Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-07-22
,RMONT PHOENIX, BRATTIEBORO FRIDAY JULY

her draperies, settled herself on the grass
and with n sigh of WEAKNESS united her
! bonnet strings, throwing them back.
Miss Kitty took off her bonnet and
| black mits She spread out the white
napkin from the cookie box, on the grass,
and put bunch of pink roses in the
centre. The cookies and strawberries
were laid here and there, on little plates
/ made Of interviewer maple leaves.
you are taking a heap of trouble
| seeing you're SO tired"
Miss Kitty looked up. II couldn't bear
| we should have all our getting ready and
| walk and everything for nothing All
/ the morning, l was wishing we could go
] some where, or do something. il was such
/ "a perfect -Elizabeths note seemed
| like an answer to the wish-and I'm de-
| tcrmincd to have my good time some
/ how"
She stuck a rose in her belt and sat
/ down opposite Miss Hannah. II wonder
| what Elizabeth would say, to see us?''
/ THAT we wcre-my gracious, who's
/ this comng?"
Miss Kitty sprang up. IT'S the min
/ ister,"
Mr.. Gray came hurryng towards them.
/ then he stopped astonishcd. Miss Win
throp! And Miss Kitty"
For the first time I'm her life, Miss
/ Hannah failed in due outward respect
| to the cloth. But it was the first time
she had been discovered by this or any
/ other member of 1t, occupying such a
lowly position. 1t was all very well for
| Kitty to spring swiftly up--she was
young and light on her feet
Good afternoon" Miss Hannah held
out her hand You will excuse my not
| rising?'
rs it a picnic?" Mr. Cray asked. land
may | join? I'm very fond of picnics."
| IT'S a garden party Miss Kitty an
swered, blushing a little.
I'VE shall bc most pleased to have you
join us" added her sister.
1t was a very pleasant little affair.
Before she knew it, Miss Kitty found
herself explaining the why's and where
fore's of this very modest garden party.
II too heard that Mr.. Winthrop was at
The Naples and, as l wanted partic-
ularly to see him on a matter Of business,
l came over" Mr. Gray explained.
Il am sorry you should have been dis
| appointed" Miss Hannah said
Il assure you, l am very glad that
came DO you know Miss Winthrop.
that | have been your pastor for six
months, and this is the first time you
have asked me to take tea with your"
OF course Miss Hannah knew it, and
in her hosptable soul had often deplored
the necessity for this lack Of hospitality.
But Mr.. Gray was good looking forty,
unmarried-she was not going to give
people chance to say that she was try
ing to catch him for Kitty. She could
hardly explain this to Mr.. Gray, how
ever.
Unconsciously, Miss Kitty came to her
rescue. We've not asked you to tea
with US today" she said. and her voice
had a ring Of laughter pretty to hear
She was pretty to look at too, under the
flush Of excitement Her look of prim-
ness had disappeared, and something of
her shyness.
Mr.. Gray took out his note book Then
you are going to ask me-What day
shall it be, Miss Winthrop? Suppose we
say Monday-that, you know, is clergy
mans leisure day-and you will have
cookies for tea-and strawberries?'
We shall be very happy to see you
on Monday. sir" Miss Hannah said. and
the words if little formal, were per-
fectly sincere.
Far away, through the stiffness, they
caught the sound of the village clock,
striking the hour.
six o'clock" Miss Hannah said Kit
~. suppose you show Mr.. Gray the rose
garden before we go. I'll wait here,
thank YOU sir" as the minister offered a
hand to assist her in rising.
Miss Hannah only waited, however,
until their backs were turned then she
scrambled to her hands and knees. and
from thence to an upright position.
/ There she gasped, smoothing down
her skirts, that's a deal better than be-
ing hauled up by a man" She gave a
Mrs Palmer. Maybe it's just as vel
, Sally wasn't about. just now. After all,
t don't know which is worse-to be short
and stout, or long ana stiff?"
The walk home did not seem so long
= to Miss Kitty. Whether the fact that Mr.
, Gray insisted on accompanying them had
! anything to do with II is not known-as-
suredly, his presence in no wise lesseneC
+ the distance FOR Miss Hannah.
Mrs. Day was out on her porch, as tn,
II
70 also; possibly she had staid to tea foi
e the express purpose Of seeing the sis
r I tiers return.
j Miss Hannah felt the curiosity in theil
eyes pursue herself and her companions
20 all the why to the Winthrop gate. ..
reckon. they're asking themselves how
z the minister happens to be walking HON,
with us" she said 10 herself. They
4 and all the rest, are bound To find GU
a about that invitation somehow, tina
c eating on the grass business doesn't seen
quite so foolish, the minister being Their,
n and l guess. when folks hear of hi
}, coming to tea on Monday they'll be to,
y busy over that to bother about anything
l. else"
a Certainly there were times when a MAJ
did come In handy.
y kitty" Miss Hannah said later tina
o evening. it is as | thought. Tina
envelope has the last September post
# mark. l never before neglected to thor
$ oughly examine the outside of a letter
/ never will again"
= Miss Kitty was gultily conscious O
,e the fact that down deep in her heart sh
was glad that Hannah had failed to oh
S serve that post-mark. For once she ha
IS really enjoyed tea at The Naples.
~ Nor did AIR. Gray, smoking a quie
pipe on his porch, in the twilight, re
N view less pleasurably the events of tn
r afternoon. For the first time in fort
years he began to realize-what for 81
." months, had been quite patent to nor
$ than one lady in his congregation-tha
n it was time he married.
e. "Elizabeth''-John Winthrop tossed
letter into his wife's lap. Here's new:
Cousin Kitty's going to marry the parse
n, the weddings to be in September-v
ne must give them some kind of blow-ol
o. afterwards, at The Naples"
d. "A garden party would be nice, If II
1T weather kept warm" his wife answers
re Il don't suppose Kitty ever went to
a garden party"
at Which shows that in this instant
lis Mrs. John Winthrop was wrong in h
re ! SuDDOsitiOns