang in leafy places, the
leaves on the magnolias were motionless
and the air asleep.
A butterfly, passing to his siesta on
the bosom of rose, paused an instant
on the window ledge to contemplate her
foolishness; the flowers in the borders
hung their heals. Berkeley passed the
open windoH, looking cool and fresh in
summer elathiay ana Pocahontas.
catching 1t OF him. put her fingers to
her lips an n led sharply to attract
bis attention, ID being done, she fol-
lowed up tie advantage with panto-
mimic gestures Indicative of despair and
need of swift assistance. Berkeley
turned cool nlturedly, and came in to
the rescue, but when he discovered the
service required of him he regarded it
with aversion, and showed a mean de-
sire to retreat, which unworthiness was
promptly detected by Pocahontas and as
promptly frustrated.
DO helpme, Berkeley" she entreated
"Ihey must all be put in place again be-
fore dinner, and it only wants a quarter
toone now can't do it all before half
past two tosaye my life, unless you help
me You know mother dislikes a messy,
Uttered room, and I've got your fayorite
pudding for dessert. Oh, dear! I'm tired
todeath already, aud its so warm" The
rising infection of her voice conveyed
an impression Of heat intense enough TO
drive an engine.
What made you do it" inquired
Berkeley in a tone calculated to make
her sensible Of folly.
Mother asked me to dust the books
some time ago, but neglected it, and
tals morning when the sun shone on
them saw that their condition was dis
graceful twas SO much disguised with
my untldiness that dragged them all
oat on the impulse of the moment, and
Guy realized how hot it was, and how |
mated 1t, after the deed was done. Come,
Dsrke' do help me. I'm so tired"
mus adInred, Berkeley laid aside his
eoa'' Tor lifting is warm work with the
sun at the meridian. The empty shirt
aeeVe had forlorn aud piteous look as
Y hung crumpled and slightly twisted
" nls side. Berkeley caught it with
~ Other hand and thrust the cuff in the
"aistoand Of his trousers. He was well
ussa TO his loss, and apparently indiffer-
su' 70 II, but the dangling of the empty
AeeVe worried him; the arm was gone
eiose up at the shoulder.
men the pair fell to work brisLly.
uusling' arranging, rearranging and
.naetlng pleasantly Pocahontas piled
'ne custer and her brother sorted the
~ TOoRs and replaced them on the shelves.
i tns sun shone in royalty. until Poca.
/. served writ of ejectment on
.ls majesty by closing all the shutters,
;a tae sun promptly eluded it by peep
- n between the bars. A little vagrant |
zee stole in, full of idleness and mis-
az. and meddled with the books
n-''eflng the leaves of 1.-THE Faery |
yuseh, which lay on its back wide |
, ~, hitting up the pages and flirting |
s t-ola over roguishly as though bent on
= y. secrets. The little noise attract |
~. .He girls attention, and she raised the
= s.'A and wiped the covers with her dus-
b.rs as she slapped it lightly with her
80 % get out all the dust, a letter
I s X nom among the leaves and fell
. ',,s moor near Berkeley's feet.
s,. Where did this come FROM" he in
sI,ea' as he picked it IN.
=, oat Of this book, she answered. hold
= : Y the volume in her hand. 1T fell
Nv while was busting; some one must
I,ro az t ,eit 1t IN to mark place. 1t must
49, ~ O * IN the book for years: see how
s7'a It Is Whose is it,
49,, ERE Is something in the unexpected
- is q a stray letter which stimu-
\. ~ s' curiosity, and Berkeley turned it in
,. lAnd to read the address. The en-
Il. = was soiled like the coat of a trav-
80 ana the letter was crumpled as
n. = 4 hand had closed over it roughly.
g., ~Iilns was distinct and clerkly.
Icy Mason, Esq, Wintergreen,
e.; county, Virginia" Mr.. Mason
~. -'lea the blurred, indistinct post
d. Point something. it seemed
i =, aad on the other side, washing
~ IAN r.l enough, and the date. MAY.
l. " nat letter had been forwarded
''s4i t2eseat Of goxernment in the