Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-10-07


that looked out of the wall like three
staring eyes slightly askew.
But why didn't you take the shut
ters off to paint them, Miss Ernestine?"
exclaimed the colonel ms irationally.
Ernestine extended her pretty hands
in tender little movement of appeal to
the colonel She pressed her glowing
morning face down among the cool
leaves and blossoms of the chrysanthe-
NUNS.
"Oh, don't tell me- at this late day.
dear colonel that shutters come off"
She was very tempting as she sat there
in her trim little garden, her bright head
catching and holding the sunlight like
a jewel She herself was like a rare
gem, on which one discoveSed new and
beautiful facets at every turn. Her
charms were very penetrating, very
many, very appealing.
The colonel took counsel with himself.
He intended telling falsehood, he also
intended giving it away with the great
white light of truth.
mo, Miss Ernestine" he said, 81
think you were quite right 1t has
always been my theory that shutters
look better afterward when painted on
the house. do not know why; but that
has always been my experience"
She looked up at him gratefully and
he felt repaid.
Presently the colonel left, followed by
his Irish setter Lodusky. For quite a
few minutes after on the homeward walk
he could see nothing very distinctly but
sweet Ernestine's graceful figure, the
peculiar poise Of her head, the charming
gestures of her hands, the dreamy, Ger
manic sweetness Of her face. And this
delightful picture was framed in border
of dancing light and shadow. chrysan-
themums, dwarf roses, and delectable.
inspiring cleanliness and order.
The colonel had attained a certain age.
He had often seen his sisters in the
matutinal hours display themselves in,
well, perhaps picturesque disarray one
might call it, If one were disposed to be
lenient. The colonel wished to COM
NIT himself not swiftly. He desired his
future wife to be his most dainty, his
most beautiful. plaything and idol.
There was, perhaps dash Of Bagdad
and the far east in the makeup of Col.
Bell. He would call on Miss Ernestine
very early tomorrow morning; and
then, perhaps-if-
"Is 1t eight o'clock yeti" yawned
Ernestine, turning over in bed and pre-
sisters sleepy face.
Yes" came the muffled answer.
Ernestine rose, yawned again, pressed
her hands to her frowsy head and
stretched herself luxuriously, blinking
hard to open her eyes. She sent out
one small foot to feel about on the floor
for the badly down-trodden slippers
that lay hidden under the pile Of ruffled
bedclothes that had slipped to the floor
during the night.
Ernestine groaned audibly, the room
was so intolerably, deplorably untidy.
oh dear!" sighed Ernestine Grossly
then stopped suddenly as rather sick
looking wrapper came down over her
head and shut off utterance. do get
up, Anne, everything Is in such nasty
mess"
She kicked a roll Of soiled towels into
a corner, and threw bunch of withered
roses into the trimming slop basin.
When the shutters were flung open she
stepped for moment before the mirror
In it she saw a most dowdy little figure
She nearly laughed out loud. Her
beautiful hair was tumbled about her
shoulders and standing absurdly at skies
and sevens. Traces Of yesterday morn
ings chocolate adorned her wrapper
front.
II certainly am little-fright!" she
laughed.
She thought languidly OF the trans
formation that would take place when
she donned the fresh pink wrapper now
lying across the back of a chair in the
next room, and OF the effect OF knot
of young rosebuds at the belt.
The beat of footsteps sounded in the
hall. The girls stopped short, and their
eyes met. They came upsettingly near.
then ceased. The sisters still stood
: transfxed. looking at each other
An inQuiring. long. brown nose was
! softly protuded within the crack of the
door.
! 'I.odusky!" screamed Ernestine
Tebbs running to him and beginning
] to pat his head vigorously
"Col. Bell" calculated her sister.
Ernestine had long since raised quick
: costuming to the level of science
Very shortly she emerged distractlng-
J ly pretty, captivating, immaculate as
, the morning, and in time to gather few
blossoms for her throat as she tripped
} down the gravel walk to meet the unre-
} generate colonel. She was as fresh and
sweet as one Of her own favorite blush
I roses that bloomed at her feet. as she
I faced the colonel in that most delectable
OF pink morning wrappers. She looked
) up at him, archly, coyly. from out the
, shadow Of her great garden hat.
Good morning" he said abruptly
| miss Ernestine. pray pardon such an