Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-12-18
BEHIND \ CURTAIN.

near the Park was lleasantly full of vel
low sunshine and blue window boxes.
Half way down carriage intensified the
dry Wilderness Of tlc IANcuClts ana roads
by it's cleaning blGckucss. The straight
featured fontman stood near the carriages
door, with black and white legs stiffly
posed, and eyes gazing forward with the
regulation want of expression He con-
versed with the coachman in subdued and
wary tones.
"Prctty locking girl at No. s. s"
Coachman rolled his eyes into the left
corner of his eye sockets and perceived at
No. IA bright young face half yelled be-
hind the draperies of the drawing room
window.
She's just out" remarked the foot
"Here comes tho fellow who's most gone
on her 80
A gentleman walked alertly up to No. s,
unconscious of the scrutiny Of the liveried
critics, saw the face at the window vanish
suddenly and smiled to himself as he rang
the bell
He went up stairs, repeating audibly the
little sentences of deity hidden sweetness
and wOong he had prepared to say to her.
She was very young, of enticing shyness
and variableness, yet he was almost sure
she loved him He meant to utter his
carefully arranged phrases cautiously, and
if a propitious moment or mood appeared
to make his proposal.
The door was opened he was an
nOunced, and went forward eagerly to
greet-her sister and the latest novelty in
O'Clock tea sets He mumbled "A discon-
certed reply to the sister chaperon re-
marks and gazed searchingly about the
for Of
er to see whittier she had flown "What a
delightful day" said the lady. London
sunshine is the finest in the world. 1t is
so beautiful to see its effect on the ordinary,
everyday dimness and dizziness Like all
fine things its value is heightened by its
scarcity"
Yes, fearfully hot. The sun is blind
ing. he observed abstractedly. Hang the
sun! What has she run away for? Wero
all those bushes and shy looks merely the
result of timidity and sell consciousness?
Did she dislike him 50 much that his calls
We're more than she could endure? He
could swear he saw her pretty face and
shoulders at the window as he came up the
steps.
cone lump, please" he murmured.
'Did you enjoy yourself at Lady Cardby's
dance
''As much as a chaperon may" answer
ed the young dame, with an ancient air
that sat bewitchingly upon her coquettish
fairness "A sister lately brought out is
great responsibility. Besides the buds
detract from the blossoms ,"
"You are youthful enough to rank with
the buds, - he smiled, with a sudden CLEAN
of sanity and gallantry. "Is Miss Maydey
quite wel?'
Every well, thank you. In fact, she is
little too brisk and lively for my nerves
sometimes"
Really Now, thought her the quiet
est, demurest of little maids-if l may be
permitted to express any thought about so
charming a young lady"
He spoke with an affected lghtness that
was more intense than the greatest earnest
ness Evidently the sister understood his
case. She turned her beautifully dressed
head aside for an instant, and her mouth
quivered with suppressed mirth.
All, that is her society manner, and
will depart when she has seen season or
two" she affirmed. "When we are alone,
! assure you she is the most provoking,
teasing, laughing mischiev0us child you
could possibly find. She has no reverence
for my dignity or my toilets. Yesterday
she burst in upon me with the avowed in
tentiOn of making me gigglen"
He was listening with attentive ears
the ears of IA lover to whom any and every
thing concerning his mistress is of more
Importance than the total instantaneous
disappearance of great nation or the col
lapse of all the thrones of Europe. Sud
denly he saw the velvet curtain-which
draped one side of the flower filled fire.
place, at which he was looking-quiver
strangely Scarcely breath of wind came
in through the open windows, and the
CRATE was blocked entirely by a sheet of
painted looking glass. Moreover, the cur
tain on the other side hung more fatty and
closely than its quivering fellow, which
bulged out here and there in manner un
known to artistic upholsterers.
A suspicion flashed through his dazed
brain He sat up with renewed energy
and said:
"You are describing a very charming
character / am half in love with your
delightful description Of girlish life and
waywardness
He paused and saw the curtain give a
quick, waving, tremulous CONFUSION to
its folds, which instantly became still
again as he continued:
"Do you think it worth a mans while
to try to exist with half a heart"
Greatly, said the lady, Il am not a
specialist in diseases of the heart"
but, he pleaded, "you have broken
so many to heal one that your experience
must be of value and your opinion very
we'll worth hearing-like that of general
practitioner
"Well," answered the young matron
cautiously, lit is certainly better to live
with a whole heart, or even with half Of
one, than without any at all. 1t Is more