Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-06-19

been a friend to her adored brother
when that brother needed one, and
while she had written him a dozen
chatty letters which might be printed
for all the privacy they contained. she
had studiously refrained from allow.
ing him to infer even that she had any
sneciaI interest in his actions.
When they arrived home Albert was
on the piazza and Aunt Susan had sup
ner waiting. The table was set with
blue ware of a very old and quaint pat.
torn. and when Alice had filed a bowl
with lilies for a centerpiece they gather
ed around and passed things" in true
country fashion The evening was I'M
usually warm for June, and after the
two young men had smoked and chat
rcd for half an hour Alice appeared
dressed in spotless white, with a half
omen lily in her hair and another at her
throat. The moon, which was nearing
its full. sh0ne through the open spaces
of the yineclad porch and added an
ethereal touch to the sylphlike picture
she presented.
well" she remarked cheerfully as
she seated herself near her brother,
my time is yours, and what can l do
to entertain you"
Il had planned to take Frank to a
trout brook tomorrow morning." re-
sponded Albert, land in the afternoon
YOU and he can hunt for mill ponds and
grottoes, if you like, or gather laurel"
"And leave me alone all the fore
noon?" put in Alice. mo, thank you.
I'm shut up for five days, and you can't
get rid of me SO easily. Why can't
go too?"
I'm agreeable" replied her brother
"only a trout brook is not nice walking
for lady"
"Pm aware of that" she responded
"and you two can go fishing, and I'll
hunt for laurel In the meantime. We
can take a basket Of lunch with US and
make a day Of it In the woods" Then
as possible contingency presented it
self to her, she added: "Why not le
me invite my friend, Abby Miles. to g
for company? She and can pick lau
1
harmless little trout you want we Cal
meet where we leave the wagon ant
have a picnic"
THAT suits me-" said her brother
and without waiting for further dis
cussion this diplomatic fairy in whit
arose and remarked: "Tn get shawl
and then I'll trouble you, Mr. Mason
to escort me over to Abby's. It's oni
few rods, and / want you 10 NEE
her. She's ever 90 nice"
The plan as mapped by Alice wa
carried out to the letter, and when tn
two young men Joined the girls at moo
they found a broad fat rock in til
woods had been covered with table
cloth and spread with tempting mea
The girls had gathered great bunche
of pink laurel, and cluster of it deck
ed the table After dinner Alice insist
ed that they visit the mill pond one
more, and when they returned at nigh
with two baskets of trout and laure
and pond lilies enough to stock a f1oWe
stand the day was voted an eminen
success.
EduA udue one error, however, 10
just before they left the mill he slipped
away unobserved and, finding the mill
er, put a bit of paper into his hant
with the remark, Keep this to pay TO
the boat" and left him hurriedly
When the old man made examinatio
he found he had a five dollar bill. L
surprises of this kind he was not az
! customed, and before noon the next da
there wasn't man, woman or child i
Sandgate who had not heard of it.