Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-09-13

~ on nave not changed AT all, ne Salu,
retaining the slender hand, and looking
down into the dark eyes.
A wave Of color swept over her face
leaving it paler than before and with look
of pride and bitterness about the mouth.
"You are polite to say so, and she
smiled in stately, frigid fashion. "My
mirror is more truthful"
"Oh, Annis," he exclaimed "why do
you treat me in this way? 1t is hard to
come back after years of battling with the
world to see my old friends, and be received
so codly, to find myself forgotten
"Forgottenl" she repeated ''You
should not say so. We have not kept pace
with you, that is all. You have grown
beyond u.s.
He walked over to the window and stood
for a moment looking out between the
vines and blossoms; then he suddenly
turned
"Annis, may l stay to dinner with you?
/ am sensitive enough to be boyishly dis
appointed that no one has asked me to
break bread with them today"
The contents of Miss Fuler's meagre
larder passed rapidly through her mind;
one egg, the end of loaf of bread, and
two drawings of tea. None of the work
she had taken home had been paid for,
and hence she had been unable to replensh
her scant store.
She stood facing her fathers portrait
for the pictures had been removed from
the parlor when that room was given over
to trade. The Fuller hospitality had been
proverbial. Should she belle the old tradi
ton? Perhaps she had never looked so
much like the old judge as she did at that
moment.
Certainly" she said. 81 shall be de-
lighted to have you. We can then talk
over old times. BY the by, what has be-
come of that pretty cousin of yours? Did
she not marry a western politician" And
all the time Miss Fuller, sick at heart felt
an all-consuming desire that the floor
should open and engulf her
Excuse me moment she said, after
she had listened with apparent interest to
his answer; "there is some one at the
| back door"
Mrs. Trowbridge stood there, with
shawl over her head and her dress gath
cred up over her petticoat to which clus-
tiers of burdocks were clinging. She had
covered basket in one hand and pail in
| the other.
81 come across" she said, land I'm all
stuck up with burs. My Kitty said she
saw a stranger come here. We reckoned
| it was Senator Winchester, and that as he
didn't go back he meant to stay to dinner"
Miss Fuller made no reply, but stood
with her head haughtily thrown back, and
a look in her dark eyes before which Mrs.
Trowbridge quaicd.
Deacon said you'd be mad, the latter
went on with deprecating air. "But
knew you hadn't any more appetite than
a chippin' bird and that You wouldn't be
prepared to feed hungry man. My girl
was dishin' up dinner, and so | put in
little of everythin and run over with it,"
Then she drew a long breath, folded her
arms over her portly figure, and stood with
a look of good-natured defiance on her rosy
face.
Miss Fuller could never account for the
sudden revulsion of feeling that came over
her. The first thing She knew she had
laid her head on the good woman's shoulder
and was folded to her motherly bosom.
There, there, don't, dear" Mrs. Trow-
bridge said soothingly as to child, when
Miss Fuller murmured, "You have been so
patient and kind, while | have been so
hard and proud"
81 understand all about it, You poor
lonely girl. Now we'll just have things
ready in no time
Then she kinded the fire and set the
pail of chocolate on the stove, and put
plates in the oven to warm.
Here is fried chicken and Jelly and bis
cult and pat of BUTTER she said, as she
| emptied the basket.
When Miss Fuller came back into the
room Winchester detected a subtle change,
"a softening in her face. She was more
! like the Anns he used to know. He could
not help watching her as she deity ar
ranged the meal. 1t was bit of the past
with the sprigged china, the silver cream
pitcher and sugar bowl he remembered so
well
you have been very good to let me
stay he said as they rose from the table
at has been the first hour of home life
have known for years
She went again to the kitchen. When
presently she rejoined him he was turning
the leaves of the album on the little table
"Do the old faces seem familiar" she
asked.
"Yes. l have fingered over each one
This was the pretty soprano, who sang in
the old choir, when you sang alto. And
this is" He paused, for he had turned
to his own boyish face surrounded by the
flower spray.
Miss Fuller's face crimsoned. ~ had
forgotten she murmured.
He seized her hands and looked straight
| into her eyes.
Then you loved me all the time"
eyes"
"Why did you send me away?"
81 was too proud to marry you"
81 know" he said sadly. II was poor
and obscure. l have prospered since. l
have been what people call a successful
| man. | have come
'Do you think | have not known of your
success" she interrupted "Do you think
there has been a speech of yours of which
| l have not heard
"You did not let me finish, Annis. l
have come again to lay my love at your
| feet"
at is like you!" she exclaimed, drawing
back and looking at him with wonderful
| light in her dark eyes. at is like you.
! Nou were always chivalrous. You find me
poor and alone; you remember that my
father assisted you; butt cannot take
what you offer" The color faded from
her face, while she quietly resumed her
seat Tell me more about your past, if
you care to tell me, she said.
You are my past, Annis, as you are
my future. The one thought of my life
has been to win you, to have something to
offer you. Will you make my success a
failure?n
81 ought TO be too proud to give myself
to you, now when | am not worth taking
l am too proud" she added with decision.
81 will not accept charity"
"Annis"' he said, with a flash in his