Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-03

take care of ITSELF
There, Tom, you are suffering from a
fatal malady, and-stop poking that fire;
coal is dear-and know the nature of it,
I've been there myself. You've got all the
symptoms frightfully developed"
"Well, what is III"
you are in love. That's what's the
matter with you. You've aimed high, Tom,
but my blessing goes with you. Hitch
your wagon to Il star, ira la la"
"You teem to know all about me-" and
Tom grew surly.
Eyes, when fellow mopes all day in
stead Of studying law, and when | find
scraps of poetry on his desk instead of the
last opinion of the court of appeals, and
when
That will do, Jack. You're hitting m
under the belt"
That evening Tom went to small social
gathering. Mildred was there. She was
robed in white, and the poor fellow felt
convinced that she must have wings con-
cealed under her dress She had lust
dropped down from the heavenly choir for
a few minutes conversation and might
take flight at any moment. He was all
eyes and his heart fluttered. He chatted
with her, but was so beside himself that he
couldn't do justice to his own powers and
bought she regarded him with something
like disdain. That stung him to the quick.
At half-past II her father was to have
called for her, but he hadn't arrived. She
was a good deal troubled at the mIshap,
but Jack instantly offered himself as her
escort, and to his great surprise she gladly
assented.
I'm be ready in five minutes Mr..
Creighton" and then she disappeared
On the way home he had an irresistible
impulse to declare himself The moon
shone bright and clear, and the occasion
seemed favorable to his suit In trembling
tones he made the fatal confession and
when 1t was all over there was a long
silence.
AT length she said in low, pathetic
voice;
IL am so sorry"
And you can give me no hope"
How can the lips speak when the heart
is dumb" she answered, but by no means
coldly. On the contrary, her accents
were very tender.
"Iou are already he began rather
bitterly.
That question, Mr.. Creighton, you have
no right to ask" This time she spoke in a
| distant, even a haughiy tone.
They had reached her door. He lifted
his hat She extended her hand cordially
and said Il hope always TO be your friend
Goodnight"
The boy staggered back to his room,
and, thank heaven, Jack was not there
He sat in front of the fire thinking, think
ing, chatting at his i'll luck and cursing him
self, and at last dropped into a troubled
doze and dreamed.
The rustling of magic raiment made him
turn his head. There stood fairy, with
strange smile on her lips
Have you come TO gloat over my mis-
eryi" he cried. Cant even be wretch
ed without your interference Leave me
TO myself
A silvery laugh was the only answer. 1t
rang through the room like strain of
music.
Il am here" she said, ito do your bid
ding. Shall we gol"
Go. Yes, 20 anywhere; to the end of
the world if you like-apywhere, so get
away from here"
She waved her wand, and that dingy
students den gradually disappeared. They
were in the open air. Fields and hills and
valleys flew past ;;sss Tom became ex-
hilarated. Yesterday was fading from his
memory. He only dinly recalled the walk
a
reality about that poignant experience.
With another wave of the wand he fell into
entire unconsciousness And while in that
state the magician led him to his apart
ment and seated him in chair.
harsh grating sound broke on his ear,
and he awoke.
The missis is here, sorr, an is askin for
yez."
Tom rubbed his eyes In front of him
stood-could 1t Ice truei-Mldred Hewson
why, Tom, you dear boy, you must
have been very tired You didn't hear me
open the door, did your looked in saw
that you were asle p and thought it too
bad to wake you"
Then he reused himself and took the
dear woman in his arms and kissed her
again and again.
You must have been dreaming, Tom "
II was, Mildred"
What did you dream, dear" Tell me
all about it,"
Not now, Mildred 1t was an awful
dream, and the less said about it the
better"
In the morning Jack aud Tom met as
usual.
Il was pretty tired yesterday, wasn't l,
Jack"
Yes, you were, and advise you to take
care of yourself Good fellows are scarce
nowadays"
Didn't we say something about being
young again, Jack 2"
'Certainly-that is to say, you did, not
l. Why. have you thought the matter
overN
Yes"
"And you conclude
THAT I'm satisfied with things as they
are"