Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-07-21
TONY

for the journey. She was already awake
when her mother gently parted the curtains
of the quaint, canopied bed next morning.
"What is it like, mammal
"a lovely place." answered Mrs Sew
erance with enthusiasm "Such sky
such air! You will surely get well here,
my darling"
Felicie smiled. 1t was long since she
had made any other reply to suggestions
about "getting we'll" But her mother did
not remember that.
81 should like to be dressed, mamma,
and sit on the veranda There is YER
anda, l suppose
"Miles of itr' cried Mrs. Severance.
.'You never saw such an odd old place,
Felicie! have been up for an hour or two,
exploring. But you must have your coffee
first, my child
She touched bell, and Rosalie brought
in a breakfast-tray. Felicie slipped her
coffee, and broke little bits off her roll
"You eat nothing, Felicie," said her
mother, with a slight frown of dissatisfac-
ton; but her brow cleared directly as she
added, "but, of course, you are tired this
morning You can't help building up an
appetite. As for myself, am simply raw
enousn'
When Felicie had done, her mother help
stairs together
Mrs. Severance was right-it was an
"odd old place" In the years before the
war, Belleview-undera another name-had
been a prosperous sugar plantation; but
the ocean had encroached upon the fields
of cane, and that other sea, whose pulsa-
tions are the unrest of freedom, upon the
ranks of swart laborers. There is phil
osOphy in the rotation of harvests. In
stead of hogsheads filled with dripping
sweetness, there was now-the summer
boarder SO the crushing-mills fell into
decay, and the great copper caldrons turn
ed green with rust, while the old plantation
house put on additional wings and porticoes,
and turned a score of newly opened eyes of
windows toward the semi-tropic sea.
That wonderful sea To Felicie's north
ern sense, it seemed the TRANSPORTATION of
the sinuous giant that lashes the cliffs and
spouts from the caves of York and Scar
boro'-his breast tlecked with the foam of
wild northeastern tempests. Here no rocks
offered their sharp challenge, and the great
creature lay on its bed of smooth sand,
golden gray in the morning sunshine,
breathing and pulsng like Titan child
asleep.
The beach was already bright with peo-
pie, for the days pleasure was wont to be
gin early. A small fleet of fishing boats
lay moored at the freshly painted pier;
some of them were being laden with a
cargo of rods, luncheon baskets and water
TASKS, while from others the yet unhired
oarsmen, lounging at ease, watched their
rivals through half closed lids, too delicious
ly idle for active competition. Little chill
dren, watched by white-capped nurses,
played over the long slope of the beach,
IL.
trove of rose Tipped shell or stranded Jelly
fish, or merclessly probing the breathing
holes of the crabs which honeycombed the
shining yellow sand, and shreking with
delight at the tiny water spouts in which
the unlucky creatures vented their harm
less resentment
1t was already hot down there upon the
sands. Later in the day the direct sun
blaze would grow intolerable, but the house
with its large open court was uncovered
in a cool grove of live oaks wreathed with
dropping moss. The air throbbed with
fragrance as the breeze swayed ftfully the
poisoning branches of neighboring or
ange grove, and at the end of a long vista
glimmered the great purple and white stars
of the magnolia.
''Did | not tell you, Felicie? 1t is abso-
lutely IDEAL" cried Mrs Severance. Then
denly added, 81 beieve-yes, am sure
there are the Draytons yonder-those peo-
pie we met at the Thousand Islands, Felicie |!
What coincdencel'
go down to them, mamma. Yon liked
Mrs. Drayton so much"
"And leave you here by YOURSELF"
lyon know | am never lonely, and Rosa
lie is always within call. Go, little NAM
ma, to please me-"
Felicie was aroused from half dream
by the twang of some rude stringed instru-
ment. At first he could not decide whence
the sound proceeded, but she soon discov-
cred in the shadow of one of the many
hooks of the irregular veranda little negro
boy squatting upon the ground with ban
10 across his knees. She watched him
curiously,-a slight figure dressed in sim
gle nondescript garment of tattered blue
homespun He seemed very small as he
sat thus crouched together, but Felicie
judged from his face that he might be ten
years old. Tie little black face was really
picturesque for ugliness-an odd eXaggera-
tion of the characteristic features of his race.
1t wore Just now an expression of great
anxiety, and as the boy turned with infinite
care rough peg in the neck of his instru-
ment, Felcies ear quickened by Illness
caught the muttered words:
"Dat ar string mos gone, sho huff !
Dunno whar cher | git anoder!"
Next moment, an ominous snap pro-
claimed his fear realized. Feicie was quite
unprepared for the exhibition of hopeless
grief which followed. The child did not
cry out. He dropped over the banjo, as if
he had received a blow, and, clasping his
arms about it, rocked himself to and fro.
"Rosalie," said Felicie, "call that little
boy to me, please, and bring my purse"
At the girls summons, the child sprang
up in fright undecided whether to obey
or fly. After a look into Felicie's face,
however, he came shutting shamefacedly
toward her.
"You have broken your string,-cannot
you get another?" she asked gently.
"Unc' Joe, he done got some, but he say
las time he won't glib me no mo-"
"Wouldn't he sell One?"
81 hain't got no money, Missile"
"But suppose | should give you some,-
would you play for meP"
She unclasped the purse-a shimmering
fancy of beadwork-and, drawing forth
silver dollar, laid it in the small black
palm.
$50 me, Missile? Dis yer TO me?"
The child trembled from head to feet