Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-12-16
A CHRISTMAS C0URTSHIP.

! nave ndd under dlTerent circumstances.
The cool, buoyant air-with a certain
crispness about it that the ocean allows
even to the metropolis on occasional win
ter afternoons-might have been hot and
sultry and the fact would not have mat
/ tered to Van Story.
To man in love, summer and winter,
spring and autumn, lose their variety.
Her last look-the radiant, responsive
smie-the slight pressure of the hand
a hidden language of the voice-what are
seasons wars, politics. earthquakes or
any other paltry human interests com
pared with these?
And yet there was a certain seasonable-
/ ness in Van Story's thoughts as he walked
/ deliberately along-deliberately and not
with the Impotence that love manifests
usually, because he knew that on this par
| ticular afternoon Miss Pinkton was not
alone. rs she ever alone?" he had
/ thought to himself gloomily, when he had
started out. Il can't talk to her on a
walk with people all around. staring at
/ us, and this is about the only chance
/ have o for half day of last summer!
| Thirty minutes in that pavilion would be
/ all | ask for. But what shall l give her
/ for Christmas? Flowers and books are
tame. and yet anything moro"
While he was engaged in his reflections,
/ he suddenly same across his old chum
/ Castleton who was by the way Miss
PinlSton's cousin. "Ah. old man. whittier
away? But I think can guess"
said that dapper individual. looking him
over half critically well. Dorothy Is
at home, and surrounded by all sorts and
conditions Of men. I've just come from
/ there. And. by the way you're wanted"
Wanted where?-at Miss Pinkton's?"
said Van story-as If he didn't know
Sure" said Castleton. There's going
! to be a church trimming tomorrow night
and Dorothy has agreed to take charge Of
/ IT. She wants you to help-she told me
| to tell you il saw you"
Who else is going to be there?"
Castleton took his friend by the arm.
and for a moment they both turned and
looked over the solid iron palings down on
the snow garnished little grass plot in
| front of the brownstone dwelling house
as IT, for one instant, they had mutually
agreed to turn their backs on the world
"Od man. he said affectionately, I've
been thinking about you all the way from
| Dorothys, and hoping should meet you
| suppose II you really could see Dorothy
alone for an hour or so. you'd like it,
wouldn't your"
ly.
You know how feel about that girl. Of
course he said, but this beastly town
always stands in my way"
Il know it. I've been in the same boat
| myself-simplv can't see her alone Peo-
u
/ rants and at home brothers and parents
and others always dropping in Oh. I've
| been there. But Dorothy's worth having.
/ Dorothys all right I take a personal in
terest, YOU know. because I've known YOU
| both so long. and it just occurred to me
/ that this church-trimming affair might
give you opening"
/ Il don't see how" replied Van Story
| 'There'll he lot Of church buffers there
/ will there not? The superintendent Of the
U md ha urfn.a OF Io
| young mems Bible class and SO on"
We'll. you can get her off in n corner.
/ can't you?-or get rid of the rest OF them
/ in some way Tell them it's postponed
there's your chance. old man. Christmas
comes but once a year-make the most Of
! it."
Van story turned and grasped his
friends hand. There may be something
in it. old chap" he said AT any rate l
| thank YOU. And now / must be off"
Van story when he arrived at the Pink
! ton mansion. was agreeably surprised to
! find that the crowd had diminished-there
| had been an afternoon tea. and this was
the tail end Of 1t.
1T was very good Of you to come. even
If you are late" she said. You don't do
this sort OF thing very often. do youe"
Not any oftener"-Nan Story was go
ing to add than I can help" but stop
ped himself for instant Then he
thought II better to be strictly honest and
so he added-"than I can help. hate
this sort Of thing" he continued. looking
her frankly in her blue eyes because.
YOU know, it's so unsatisfactory"
sir" she pouted back do you mean
to say that my tea is unsatisfactory
He nodded. For me. | mean" he adj
ded. He lowered his voice, although this
was hardly necessary. as three women
| on their right-the left-overs-were dis
cussing the opera.
Il shall never be able to see YOU alone"
/ he said.
We'll, haven't been trying to for
weeks?"
She smiled.
IF at first you don't succeed. try. try
again. BY the way. will you help us trim
the church tomorrow night?"
That's manual labor"
Il know it. and that's what want you
for. II you don't like teas. you surely will
enjoy trimming a church. That will give
you something to do. know you are
strong, because you used to play foot ball.
and besides. you look strong"
do really? So does a hired man"
She pouted again.
Now I intended that for a compli-
ment. and it was horrid of you to turn II
the other way But you will come, will
you not? You know the church-the large
old-fashioned brick that sets OFF the av-
enue The sexton will have the ladder.
and the greens have all been ordered"
Van Story smiled at her enthusiasm
who's going to be there?" he asked.
Let me see They've placed me in
charge of the affair. you know because I
really felt 7 ought to do something this
year, and there will be four others to help
the superintendent, Mr.. Pumpton; the
infants Bible class teacher, Mr.. Huddle
the assistant organst. Mr.. Wringer. and
Vestryman Springer-that makes six in
all, doesn't it-counting us imp
Van Story arose.
That's four too many" he said, as he
held her hand. Don't you think SOP"
Yes" she said softly. "But-youll
be there, won't you? Surely?"
I'm be there" he replied. 'Tomor-
row night at eight"
AS he walked back down the avenue.
| Van Story almost shouted to himself in
the exuberance of his new thought. Here
at last was his opportunity, after so much
waiting-after the long days spent in hop
ing against hope that the next time he
might stand face to face with this beau
, tiful girl and tell her how much he loved
her-here, at last. was his chance He
, hastily repeated over the names OF the
, church trimming party that he might not
forget them. He would go to the sexton,
, find their addresses, and the rest was
, easy.
That individual was at home. reading
: the afternoon paper, which he put down
, apologetically as Van Story entered.