Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-01-26

who owns a factory she exclaimed. "He
is brute" She got up from her chair
and stood at the low open window looking
out.
"The old-fashioned white rose will soon
be in BLOSSOM she added more gently.
Her movement disturbed a late lilac bush
which nodded above the window, and its
cup-shaped blossoms fell slowly to the
ground with breath of heavy sweetness
"They will hurt the grass ~ exclaimed
Miss Lettuce, who had followed and stop
ped short. How long would it be before
that short green turf would be gone for
aye, and ugly planks and gravel reflect the
heat of whirring machinery in its place?
Miss Susan looked about the room which
represented to her a whole lifetime of shell
ter and comfort. She had known it must
come TO this, but the sudden pain had
taken her breath away, and her only SEN
sation was of heavy cloud which had de-
scended upon her and shut out the posi-
bility of the sun.
"At least the place must always belong
to lis rediiy,' she said, "a thousand times
more than it ever can to that man, for all
his miserable money! Money! it ought to
bring him ruin, except that ! do not be-
lieve the dear old house could do that to
anyone. Think" Her voice failed for
a moment, then abruptly, "Get the sup
per, Lettuce"
The only possible comfort was in famil-
lar things.
The simple meal was prepared in silence.
Miss Lettice dropped salt tears into her
tea and wondered at her sister, who sat
bolt upright and crunched a slice of toast
in a spirited manner. They had arrived at
drop-cake and preserved apples, when the
sharp, imperious ring of bell took Miss
Lettice quickly to tie door. She came
back holding yellow envelope straight
out before her between her thumb and
forefinger.
SISTER she said, otis ats a-tele-
gram"
Miss Susan started and visibly trembled.
kilograms were regarded in Sumbertown
much as dynamite bombs were looked at in
other places, and such missve had never
before been received at the Bradlees re-
spectacle door.
"Lettice, put it down she commanded,
'and do not touch il -
Miss Lettice dropped the envelope hasti-
ly in the centre of the table.
'Please, marin, twenty-five cents to paw
said the voice of the telegraph boy, who
lltlN lblibNNu MISS l4fNllNt lIION4ll inc nan
and now popped his head in the dining
room door. Miss Susan took out her
pocket-book. alas, so flat and worn, and
paid the boy with the majesty of a million
aire.
ben Hardy, you had better be digging
potatoes than going about on this sort of
business she said. "Never let me see Won
here again with one of those hose-arti-
cles :"
Eyes, marm," replied the boy, opening
his eyes, and departing with speed
The sisters remained, looking at the tel 4
egram.
at is addressed to you, sister" said
Miss Lettice, hestating "Will you-open
it?"
then came back.
"Lettice,' she whispered, I'm afraid! :"
"Afraid?' echoed Miss Lettuce.
Yes said Miss Susan, "a telegram.
you know. | never had one before. Did
you ever see one, Lettice?"
"Mrs. Smith had one once" said Miss
Lettuce. at told of her mothers death"
"Our mother is dead" said Miss Susan.
There is no occasion for anyone to insult
us by sending one to us
gested Miss Lettice. 1--WE might get Mrs. |
Smith to open it,
No. replied Miss Susan, fiercely 81 |
10 not think it is safe. | do not know |
what it might do. We will not open it.
Put it on the mantel-shelf, Lettice, and do |
De CAREFUL"
Miss Lettice took it up gingerly, and |
placed it on the shelf with large Bible i'm |
front of it to keep it from falling: also, |
perhaps, to counteract its evil influence. |
It certainly did affect them something as a |
restless spirit might have done. intruding |
even upon their deep sorrow. Miss Let |
lice found in meeting the next dav that |
she could not sing the hymns with her us
lal heartiness for the thought of that BIG !
yellow envelope at home: and even Miss |
susan was haunted by its uneasy memory !
more than she would have cared to CON |
less.
1t was a sad week for the sisters. Every
hour was full of tasks, yet the DAYS went |
1y with dreadful speed. They hired three
'ooms in a house whose owner some
lines took dodgers, and prepared to move
he most precious of their belongings thith-
A. The rest must be sold, and perhaps
his selection was the hardest thing they
lad to accomplish. All the bitter-sweet
memories of the house were revived as
hey went about it for the last time
oices long silent spoke to them from the
household gods, displaced from the sta
ions they had held for a hundred wears.
'eals of merry laughter echoed in their
'ars with far-away sound, bright facer
mlled sweetly at them over the baluster
ailings and from the corners of the old
'ooms. Miss Lettice saw much of il
through mist of tears, and one dav Miss
'usan's courage gave way, and she was
ound sitting on closet floor, clasping an
I'D rag doll to her heart and sobbinG bit
erly' Through it all, the yellow envelope
ooked upon them from the shelf and the
Western Union Telegraph" stared them
n the face.
The last night came. The sisters sat at
upper for the last time in the room
where their ancestors had eaten from baby
lood to old age, and which had so often
esounded with laughter at some keen lest.
-hey were almost too tired to be unhapDy.
lanual labor seemed to have duled for a
lme their sense of feeling, The carved
mahogany was wrapped in cloths for trans
The blue Canton china was
lacked in barrels which stood in the hall
The pictures were unhung, and the whole
louse looked deserted; but the sisters re.
NAMED unmoved. They drank their tea
lowly and spoke of how well the currant
ushes would bear next summer, as thoupb
hey were to have the pleasure of turning
int oil