Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-07-11

not believe sne nad hearu argnt, ana came
back to him, laying her hand upon his arm and
looking bcseeching into his face. He was an
CRY now. Pride. and more than pride, vanity,
were aroused. What his wife TO have been
behind q counter to hear it said, in after
years, ooh yes Mrs. Allen was shop girl ~
It was not that his treasure would be expose d
TO rude and unfeeng associations it was not
that he would shield her from toll lie shook
her from him
"As true as | am speaking, if you persist in
this will never marry you !"
You nerer shall !"
She turned quietly, but firmly, and went to-
wards the door. There were no tears, no eX>
postuatons. 1t was not her nature. Neither
was that deep, emphatic tone the voice Of pas-
sion But mask had dropped from the real
character of one she had most reverenced, who
had been inve sted. by the halo of her love, with
every high and noble quality.
LUCY"
No answer : and then the woman triumphed
and she irrned her face so that he could see
how deadly pale she was, as she said not rais-
ing her eyes
"God bless you, James, for the happiness of
the past"
He knew that he was forgiven but he also
cit that outwa rdlv, there could be no reconci>
rty came into his mind. Hn felt thai he had
lost when too late TO regain i. But he stiled
remorse and regret by pride and fancicd injury,
as he left the house never to return again.
| There followed wretched, stormy inter-
view with her uuc :. whose anger knew M
bounds when Lucy told him that her engage
mcnt with James Allen was broken. and for
what reason. She was called 'idiot and 'un-
grateful her scheme was rldicuIed and dis
couragcd until Mrs Burton even began to take
her brothers view Of the case, and think that
her daughter had acted nexcusably, when with
a little forbearance she could have retained
the care and love of one who had father's
} sanction TO call her wife. And finally threats
were tried to induce her TO use her influence
, 70 reconcile the family to the first plan pro.
: posed for Mr.. William Burton solemnly de-
( cared that, if the daughter of his brother dis
, graced the family by becoming "a millirer's
1 girl he would dsown her, and his children
r should never recognise her again.
This was great tlal, but harder one had
been borne, and Lucy found friend 10 uphold
r her in her course, when she was so sorelv
| tempted to abandon it. DR.. Howard bad been
for many years their family physician, and had
2 watched her from earliest childhood with no
little interest. His da,ghter Mary was Lucy s
, most intimate friend, and through her he heard
; of all that was passing in the family of his de-
f ceased friend.
G His little carriage was standing at the door
t as Mr.. Burton left tha house. the morning
= of the last interview; and Lucy, still sitting in
the pa7lOr, her head upon ner hands lost in deep
and painful tho't, was reused by his kindly
Q voice and fatherly manner, to be comtorted by
his sympathy and strengthened by his approva !.
g. know all, my little daughter" said the
5 warm-hcarted old gentleman. AS for that
James Allen, you've had a lucky escape, and
I'd willingly see him ="
: "Doctor' interrupted Lucy, for she could
l not hear that once loved name spoken Of SC
; harshy.
"W ell, well, suppose you were fond OF
r him. or YOU never could have promised what
r YOU did But we won't think of that part OF
the subject. Now tell me exactly what yoy
r want to 10, and then we will see if thclc'i q
. possibility of accomplishing IT,"
50 Lucy uniolded her plans more fully than
she had yet done to any one. Their mnc
= was a widow lady, who had under her Glrcc
: ton one of those large work.rooms employing
! twenty or thirty girls Her customers wcr,
! among the wealthest and most tashionabl,
e people in the city, and, as she was very inelli
$ gent and person of excellent taste, they tre
robe, ana in this way Lucy had often Listened
H to her conversation.
Only one month ago. her mother and hcrscl
: were taking Mrs. Hills advice with regard t.
r her own troussaau. part Of which was alread
e purchased: and while Lucy was waiting 70
o her mother to call for her. she had been muc
o interested in a history of Mrs. Illl's own busi
ness experience, resulting from report tim
$ she was thinking ofret!rng before long. l.uc
II found, tD her amlZcmcnt. that, III twenty year
d she had not only educated her family, but say
d ed enough to make her entirely comfortable.
This conversation might have been forgot
tcn,had not a necessity for cXcrtiun being force
J so suddenly upon her; and knowing, from tn
salaries Of her own teachers, that she coul
@ not hope to do moro than maintain herself i
IS that way, Mrs. Hills success flashed upon he
If mind as an encouraging precedent.
J At first she scarcely counted the cost, it
true. She forget that it woul make m entir
I, change in her social position strange as it ma
! seen in Il so called republican country, and a
y boya all, IN city where I" all mon" were fin
e declared to be be equal" She could II,
- Judge, from her own true, affHctionatc nature
n the result such dcision would have on her f
d turc prospects in domestic life. That was I'll
thought which chcercd her at at first, the be,
> N'!l sur lldl was W pHlNt Hcr ulEOuIH al 10
and sclf-dcnial but had bcon quenched, wit
= all else that had made life bright to her An
as yet she knew nothing of actual physical fl
|, tigne or deprivation; this was yet to break u
! on her
DIR. Howard, like true friend, pointed or
n all this kindly, it is true, but in the stronge
d colors and when he found that even then 81
d did not give mp her scheme, he pattel her g,o
o sy curls as he won nave done Mary's, an
d said she was "a little heroine" and he did n
y doubt thai she could succeed.
"Whocver show themselves weak enoua
e to desert y.', my child,' he said, "you ha,
always friend in me remember that, and yc
| must use me when you want advice or assis
ancc. Don't hesitate to come to me in all vor
2, little trials and troubles, and my house shall
!, n second home to YOU
t. Then. TO have her mind relieved of all an,
l. lety on this score AT once, for he saw the 81
s. changes the few past weeks had made in h
worn face, he proposed to 60 at once and col
salt Mrs. Hill, and see how they could manag
'e time and terms. 1t seemed a long hour TO Il
D. cy before the sound ofhs carraige wheels WI
e. heard again; but he came at last, his ia,
Deamin0 with pleasure and fold hor hou, hoe,