The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-06-24
A CONSPIRACY
BY MARTHA M'CUlLOCh-
WILLIAMS.
Copyrighted, 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.


beauty and belle. Linda her sister,
elder by two years, was neither.
According to the countryside, Linda
was even ugly.
People who were all for roses and
aimples and sunshiny smiles saw no
beauty in Linda's olive complexion, her
severely classic profile and the slim
figure, which they called thin.
She did not smile much, and she
laughed SO rarely in public that gossip
said she did not know how. Before
she was sixteen she had been set down
as a predestined spinster.
1t was far otherwise with Berta, who
was a damask rose embodied in ador-
able flesh and blood. Linda at twenty
one had never had a beau. Berta's
conquests could not be reckoned upon
all her fingers.
At first Berta liked to have Linda go
out with her, finding in her dark pallor
a fine foil for her own charms. But
after awhile she grew in a strange,
unaccountable way resentful of Linda.
1t seemed a reflection on the family
that its elder daughter was so nearly
q social cipher. At least that was
what Berta told herself. Everybody
feels the sovereign need for a good
excuse to justify an unkind action.
Not for worlds would she have ad-
mitted to herself her feeling really had
its origin in certain praises of Linda
spoken by a man when she herself had
resolved to marry.
Aston Wade was the man. He was
the catch Of the county. He lived
twenty miles away and had not known
the Lee girls until six months before.
Then they had met at the county fair,
and after that they had not been able
to go anywhere without finding him
there. Not that they objected. Wade
was the kind of man to whom no one
could object-not even a young woman
predestined to spinsterhood.
Linda danced but rarely; therefore
Berta had well nigh monopolized AL
ston's attention. He had made oppor-
tunities, for all that, to talk with Lin
da and had even been unwise enough
to tell Linda's sister that she rested
and cheered him as might fresh and
fragrant breeze.
Berta had cooed that Linda was
truly the dearest old thing. When
they were home again and for weeks
thereafter she did not spare the dear
est old thing one possible pin prick.
you won't be lonesome. All the old
maids in town are sure to be at the
Ansleys'," she ran on as they stepped
into the carriage. She had been hop
ing Linda would not go to the lawn
party. 1t was the first of the season.
Nobody but Peggy Ansley would have
risked such thing thus early, even
though May had come in summer
warm.
1T would be better If you'd put on
a black frock, short one, and white
apron. Then you could help serve
things" she went on.
Linda smiled gravely. And you
could have worn my chip hat" she re-
piled, with a faint twinkle. 81 know
it's almost as becoming to you as you
as grow older"
1.-THE hat doesn't matter. If people
see me they never think of what have
on" said Berta. I'm not just part OF
the scenery, like some people"
Linda flushed and made a motion to-
ward the carriage door, almost as if
she would leave 1t. In a moment, how
ever, she sank back on the cushion
saying evenly: "Well, after all, the
scenery has its uses. Anyway, I'm 60
ing to have the best time l can. AS
you say, shan't be lonesome. Peggy
says she's asked everybody in town
over six months old"
Eyes, / know it'll be the same as q
Sunday school picnic. ! fully expect
to see you marching about looking like
the head of an orphan asylum" Berta
commented spitefully. Linda only
smiled again. After a minute she said
very slowly: "At least I'll escape tag
ging that way. And you mustn't be
spiteful If for once l have more fol
lowers than you"
Soon they rolled through the Ansley
gates in sight of green lawns, flower
decked and soft as velvet. Knots OF
people hecked the turf, the women
brave in light spring garments and ever
the men showing hints of the seasons
enlivening in their more sober attire
Children ran around picking flowers
unhindered or flung them down to rol
ecstatically on the grass. Berta los
her scowl at the sight She was G
woman for all her hard ambitions.
Linda longed to gather the fodder!
in her arms and carry them off to fairy
land. She controlled herself and walk
ed decorously among them, only stop
ping now and then to pat a touslet
curly head.
She had on rose pink frock, will
smothers of fine lace at throat and
wrists. Somehow in spite of Bertai
taunts her spirits had risen until he
mood matched her appearance.
More than one person looked afte
her, half startled, as she passed along
Young men for the most part made {
rush for Berta and hung about her al