Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-11-24

placidlty, pulled of his boots and then
put them on again, In place Of his slippers,
causing Milly to shrek with delight.
In addition, the supper table was spread
with one OF Mrs. Brant's choicest white
Powered cloths, and set with silver and
| glass that seldom saw the outside OF the
china closet. In the kitchen two great
juicy steaks lay on the table, in close
| proximity to the smoking-hot stove,
awaiting the proper moment, which would
be when Lillian came racing in from the
gate to announce that Kate was in sight.
billy, stop swapping your eyes that
way" said Mrs. Brant, with a laugh.
"A blind man could see that something
was up. Go wet your hair and I'll brush
It, 1 want to slick you up little Bit"
| What do you want to slick him up
for?' asked Brant, gravely, and he no
| ticed for the first time that his wife had
| on her silk waist. She'll know some
things up, sure, II Billy's hair is combed. +"
Sure enough!' she cried, in amuse-
ment. But as soon as she sees the table
she'll know it, anyway. And l think it
would be a nice Idea for you and the
boys to slip into your good coats. You
know how she appreciates anything Of
that kind"
She paused. smiling wistfully. Brant
looked dubious. He could buy his daugh-
| ter plano for her birthday. but to put
on his best coat-that was another thing,
not to be lightly DONE Nothing less than
church or a funeral could ordinarily lure
forth the black, limiting garment.
II suppose mebee / could" he admitted
finally, rising slowly. II don't know when
I'll get a new one. though-now."
1T Is who will do without the new
things. Henry" said his wife, happily,
resting hand upon his stopped shoulder
Il claim that as my privilege-it is my
| contribution to the piano"
| AS Brant disappeared in the bedroom
just of the sittlng-room, she charged
| Billy to run to the barn and tell the boys,
who were feeding and bedding the stock.
| to go secretly to their room when they
were done and put on their best coats
| and not come down until the supper-be
rang. But first she buttoned him into
his little double breasted jacket, hitherr
| to reserved for Sundays, cautioned him
not 10 get dirty. and kissed his shining
face.
1t was nearly six o'clock when the door
quietly opened and there stepped into the
| deserted sittlng-rOom a slight young
woman with girlish but proudly lifted
| breast, well-braced shoulders, midnight
! hair, and a peculiarly agile carriage. A
single glance into her sober. purple eyes
made 1t plain how the big rowdy boys In
her school had been quelled, after having
| put more than one man teacher to flight
She looked tired now, though, and some-
| what pale; and after laying down her
little lunch basket and a thick heap of
| examination papers, she removed her hat
and pressed her delicate fingers to her
temples. There was something vaguely
/ suggestive of discomfort in the movement
| Then she went up to her room to wash
and comb her hair for supper.
| 1t was a little thing, this Withdrawing
to wash her hands, but to the family, who
/ washed In a common basin in the kitchen
and dried themselves on a common roller
| towel. there was something nunlike and
| devotional about II. And II contributed
with a score OF other refined habits. to
make her room little less than sacred to
the men Of the house, and to crown her
with a halo OF inviolability. In fact, II
Henry Brant could have expressed him
self in his higher moods, he would have
said that an angel had been given to his
keeping.
Have we beefsteak for supper" asked
Kate in surprise of Lillian, upon her re-
turn, detecting the savory odor which
penetrated to the sitting-room.
Yes" answered Lillian, biting her lip
to hide a smile.
Did father go to town this after
noon?"
yes. and took Billy. That's why he
went homo at noon"
/ 90 nome at noon any
more without my permission"
At sight Of the brilliant dining liable,
Kate came to an abrupt halt on her way
to the kitchen to help her mother give
the finishing touches to supper. At the
same moment Mrs. Brant opened the
| kitchen door,
'Have we company, mother?" asked
the daughter, hastily.
Yes. Didn't Lillian tell your"
why. no." She shot a questioning
glance at Lillian, and then looked down
at her clothes. II can't appear in this
old skirt. Who is it,"
Her mothers eyes twinkled. Some
one that you won't have to dress up for.
A young lady who has just reached her
majority"
"Ah mother!" exclaimed the girl, at
once relieved and pleased, and kissed her.
II didn't know whether any Of you would
! think of 1t or not, and I'm so glad Is
that what the beefsteak is for, tOoY" she
added, laughing.
Yes" said Mrs. Brant reaching for
| the bell.
The men filed in in their impromptu
| splendor. Lon grinned rather foolishly
as he ccaught Hates rougish eye. To be
sure, their black coats did look a little
ridiculous above their rusty trousers and
course, mud-stained shoes But when the
latter were tucked under the table the
hastiness OF their makeup was betrayed
only by the collars Of their gray flannel
shirts.
Kate looked up and down the table.
| after grace, with bright eyes and flushed
| cheeks. How easy II was to make her
happy None OF them needed to feel her
| pulse to know that her heart was fiutter-
! ing.
''You don't expect a speech, 1 hope"
said she, and though she smiled bravely.
there was an undeniable shyness In her
eyes as they fitted from one to the other.
mo more than your face has already
made" said Web with his quiet smile.
He, perhaps. understood her best Of ALL
II want to tell you all, though" she
added, how happy you have made me
This is almost compensation for the very
ancient feeling l have had all day.
wouldn't OBJECT to getting old II l could
also be getting on. Now II could Ket q
school In town next fall. and take music
lessons, and beg. steal, or rent piano e