Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-03-22
AN EVERYDAY STORY.

AN hN I'M -Dh DlOh1t
''You aren't going to try to arrange that
cupboard yourself are you, mamma? You
look tired. Close the doors, and let's for
get its existence
Mrs. Jordan smiled; the suggestion was
so like Bette
''No, dear, it ought to be done at once
! can't bear to have such a disOrderly cor
ner about the house. I'm sure don't know
when Susan will be back and | don't
much care. She never does anything thor
oughy."
"Then let me do it, mamma" Bette
spoke more cheerfully than she felt. She
had mapped out a different plan for these
Saturday morning hours.
"You dear child, 1t would be such a re-
lief, but don't like to put it on your shout
ders."
ooh, nonsense" laughed Bette. "My
shoulders are stronger than you think,
mamma What do you suppose all my
physical culture lessons have been good
for?'
SO Mrs Jordan was caioled out of the
room, and Bette, perched OH the baby's
high-chair attacked the upper shelves. 1t
was pleasant sight to Aunt Lydia, sitting
by the fireplace, under whose def fingers a
little sock was taking form and shape. Her
needles never slackened, even while her
eyes were fixed on the slender. grlsh fig
ure. How unseish Bette was growing
What was the reason? Was the little sill
yer cross, with its three suggestive letters,
in the secret?
As the work progressed, Aunt Lydia felt
a slight uneasiness. Would Bette prove
faithful, she wondered, when she reached
the lowest shelf? You see the day before
Aunt Lydia had gone to this same shelf in
search of some article, and had come across
a box away at the further end. In the one
swift glance she gave it as she raised the
cover she had a glimpse of Toms top,
some battered tissue-paper flowers, tangled
embroidery silks, and sundry old gloves
and ribbons while there were indications
of equally interesting developments be-
meath. Evidently, Susan had made ii a
sort of dumping-ground for "odds and
ends" And now Aunt Lydia wondered if
this might not prove too much for Bettie's
good resolutions
"Beholdu said the unconscious Bette
at this juncture, with a flourish that i'm
periled her standing on the high-chair.
"The top shelves are in a state of precision
that it would do your heart good to see.''
And then she descended to give Aunt
Lydia great hug, and prepare for an at
tack on the lower shelves. "Do youIknow,"
she went on, confdentially, 81 have turned
over a new leaf? | detest work of this
kind but | make myself do it, It's dis
cipline for the mind as Miss Brownlee
says about algebra. No, that isn't my
motive, either" and the round face grew
suddenly serious. 81 made up my mind
that l must improve or | should feel as if
I were dishonoring that" And Bette
touched the little silver cross.
A minute later Mrs. Jordan put her head
in at the door.
Can you leave that awhile, dear, and
take this letter to the post-office? 1t ought
to go on the next mail"
''Of course | can," said Bette, promptly;
land glad of the chance. I'll be ready in
just two minutes"
Left alone in the dining-room, Aunt
Lydia laid down her knitting and vanished
up the stairs. She was back in her place,
however, and knitting as placidly as ever,
when Bette returned with her girlish face
glowing from exercise and contact with
the crisp, frosty air.
'Its delicious outdoors, auntie. | was
tempted not to come back till time for
luncheon" And Bette shook her fist
menacingly at the unfinished work. "But,
then, I'm nearly through. Only two more
shelves to do, and they're easy" Evil
IDENTIFY, she was in blissful ignorance OF the
miscellaneous collection in that neat-look-
ing paste-board box.
Aunt Lydia watched her pretty niece
when the last shelf was cleared and the
discovery made. Bette always sang over
her work; and she was in the midst of
Good make my life a little light" when a
sudden impulse led her to open that whited
sepulchre The song ceased abruptly. An
other minute, and the cover was replaced
the box pushed back to the end of the
shelf. Bettie's voice pped up again; but
it was constrained now, and not so clea" as
before.
CAN through, dear?" said Mrs. Jordan,
entering just as Bette was closing the cup
board doors. Eyes, see you are. How
beautifully you have arranged everything!
What would we ever do without our help
full Bette, Aunt Lydia? You don't know
what relief it is, Bette, to know that ev-
erything is in order here" And, with kiss
that brought the blood to Bettie's cheeks,
her mother left the room.
Early in the afternoon Ethel Henderson
called. "Put on your things, can't you,
Bette? Mamma wants you to 90 sleigh
riding with us"
VI course, Bettle new 10 nef room Tor her
warmest wrappings; and the result was
long, blissful ride through city and country
roads, to the music of jinging sleigh-bells
1t was not till evening that she thought
again of the sighted box. She felt uncom-
Portable when she joined the group around
the fireplace in the library
Lets have anagrams," suggested Tom,
running for the box of letters. "You give
Ine word, Bet, and I'll give you one"
swell" but Bettie's voice was somewhat !
reluctant. She was bright and quick, how
ever, and guessed her words too easily for
TOMS satisfaction.
"Say, now" he protested; 'you guess