The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-10-31
VIM. F. McDevitt,
Dorset and South Dorset, Vermont

Mrs Farley glowed with pleasure.
"Tll tell that TO Josiah" she exclaimed.
"lie thinks there's nothing like the
farm, And ] hope" she added, that
N you're passing by this way you'll
stop In and see us some time again"
Fanshaw promised that ho would
All at once the ehatterins groups on
the hotel eeranda seemed vapid and
unintcrcstlng. lie discovered that golf
and tennis bored him unutterably.
Even the plans for the flower cotilou
10 be held three weeks hence failed 10
inspire him, though only the day he.
fore he had been one OF the prime NOV.
ers OF the Innovations Tho sweets Of
popularity had become suddenly taste.
less, for the very reason perhaps that
Fnnshaw had had more than his share.
Every one liked the broad shoulder.
ed, frank eyed young fellow, from the
senior partners OF the law firm where
he was making conspicuous progress
to the frecklcd urchins that followed
him abont the golf course. He had
won his own way up. His friends
wore the friends OF a man who had
seemingly inexhaustIble supply OF ma.
tive energy and pluck. He worked
hard, and when time for recreation
came he played hard, throwing himself
Into the enjoyment OF his present va
cation with all the zest and ardor OF
boy
His plans now had but one focus
polnt--the Farley farm. Sometimes II |
was In the morning he rode over, some |
times late afternoon; but whether late |
or early, fate favored him. Esmeralds |
was always there, now molding butter
with swift touches Of her deft fingers,
how pui,ing up tiny marauding weeds |
from the thrifty flower beds And, as |
always, her talk, beginning where It
might, ended with the perpetuaiiy fas-
oinating topic,of the city. Again and
again he was forced TO describe It for
her, while Esmeralda listened with un.
tg9ing attention, but when, to amuse
fSr, he tniked Iigfitfy Taid clcverly or |
the summer colony at Berkeley she
paid little heed till he mentioned the
flower cotillon, and then she was Hike
a child In her eagerness. W
"Would you like to got" asked Fan
shaw without waiting TO consider the
wisdom Of the impulse.
Esmeralda was radiant, though Mrs.
Farley was dubious concerning clothes.
Yet when Fanshaw rode over next
morning II appeared that the question
had been joyfuly settled, and Esmer-
aida called to him from the upstairs
window that II he would only wait she
and Mrs. Farley would be down. Aft.
er short pause they came, Mrs, Far
ley first in a brown silk dress whose
sleeves ind panniers had graced fash
ions that held sway some ten years
ago, while Esmefada's pale blue cash
mere belonged to, an even earlier
period,
They were so innocently pleased with
what Mrs. Farley termed their TX
lngs" that Hollster Fnnshaw had not
the heartto protest fie tactfuily sug-
gcsted that the road 10 the hotel was
long and dusty and would work havoc
with such flnery and that the simple
sprigged mnslins that Esmeralda wore
every day would do equally well,
whercat Mrs. Farley merely smiled
aud produced two long black botnba-
zine cloaks an,edatln2 c,en the brown
silk and blue cashmere These. she
said, would cover Them from head 10
foot go closely that not d speck Of dust
coilld penetrate.
For moment fanshaw weakened.
He had feeting vision Of these twa
nbsurdly old fashioned figures among
the ultra smart crowd Mt the Hillbrook. ,
Then his eyes. met Esmeralda's, so !
i-sparkle with anticipation, and he IN
wardly called himself coward and ,
snob. Whatever the outward symbol
AZ dress might De. there was not n girl
II lillbrook who could compare With
his princess Of curds and cream. ,
The night Of the dance was clear ,
md cool A breeze swept across up. I
and and meadow. Even the loqua. !
ious Mrs. Farley seemed 10 feel the ,
summer silence and on the way from
he farm 10 IIlllbrook spoke hardly
yGd Esmeralda, too, was quiet
from the folds Of her all etshrouding !,
,lack bombazine cloak her neck rose ! !
white and slender Her cheeks were :
alntiy flushed. her eyes like stars.
;ever. thought Fanshaw, had she look. :
d more beautiful.
Some people on the broad hotei
eranda paused curiousiy 10 watch the
rival of Hollister Fansbaw and bis
nests, :.
The moment That passed while Mrs =
'arleg ind Esnieml1a removed their g
graN @as miserable one for him. u
he world was fuil OF gnois. suppose n
Is dairy divinity should be slighted. ..