The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-11-03
ment he suggested that it would be as
well TO 60 into the garden.

ment he suggested that it would be as
we'll to 60 into the garden.
In their natural state" he said, d" /
ton to either"
Cicely pulled her hat down to shade
her eyes from the sun, and followed
him through the gate. 1t was quite tea
time before they disturbed Johns aunt
in the perusal of her sermon.
As the summer went on John looked
forward with more eagerness than had
been customary to his Sundays at Hen
don. He started little earlier and re-
turned little later, until one morning
he actually got there in time for church.
His aunt did not 60 to church in the
morning, because she wished William
to go, and the house without herself or
William was, to her mind, as castle
unguarded. So it fell out, with an odd
directness of consequence, that John
and Cicely were late for luncheon.
And John said the mutton was
the best he had ever eaten; but
Cicely seemed preoccupied and could
not say what the wears text had
been. And Johns aunt said she had
mislaid her spectacles and felt quite
blind, at which even the immaculate
William sighed thankfully, as he re-
membered wine stain on the table,
cloth.
When the luncheon had been re-
moved, William placed on the bare ma
hogany table the fruit and decanter
of old port, whose color was like the
rubies that fell from the magic song
birds mouth. John tilted back his
chair little and looked at Cicely, who
blushed and looked at her plate. Then
he turned to his aunt and said quietly,
with gentle smile on his lips, Aunt
Jane, Cicely and l are going to be
married"
His aunt gasped in establishment.
"You, John, at your age? And you,
Cicelyl Oh, my dears, am so glad.
Come close to me and tell me about it,"
John nearly missed the last train that
night. Some gates must be very pleas
ant resting places; we linger 30 long al
them.
John and Cicely were married in the
new year, and, for time, the affairs Of
Green, Richards& Van Schaacht were
left to the carelessness of clerks. John
was rich, and Cicely had something Of
her own, but he disliked what he calico
"show," and urged Cicely to be con
tent with a small house and three
maids. He was not stingy, though, fol
he ordered carriage and horses an(
gave her very liberal allowance in ad
dition to her own income.
Tho frat vaar IF thoir lifQ tOupfh o.
was a delightful time of happiness tt
both. 1t was necessary, OF course, TO-
John to be away all day, but Cicel.
nightly enjoyed the novelty of being
married, and found il very amusing t.
order things at shops and give her nam'
as Mrs. Green. Her mother had no
allowed her to read many novels, deem
ing them pernicious, and so subscrip
ton to Nudes seemed like Aladdin
Lamp for richness of possibility. Johl
left the city as early as possible an
was generally home at half past six
Frequently they went to theater o
dined out, and there were Saturdays t
Mondays at Brighton or Eastbourne
besides visits to the Hendon house
where William greeted them with
smile anticipatory of half sovereign.
AS the second year wore on job
found it necessary to give more after
ton to his business. One or two MAJ
tiers had lately gone amiss, giving ris
to an urgent request from the " firms
New York correspondents that thei
instructions should be more closely a
tended to. John Green showed tn
.. letter to his head clerk and said n
more about it, but he gradually fe
back into his old practice of stayin
late and seeing to things himself, il
stead of leaving them to those less con
petent or less interested.
One night John had promised to g
home early, as they were going to
. theater; but was nearly eight o'cloc
' before his key sounded in the door.
b Cicely met him with reproachf1