The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-09-19

dren during the mothers illness or an
sence, the many funerals and weddings
and births she had assisted at, and yet
what strangers they all were to her-all
these people whom she had seen born and
die She had never expected or asked for
anything but justice-she had received It,
Was it not suflicicntS
Poor Mamscl Malm sat In her rocking
chair, deep in heavy thought. The din.
ner hour had long since passed; she did
not notice it. The church bells rang to
evening service, and still she did not move,
though never yet, except in case of i'll
ness, had she omitted her attendance there.
At last her thoughts reverted to Tina.
How she must have suffered all these
years, and had never dared to speak of It'll
How unsclfsh and self sacrificing her love
had been, and how humble she wasl
Mamsell Malm had to confess to herself
that, in spite of her friendship she had al
ways looked down with some slight scorn
upon Tinas humbleness She considered
it weak, and she hated any kind of weak
ness, and now, when she knew her friends
sad story, She had not given her n word Of
sympathy; but, after ALL and in spite OF
herself, the old Impotence and scorn be.
gan to rcasscrt itself, and then again she
felt the need of being friendly to some one
She went and stood at the window,
drcarily looking out into the street. The
sun had set, hut its aftcrglow of red still
burned on the horizon. Daylight and tho
evening shades struggled and mingled to-
gr,.,' in the clear spring twilight, behind
which the days brightness still seemed to
iin@cr. Some ragged children were play
ing horses on the footpath. A pair of gar
tcrs tied together did duty as rcins. In lieu
of whip they clacked with their tongues,
and then rushed away as fast rs their
small feet would carry them, filling the
narrow street with their shrill shouts. They
echoed from the walls and entered Nam
sell Malm small room by the open win
dow. They seemed to her to rcsound from
every corner. At this moment the door
opened and some one tried to enter noise
lessly. 1t was Hilda, who brought in the
wood for the stove and some bot water,
and she was trying to look interested in
her duties At sight of her Mamsell
Mains anger was on the point of burst
ing forth, and she had remembered the
sermon she had intended for her. Hilda
evidently was prepared to bear her fate
with tho calm of a stole. She knew that
once outside the door of the room she need
pay no more attention to the tiresome old
creature, with her exacting principles.
Mamsell paused just as she was begin
ming her TRADE, for again she thought of
her youth 1t had surely been too miscr
able. Perhaps, after all, it was not such
dreadful sin to be young and gay.
Hilda gazed questioningly at her mis-
tress. She quite expected the scolding,
but Mamsell was silent. She was wonder
ing how she could show some little sign of
friendliness to this girl. She had such an
irresistible longing to be friendly to some
one.
will you drink cup of tea with me,
Hilda?" she said at last, and tried to en-
due her voice with a kindlier tone.
Hilda stared at her with her shrewd
eyes, passed the back of her hand over
them, and then tossed back her fringe of
hair with a jerk of her head before she an
swered.
MANY thanks for your kindness, Nam
sell Malm," she said in tone of uncer
tanty, as If she was not quite sure but
that the invitation might prove the pre-
lude to sermon longer than usual
Mamsel brought out the cups and tried
to think what she should say next, but it
was not easy to find the right words or
tone, and the severe expression seemed
carved into her features.
They sat down, and Mamsell poured out
the tea.
Did you have a pleasant walk? l
thought l saw you out this afternoon,
she asked, and cast searching look at
| her vis-a-vis. Now if she would brush
away that frizzled fringe, and Wear
plain cotton dress instead of the cheap
flnery she might look quite decent, was
her thought, and she unconsciously drew
her chair from the table.
"Oh, Mamsell means my walk with
| Kalle Forsman. Yes, it is always SO jolly
on the Esplanade on Sunday afternoons.
Hilda began to feel more ut ease
Are you engaged to ForsmanS" Nam.
sell forced herself to ask She could not
accustom herself to the idea that any one
could devote Sunday afternoon to harm
lessly promenading the streets.
We'll, no, not quite but, of course he
likes me, and we are very good friends,
you see."
Mamsell Malm had difficulty in hiding
her disapproval, and the old severe lines
appeared round her mouth.
Hilda was puzzled over the motive for
this sudden thaw In the old lady's man
ner. but suddenly began to find the situa-
ton comic. 1t was in vain that she tried
to hide it, to cover her reddening face with
her hands. She laughed and laughed, and
not daring to look at Mamsell Malm she
got up and rushed out of the room,
slammed the door, ran into the kitchen
and threw herself into the first chair.
Dear, oh, dear, how funny Mamscll
was this evening"" and again the gig
Cling began, and l, trying to slip in
with the hot water, hoping she would not
notice me. OF course l expected to catch
it-and then she inviting me to tea! l
didn't know if l was on my head or my
heels, l was SO astonished. And then to
ask me If l were engaged to Kalle Fors-
mani Could she not guess it would come
to thatf And what "a face she put on
when l said No, just as If weren't To be
allowed to go for walk with a gentle
mani"
Up stairs in her room Mamsell paced the
floor, with a heavy heart. She was ashamed,
so bitterly ashamed of her unfortunate at
tempt at being kind. 1t was too late now
to begin. She saw 1T clearly, She had only
made herself ridiculous, and yet-shc
would herself have given much for tho
warm clasp Of the hand, but it was toe
late. Her very vaice refused to put ON Il
softer tone. Did not the neighbors' chill