Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-02-24

won her Ia admit his gaze, had tam
ed that coyest dove; had become ia
mliar with that sweetest face, and
that dearest irame-Oh the very
thought was agony
In this mood, he arrived at the
farm, and there, working at her
needle, under the vine wreathcd
porch. with the evening sun shining
full upon her. aud her ltile brother
playing at her feet, sal his own Su-
san. She heard his rapid sep, aud
advanced to meet hun, with smile
and blush of deight-iust the
smile and blush Of the picture. At
such moment, they increased his
misery ; he repulsed her offered hand,
aud poured forth a torrent Of qucs-
lions on the subject which possessed
his mind Her innocent answers
were fuel TO his frenzy. "The pic
ture had he seen the picture and
was IT not pretty much too pretty
she thought, bot everybody called it
like and Mary and Ilarry-was he
not pleased with them What a
wonderful thing it was, to make a
bit Of canvass so like living creatures !
aud what "A wonderful man the strange
gentleman was? she had been afraid
oihini, at first--sadly afraid Of those
Two bright eyes-so had Harry; poor
Harry had cried but he was so
merry and so kind that neither Of
them minded sitting to him, now -
Aud she was so glad that Robert had
seen the picture she had wanted
hun to see it; it was too pretty TO be
surc-but then, Robert would not
mind that She had told the gentle
man---'
Go to the gentleman, now" in
torruptcd Robert, and tell him re-
lnqulsh-you 1t viii be welcome
news Colo him. Susan your heart
Is with hun. Go to him, | say -
and throwing from him wl,h bitter
laugh, the frightened and weeping
1ill. who had laid her trembling hand
on his arm to delaln him, he DATED
from the door, aud returned To his
old quarters at the Hall.
Another fortnight passed. and Rob
ert still kept aloof from his family
and home. His mother and sister he
saw occasionally and sad accounts
had poor lille Mary to give to her
friend Susan, Of Roberts i'll looks
and worse spirits. And Susan listen
ed and said she did not care; and
burst into tears, and said she was
very happy, and vowed never to
speak to him again, aud desired Mary
never to mention her TO him, or hun
10 her; and then she asked her a
hundred questions respecting his
looks, md his words and his health :
aud charged her with thousand
tender messages, which with the next
moment she Withdrew. And Mary,
too young to understand the incun-
sisleucies OF love, piiied and comfort
ed, and thought il passing strange.
In the meantime mIsfcnunes were
gathering round Mrs. Kent. The
mealman and baker whose bread she
vepded-her kindest friend and lar
gesl cr,ditor-dicd, leaving his affairs
ia the hands Of an attorney in the
next town-thc pest and terror OF
the whole noighborhood and on the
same day, she received two letters
from This formidable lawyer-oue on
account of his dead client, the baker,
the other in behalf Of his living client
the grocer-who ranked next among
her credilors-both threatening that,
if their respective claims were not
Iiqudated on or before certain day,
proceedings would be commenced
against her forthwith.
1t is ia such a situation that wo-
man most feels her hel plessness,
especially that forlorn creature whom
the common people, adopting the
language of scripture, designate by
the expressive title a lone woman =
Poor Judith sat down TO cry, in pow
crless sorrow and vain self pity. She
opeaed, indeed, her hopeless day
book-but she knew too well that
her debtors could not pay. She had
no one to consult, for her lodger was
absent; time pressed upon her-for
The letters, sent with the usual midi
RICHNESS Of country conveyance, had
been nearly a week on the road
Saturday was the day fixed for the
payment, and tins was Friday night
aud Michaemas and reni-day were
approaching and unable even to look
At this accumulation of misery, poor
Judith laid her head on her fruIlless
account book, and sobbed aloud
1t was with a strangely mingled
feeling of comfort in such son, aud
sorrow so to grieve him, that she
heard Roberts voice at her side, ask
ing, ienderIy, what allied her; She
put the letters in his hands and he,
long prepared for the blow, soolhed
aud cheered her. All must he Civ
en- up he said, 'and he would go
with her the next day To make over
the property. Let us pay, as our
means go, mother, pursued he, 'and
do not fear but, some day OF other,
we shall be able to discharge all our
debts. God will speed an honest
purpose. In the meantime, Mr..
Lescombe will give us cottage-l
know he willard | shall work for
you and MARY. 1t will be something
TO live for. Be comioried, dear