Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-08-30


whose back was toward him, and whose
eyes, he presumed, to be fixed on her knit
ting, he ventured playfully to raise her hand
to his lips.
lie did not wait to see the flush Of shame
and self conviction which overspread the
face Of Alice. What was there she asked
herself, in her demeanor TO warrant such a
liberty from the lover of her generous friend
and her conscience stung her as If she had
committed a crime. She felt that she had
INDUCED forbidden, and, what to her in
experience, seemed unmaidenly admiration
for him, and she feared that he must have
been encouraged by her betraying it. And
yet she thought, if she had erred, it was done
ignorantly, and was no excuse for him.
But the old lady's eyes had not been on
her knitting. She had observed the unlucky
piece of gallantry in the mantel-gIass, and
looking hard at Alice, she concluded TO
warn her.
Poor Helenp said she 4 wonder what
she would think if she knew how often we
are favored with the company of her lover.
The prohibition Of her father is sufficient
reason for his not spending his evenings
with her, but not for his exhiIiration of
spirits and evident enjoyment in the society
of others
Alice was scarcely able TO restrain her
tears, and hastily bidding Mrs Lennox good
night, she retired TO her chamber The
irailty Of her heart seemed to be exposed to
all. Mr.. Stafford had designed either 10
repfove it practically, or to amuse himself
with it the tone and countenance of Mrs.
I h,J ;oI IL.
kind, noble-hearted Helen, what must she /;
or what would she think and Alice wept
bitterly. To remain quietly in her present
dependence on them would sink her still
lower in her estimation, and she determined
if Helen should not Immediately obtain a
situation for her, to advertise or TO apply at
an Intelligence Office herself She would
rather have been the oppressed sewing girl
of the fancy store than what she was and
then she thought of her mother till her heart
seemed bursting.
| When she had grown calmer she recol-
lected that shortly before her death, her
mother had written and sealed a letter, re-
marking to her, this letter, Alice, is for one
who was dear friend to me in my better
days. He is now living in ailluence few
minutes walk from here When | am no
longer with you, which will soon be, dear
child, take it according TO the direction aud
deliver it into his own hand. 1t may be a
means of securing protection to you
In the absorbing grief which soon fol-
lowed this circumstance, it had been for
gotten. The letter, among other sad me.
morials, had been placed in a portfolio
which Alice now unlocked, and the first
object which met her eye was the letter
with the superscription, Henry Stafford
Esq. the kinsman as she presumed, of the
very man whose levity of disguised severity
had accustomed her present distress. HeI
tears were checked by the surprise she fell
at the coincidence, and by her perplcxity as
to the course she was to pursue. Should
she present the letter, it might produce
some result which would lead him to sup
pose that she was designedly throwing her
self still farther in his way F; should she re
tain it, she would be acting in direct disc
bedience to her mothers wishes. These
TO her, had always been paramount TO every
other consideration, aud she soon determined
that now, as she had ever done, she woult
follow their dictates.
The fine new mansion of Mr. Stafford
was considered too much an ornament o
the city, not to be generally known, anS
Alice, in passing it TO and from Mrs. Fris
bys, had often cast her eyes upon its i'm
posing front. Thither the next mornin,
she directed her way As she mounted tn
steps Of the rich dorlc portico, her hear
| almost failed her, but she thought of he
mother and proceeded.
Fearing that her irresolution might return
she scarcely lifted her eyes when she entere,
the lofty hall, and, at length, she stood be
wildered in the drawing-voom, so far sur
5 passing anything she had conceived of house
hold splendor. The servant placed sea
e and waited TO receive her name.
, "A lady, she timidly said, and immediatel
her summons was answered by Mr.. Staffor
e himself-IIelens Mr.. Stafford Presumin
D that the carefully guarded secret of hi
e indemnity was discovered, he stopped for
, moment surprised and Disconnected, an
a then exclaimed, Miss Nicols Ian uneS
/, pected pleasure thought / should fin
a Helen
: Alice had scarcely looked into his face
? and abruptly drawing the letter from he
n reticule, she returned, Il have letter to dc
: liver to Mr.. Stafford-Mr. Henry Stafford
s as | conjecture the master of this house.
AS she held it out, he recognized tn
/, well-remembered characters, and haslil
r taking il from her hand, he retired with
n to his library. With unsteady fingers h
}, broke the seal. Surprising him to be ignC
e rant of her history after their last meeting
g Mrs. Falkland alluded expressly, but wit
o delicacy, to her trials during the life Of he
s husband, and then gave more minute az
G count of her struggles with i'll health an