Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-05-22

fields when the weather permitted, and
today the sun was shining gloriously.
She was dressed in aneat fitting dress
of brown, which set off her slim figure
to perfection and matched her olive
velvety skin. She half regretted her
engagement to the miner and was sorry
that she had not promised to meet the
new manager. She had missed an op-
portunity every lass in the hamlet would
have jumped at, and such a chance
might never be given her again.
Immersed in her reflections, the girl
scarcely noticed the flight of time. When
the old clock in the corner struck 4, she
jumped to her feet, put on her hat and
went out She was not going to wait
for Jack Kendall any longer. If he would
not take her out, she would go out her
self. If she hadn't been fool, she could
have been walking out with a hand
somer and superior man in every way.
Pegs feet took her past the Blue Bell,
across the village green and through
the stile which led to Bellingham s
farm. Near the whitewashed farmhouse
she met one Of the farmers children,
from whom she learned that the new
manager of the California pits was real
ly living at the place.
Five minutes later the girl almost
iran against Marston himself. Turning
a corner in the tall hedged old lane, she
met him face to face, and her counte-
nance flushed crimson as their eyes met.
She wished from her heart then that
she had taken any other of the many
paths about the village. He would con-
clude that she was throwing herself in
his way.
She had dropped her head instantly
and was passing on without a word of
recognition when he stopped her, re-
marking in his pleasant way:
Good afternoon, Miss Holland. How
glad l am to meet you'll Splendid day,
ism t it? And what delightful old lane
this is p
She murmured something and lifted
ner eyes to his for an instant, but the
look Of deep admiration on his face
drove her glance earthward again and
increased her confusion. He, noticing
her discontinue, chartered away in his
lightest mood.
They were standing thus when knot
of villagers lounged by. Among them
was Jack Kendall, whose face was white
and grim. The moment Peg saw her
lover her heart leaped to her throat and
the color fled from her countenance.
The look Jack gave her checked the
words of greeting ON her tongue, and
she stood there mute until the pitmen
had passed out Of earshot.
lyon will excuse me, Mr.. Marston, u
she gasped out II must 60"
MAY walk with you little?" he
pleaded, his warm eyes fixed on her
averted face.
"No; have some one to see."
"a lover?"
"No!
"Im glad to hear that. Do let me
come with you. "
''Look here, Mr.. Marston," she cried
suddenly, and she faced him bravely.
"What did you mean last night?'
''When l asked you to meet meF'
eyes"
81 meant nothing-at least nothing
wrong.
"You did not mean-you did not
think because you are manager and ]
am only pit brow lassie that you were
at liberty to play with and insult me?''
"God knows had no such thought p
he burst forth hotly. "Surely you dc
not think had?'
81 don't know" she said soberly. ali
not that, WHAT She paused.
81 liked you from the first. like
you much more now. love you, Mar
garet Holland. May hope that Stay
Hear me out. Come back, won't your
He spoke to flying heels. His impas-
stoned words had driven her away. She
fed fearing that if she staid she would
prove faithless to Jack Kendall.
Some weeks slipped away after this,
and the estranged lovers were still I'M
reoonoiled. Peg had OWNED that Jacl.
had heard of her dancing so frequently
with Marston at the Blue Bell, and that
when he saw her and the manager tn