Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-12-14

cause she-they-she couldn't stand for |
the brldegroom-he is a brute, you know.
The twins is going to be, that is, one Of
the twins are going to-well-you know
what / mean, sir.-Mabel or Polly Is at
home alone now. Nows my chance-rm
Oft"
The colonel sank YEARLY back, exhaust
ed with the mental strain. He gazed af-
fectionately after the retreaung figure.
"Bless the boyl" he confided to his empty
glass
Before the colonel had aroused himself
from his revery Bobbie was interviewing
the Duane's neat little maid
Miss Polly at homer"
mo, Mr.. Harrington, sir"
miss Mabel7"
"She is, SIR"
$50 it's to be Mabel" murmured Bob
bic on the way 10 the drawing room. He
walked straight to a window and looked
out upon the avenue, the familiar view
helping him to disentangle his thoughts
from hopeless chaos Into his mind came
the recollection Of a hazy August after
noon; a lonely wood road; the rhythmic
beat of his ponies hoofs, broken suddenly
into insane clatter as the little beasts
had taken fright at some imagin-
airy danger; the wild dash, the fortunate
recovery, and then the sound Of a girls
sweet voice, admiring, grateful, and the
thrill of her little hand on his arm. Had
that been Mabel-or Polly2
Then the avenue before him, wildly
alive in its afternoon gayety, changed to
a moonlit night He was sitting in the
shadow of a broad veranda, speaking
earnestly of life, and big things; of what
| he wished to do, to be- to live for, and to
| die for. The sound of the answering
voice, full OF interest, OF sympathy, stir
red his heart again, as II had on the night
| of which he dreamed when, with the ac-
| compartment of the lisping waves below
in the moonlight, it had been the voice of
| love to him.
Had that been Polly-or the girl he was
going to ask to marry him?
Good afternoon, Robert"
| Bobbie turned and was his own debon-
| air irresponsible self in a moment.
Now lets--not begin that way Mabel;
you give me the shivers. Why not Bob
| bic as of yore?"
''Bobbie is only good for little boys who
| don't desert their friends-its been two
| long weeks" Mabel sank into a chair
| and looked up mischievously Bobbie was
always disconnected by the play Of Mabel's
dimples; they were so adorable-so were
| Polly's, by the way.
HAS it seemed so very very long?" he
said teasingly
IT have actually pinned. My Gowns have
become too large. should have redress"
bad pun" CALCULATED Bobbie, gloom
| ily. But there's a way to remedy that
continued brisixly. do you remember
what said to you on the veranda at the
Wilkes's that Sunday night when the
moon was so particularly bright?'
Mabel pursed her lips and cooked her
head sideways. Il don't seem to remem-
ber," she admitted.
"oh, well, never mind. Perhaps it
wasn't you," said Bobbie, hastily. 1T
was merely a remark about"
"A remark about"
1.-THE water looking wetter at night than
in the daytime"
How Interestingly" Mabel opened her
blue eyes wide and giggled.
Bobbie had learned by bitter experience
that Mabel's giggle was the forerunner Of
mental process-not OF vacuity. as in
most girls. He had incidentally learned
the same about Polly.
He studied Mabels face until 1t showed
signs of reeeptivity Then he began:
There's something very important that
want to say to yeu this afternoon. I'm
so glad Polly is out Your jolly about
missing me for two weeks makes 1t easier
to begin"
Don't tell me you're going away" said
| Mabel, tragically,
NO. I'm not Now don't interrupt me
because I've had an awful job getting my
courage to the sticking point, and want
to get IL over with"
'"This sounds serious" Mabel propped
both elbows on the arm Of her chair and
leaned toward Bobbie 1t was very dis
concerning.
Ever since the day the ponies ran away
with U.S." began Bobbie, desperately, "it
has grown on me. told you some of II
that night on the-oh, that wasn't you,
thought" He stopped in confusion.
1.-THE ponies never ran away with us,
declared Mabel.
| 81 wish Polly were at home, she'd re-
member said Bobbie, ungraciously
well. anyway, this is what wanted to
say: When. in the course Of"
you're starting the Declaration of In
dependence" said Mabel, demurely.
! II can't help that" Bobbie was well
started now when, in the course Of a
! mans life. he finds that he is too much
[ alone that his thoughts, instead of grow
ing larger, are becoming smaller and more
centred about himself, he naturally turns
I to some girl If that girl happens &c
I have nice blue eyes and dimples such az
t no other girl"
= "Oh, but Pollys are just like mine!
exclaimed Mabel with a view to seeing
justice done. The truth Of the remark
staggered Bobbie.
mabel, I'm awfully in love-" he de-
clared solemnly, land 1 want your help
need you. Win YOU"
!, "Oh, there's the telephone!' cried Mabel
, zone. two, three; one, two, three" sound
= ed imperatively from the upper hall
II must answer 1t myself-its Mrs.
= her voice trailed away as she ran up thu
= stairs
Bobbie paced up and down furiously
I his hands In his pockets.
, Now I've done it," he exclaimed saw
: agely. "Gone and proposed to the wronl
Z girl-Its all the coloners fault-confoun'
= him and his suggestions"
i He wondered what he should say L
: Mabel when she returned. So it hadn'
q been she in the runaway, and 1t had beei
], Polly in the moonlight There was n
indecision now. "Oh want Polly-I wan
Polly" he said miserably
a AS though in answer to his appeal tn
y front door opened and Polly, radiant 4
a her wedding fnery few into the room.
!, "Oh, Polly!" exclaimed Bobbie, grasp
- ing the astonished girls hands. NOV
70 let's-have another wedding!'
= ''Whose?" she said in amazement
= Yours and mine, Polly. Oh, suppos
:, this seems abrupt and casual to you, bu
- you see, I've just been talking about IT,.
Are you by any possible chance, seri
GUS Bobbie?"
n do you remember the day Of the run
:. away?"
II Surely" she said, lowering her eyes
"And-and the night In the moonligf
when 1 told you"
y "Of course, of course" said Poll
u hreathlesslV