Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-03-06

adjoining conservatory, and seated her
on a bench hidden by ferns.
I'm glad that Dalton seems to be
enjoying himself with the girls this
evening"" he began artfully. "Poor fell
low, his infirmity does make him unso-
ciaDle at times"
His infirmity? Why, what is the
matter with himY' she asked alarmed.
81 have never heard of anything"
"Don't you know that he's color
blind?" he raped out.
'COlor-blind?" Maud echoed.
Eyes. He's really unfit to be among
people. It's a wonder he doesn't make
q guy of himself, going about in green
| trousers and red waistcoat, for he'd
never know the difference. He knows
It, too, and is getting more morose in
consequence. People with such infrmi-
ties are always unpleasant to live with
| for any time"
Doesn't he see any color at ALP"
Maud asked.
"Only blue and yellow, believe" he
| answered.
Maud grew thoughtful, and Stillwell
took her back into the room, curious
to know what would be the effect of
his words. She danced little after that,
and Dalton soon disappeared.
Ten days before her birthday Maud /
Leander suddenly took it into her head !
| to have her parlor re-carpeted and re-
hung.
"Tm tired Of those red hangings,"
| was all the explanations she vouch-
| safed to the aunt who lived with her.
81 want other coIeRs,-blue for the
carpet, and white and gold for the
wall"
at seems foolish to do this now"
said the aunt, disapprovingly. "With
your birthday so near at hand, you
should think how best you can fulfill
the conditions of the will, and deco
rate your rooms afterwards. It's a
trifing matter now.
1.-THE color Of my rooms is by no
means a trifle just now," said Maud
emphatically, and then relapsed into
silence.
"What have you decided to do on
your birthday?" the aunt asked again.
Maud shrugged, with a twinkle in
her eye.
'You know that you must decide
then or lose q life income" the aunt
persisted. at would be pity to have
all that money go out Of the family"
eff can't get the husband 1 want
won't take any, and l don't care who
gets the money. I'm not a bargain to
be given away in that fashion, These
| hangers-On have just disguised me.
| They don't come for me, but for my
money, and 1 won't have one of them.
l want q man who will love me for my
own sake. And if there is none, I'd
rather lose a life income and be my
own mistress"
'You girls are getting altogether too
independent" sighed Aunt Mary, who
belonged to an older generation.
BY the end of the week the room
was re-hung, symphony in blue and
gold, and Maud was receiving the duty
calls after her party. All her suitors
came. And Edward Dalton came, too,
one stormy evening when no one else
ventured out, and Stillwell was kept
away by an appointment.
Entering the parlOr, that in it's bright
cOlOrs had hitherto seemed to him
merely grey, he opened his eyes wide
in surprise. What q transformation
1t was radiant with color and light,
and in this blue glow stood she, no
longer the grey figure he had had all
ways found her, but gOwned in blue
from head to foot. Never had she
looked so bewitching. And never had
she been so gracious. Love over
brimmed his heart, and yet his tongue
found no words to utter it. When,
after an hour he rose to go and her
soft hand fingered q moment in his
for the goodnight and her eyes were
fixed intent on his with q question,
passionate words rose to his lips. Then
suddenly he turned and left her.
Maud went back into her blue-and-
gold parlor with tears in her eyes. Had
it all been an illusion? He did not
care for her? Long and long she
thought it all over. She had done all
what maiden could do to make a man
speak, and all for nothing!
There still was time. Day by day
she waited, but he did not come again.
She lost heart for everything and even
refused to join a party her best friend
gave in her honor on the eve of her
birthday. That evening she wanted to
! be alone, ana gave STRICT orders to the
maid to admit no visitors. Then, gown
ed in her pale blue muslin, she went
down into her blue-and-gold parlor to
weep over the dream Of her hopes that
were vanishing. And as she sat there,
all the color seemed to fade out of the
room.
81 must see Miss Leander, if only
| for one moment
She flew to the door.
ooh, come in Mr.. Dalton. I've been
waiting for you," she burst out, with
so much fervor that his love, too, at
last was kindled into speech.
Whom Aunt Nary cnmn down On