Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1901-12-20

~ suppose she's one Of them peeking,
prying, busting Yankee girls that don't
know how to rest herself and won't APP
prove Of the old man ever setting down In
easy chair"
81 think you are manufacturing diti-
culties out Of the whole cloth, father. l
predict that you are going to be quite
satisfied with my choice"
I'm be logged if | will! My heart was
set on your marrying one of the Maxwell
girls"
81 think the prettiest view is from the
windows of the old greenroom over the IL
brary. / shall have that fixed up for her
room. And / think, father, we will have
to get a more respectable house force
about us. You see, she is used to those
trim white servants up north"
"And | reckon you'd like to engage
Cinderella's godmother to turn all my
pumpkins into coaches for herr
| Talcott laughed as he had laughed once
before that day, in Mrs. MaxwelPs par
lor. mo; she Is not used to coaches.
And a buggy phaeton will satisfy her
NEST extravagant desires In that direc-
ton"
The old man realized that he could
make no Roadway against this imper-
turbable good nature. lie threw out his
hands with a gesture of resignation.
"Have it your own way. DO what you
please. Turn the old house clean inside
out, just so you leave the old man cor
ner to crawl into"
Thank you, sir. But don't make your
self uncomfortable, father. Your corner
will always be the post of honor in this
house."
A full week slipped by before Talcott
could intermit his labors Of renovation
long enough to ride over to the Maxwells
again. He was pushing the preparations
for the bringing home of q wife with fe-
verish energy. 1t was Catherine herself
who rose when his card was handed her
mother. She was very pale, and her
voice trembled as she said:
"If he has come to hold me to the bar
gain, mother, l may as well bear the en-
tire brunt of the interview. i shall make
no pretense of any sort"
She entered Talcott Thorneycraft's
presence with her pretty head held at u
proud angle. If he was such craven as
TO accept wife on the terms his father
had dictated. she should take no pains TO
hide her scorn.
The light fell full upon her pure, high
bred face as she advanced toward him.
He stood with it at his back, and a first
glance revealed to her nothing but a tall,
straight figure awaiting her. With glad .
laugh he came toward her, with both
hands outstretched.
YOU" she cried. You here" She
looked at him with bewildered eyes. She
swayed and would have fallen but for
his sustaining arm. But | don't under
stand. They never called you anything
but the cub and the mascot in the Of
fee"
Alias Talcott Thorneycraft. levitt
told me at the first he did not propose to
Hrcstle with such a mouthful every time
he spoke 10 me. You see, they value
heir time and breath up yonder. But
you are not sorry, Cath?'
Sorry" She looked at him with dewy
yes
They needed few words-scarcely any
n that first ccstatic moment when they
recognized that for both Of them the
,ath Of duty had suddenly and unex-
'ectcdly merged itself into the path of
esire, leaving the world full Of light and
owe
Family comments were in order later
Il.
Never tell me- said Rhoda. gazing
ritically al her future brother-in-law,
that there is no such thing as evolution.
al, | never could have believed il posi-
lie for you to evolute into such splen- :
id looking fellow"
II am 50 glad you turned out to be
ourself," Agnes added in lazy drawL
am afraid Cath would have made you
dreadful wife if she had gone on loving
lat cub at the rate she started out. She
as simply gone on him. | should think
on could scarcely avoid sentiment Of I
'alousy.'
The elder Thorneycraft was of the
)inion that nobody could ever possibly l
gain doubt that parents knew much bet :,
r than their children what was best for il
lem, while gentle little Mrs. Maxwell Il
IMPLY Endorsed everything and every =
)dy.
Catherine and Talcott simply smiled, as A
is easy for US all to smile when the =
orld and events suddenly wax auiahle. T