Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-06-01
:; ~ ~ = 4 y ~ ' v 4 4 '; 4

the stamp.
could ANYTHING be more studlnusly-
polite Tom asked himself As lac
ciammcd ihc letter in his pocket To lie
rrrcill after business lours.
\ l,ttrr from uiivin was hot In itself
n disturbing occurrence. They had nrv-
or ceased writing TO each other ia
drSultpry way. The total lack of men
tiun uf WcSiuvrr's name. especially as
lac always made free use of ii himself
struck him as piece of uncalled for
consideration for himself. Somewhat
in the old time fashion she wrote To
him about lis work. lie dwelt upon II
rather lenrthily in reply. as much To
cover space as anything else. The line
was comfortably taut between friend
ship and the old disturbing sentiment.
Miss Mal,ina considered it bad
sign that ollie always passed Toms
| letters over To her To read. Together
| they reioiccl over his rapid ascent of
/ his chosen ladder. but she mOurned
| over the absence of sentiment.
"Oh. | always knew" Miss Malvina
would say after every letter. that
/ vcu could MT down Tom BroXton. He
/ is his father all over again, and when
| that is said all is said that need be
/ to describe a grand man. | wish he
would marry some good. sweet girl
| that would make real home for him.
so do l." Olivia would reply
promptly.
But as the months rolled by Ollic'S
so do l. grew less and less emphatic,
and when the prospect of long ali
sence from home stared her in the
face she was distinctly conscious Of a
longing desire for the dear old com
panion of her childish days Folding
M his latest letter. this longing had
found wistful utterance.
Il wish we could see the dear boy
before we cross the ocean"
And Miss Malvina. always lying in
wait for her opportunity, had echoed
the wish with such fcrvor that the let
ter Tom called formal and Ollie
bold" was the logical outcome.
A week after it had been dispatched
Miss Malvina. passing through the
library VITA her arms piled high with
slip covers to shroud the parlor furni-
ture. halted to rouse the girl from one
of her sombcr reveries.
''IIas Tom sent any answer to our in
vitation yet, dearT
"Oh, yes. meant to have shown
you his note. 1t has just come-very
short | am glad he did not make his
stcnographer typewrite it,
Said Miss Malvina with ready cham
pionship, NO doubt Thomas is very
busy man. but | am sure he coult
never do Il disCourteous thing
Olivia read the short note aloud will
her pretty head held at an angle of re
sentiment:
NJ Dear Little Friend-I am truly glad tina
you and Miss Malyna are going to leave Mlnde
, Vile Tor change bat am sorry to think you 3
on account OF her health.
If you will let come to you on the Sunda
before your departure it will give me the great
d est pleasure to dine with my old friends on tina
day | promise to be punctual. Taking you
consent for granted, am faithfully yours,
THOMAS BROIToN.
There were two red spots burning il
Oliyia's cheeks as she flung this not
down upon her desk. Gould anything
8 be more insuiferable? He graciousl
accords us an hour or two of his valu
able time"
= Miss Malvina looked imploringly a
the flushed young face over the pile o
, covers she was resting on the dest
disappointing, Ollie, decidedly, bu
n not insufferaDle."
d Il say insufferable and abominabl
., patronizing His dear little friend, an
lie he is glad | am going away. Not tha
d | wanted or expected him to be sorry.
. Il think he meant he was glad on OF
!. account, dear. Perhaps he thinks
e. mean he did not think he had an
e right to-you know he don't PerhaI
Il he thinks you are-yOu are
= THAT | am what, Miss Malvina
Please do finish at least one of 20,
" sentences. don't know anything mol
n trying than such verbal convu ..Ols.'
Il meant that perhaps he thinks yc
are moping about Clarence Westove
n or perhaps he don't know about II
l. breaking Off. But, yes, he does
\ Ives. he doesT What does he kno
II about Mr. Westover and MYSELF
Us Miss Malvina blushed guilty. Il a
e, afraid | did did wrote to hi
e about the engagement being broken"
Ic Olivia looked at her Jelly, but the h
le blood of hi initiation dyed her chez
Dc and forehead. "Oh, you did! And pc
e. haps you also asked him to come al
Is assume the task of consolation"
TO "OliVia, you know l did not"
You have covered me with conf
ne sion. l am sorry that invitation ev
he went to him. He has only accepted
er because he could not refuse. Oh it
ne all horrid, just too horrid for anythin
ef He has right to think me a bold.
ne delicate wretch. | don't doubt for
ne moment that he does"
AZ At which Miss Malvina famed |
p "You never were just to Thomas Bro
ol ton, and | suppose you never will
w. You are always judging him by co
ne monplace standards, and they don't
him at all. He is man incapable
ii'ti WI ihS u liltth vi tblllll
he ting a mean action. If you had eN
ny been worthy of him, Olivia, you neN
Fu- would have played at being in IL
eo with man not worthy of BREATH
IT. the same air with him.
ca With which burst of eloquence NJ
ne Malvina gathered up her chair GOV
as and went about her business She
me served with secret satisfaction II,
ever, that as the time approached
ne Thomas arrival Ollie's spirits +
ne most unaccountably. Her black dres
Ill, made her look pallid always NJ
NJ but on that Sunday morning the $,