Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-06-16


plantation Business went on very prosperous.
aud wealth flowed in through numerous chan.
nels In short, he became independently rich,
and lived at ease.
But in time, tho smooth current Of his pros
periiy became slightly interrupted by the dis
honesty Of his partner lie COLLECTED together
a large sum Of money, and then eloped. lie
did not regard the amount taken, so much as
/ he did the manner IN which il was done. lie
was willing to give almost nHy amount, II tho
case required il, but was unwilling to be robbed
Of even small sum. Il was not the love of
money therefore, but the love of justice, that
induced him 10 pursue his partner and If he
ever caught him, he should suffer for the wrong
he had committed, unless he became peni,eni.
lie ascerlained thai his parner.oo the nor
thern route and he, without a npment's de-
lay, packed few clothes in a trunl, took what
money he happened TO have by him, and started
in the stage after him lie did nd expect to
travel far, before he should find him; but as he
continually heard Of him he was Induced 10
continue tho pursuit. At Baliimor, his part
ner was two days ahead Of him 1t Phiadel-
phia, he had lefi the day before " came at
New York, person resembling him left on
the morning of the day he arrived and at Bos-
ton he could gain no intelligence Of him, al
though ho made diligent search ant enquiry.
Here, bis funds became exhaused, and he
could neither proceed further, or return home.
And to render his situation still more disagree
able, the stage driver had lost hb trunk some
, where on the road lie now bund himself
without money, without change Of wearing
apparel, long distance from hone, and among
! entire strangers He concluded, he must stay
somewhere at the north, until ne could have
| time to write home and ob.ain a supply ofmoD-
, ey. He happened to reeolect that his ances-
tors were from some par Of New England /;
and hearing that persons Of his own name lived
in the town where he hen was, or in the vi
} ciniiy, he was inducedio spend the intermedi-
ate time in that neighb.rhood.
This story, told witt such an air of sinceri-
iy and truth, interested the feelings ofhis hear.
ers a good deal in hn behalf; among which
1 were the father OF Lu,y, other farmers in the
! neighborhood, and people Of the village. Mr..
0 p invited the unfortunate stranger 10 call
o at his house, and speni some days with him
b This invitation he very thankfully accepted, and
: agreed 10 call the nex,day.
: In the meantime, be called for pen, ink anc
a paper, wrote a letter home for money and will
0 all due formaiiy, publicly deposited it in ih'
= village post Office. lie also made some en-
Q quiries about the family he intended TO visit
), and gained their whole history PARTICULAR,
that of the uniniormed, secluded, aud artlesi
Lucy.
The next day, according 10 his appointment
s he called at the farmers house. The gentle
n man himself was not at home and il so hap
i penod, that Lucy came 10 the door to let hin
y in. On opening il. she asked if he was tn
y gen,lcman her father had invited but h
a is.~ri--s i-.i--.-e and seemed 10 b. L.
}, in wonder She invited him -, and aiier
while, he slowly walked into the house and 50
c down in a chair. The best room had been CO
n pecialy fitted up for the reception OF the stran
IS ger, and Lucy herselfhad on her Sunday dress
v and her fine dark hair was done up with unusu
Il al care. On recovering from his trance, he be
6 gan to make an apology for his singular conduct
: He said he had travelled much over the worl
is had seen much OF the female race, and see
is many ine ladies' but his heart had been Ut
touched and he had hitherto led a single life
Rut when the door opened, and her form siruc
his sight, the effect was almost overwhelming
Y He was persuaded that the long sought fair on
+ had made her appearance, and felt in his heai
e that she was the one destined by heaven to max
r, him happy man.
h This strange harrangue, so unlike any thin
10 that had ever been addressed 10 her befor,
,e cansed strange ideas to float through Lucy
r brain. She blushcd like crimson, as any lad
i onght, when so pointodly ilatiered and admired
,e and in her turn became as speeehless as her in
r passioned lover had been few moments bcfor,
II For a short time "expressve silence" reigne,
le AT length, the stranger, perceiving Lucy ha
somewhat recovered from her agitation, apol'
gized for the liberty be bad taken and state
that his general appearance, and the garb !
had on, might possibly prejudice her again
him and cause her TO reject any proposals
might make, and perhaps, decline his furiht
acquaintance, but could she only know his RET
situation in life, and the cause Of his iravellin
in his presen, plight; he much misjudged he
expressive face, il it did not indicate hea
w much more inclined to pity than condemns
Is Like the ill-iated Desdemona Of old, she bad
r him tell his story and as he told it, she S
10 by his side and 'deyoured up the speech"
ne was a second edition of his village story, muC
&C improved, enlarged and embellshed and
as look, word and manner, calculated 10 make q
er impression upon much less susceptible hea
mt than Lucy's. While she listened 10 'lhe voi'
ey of her charmer," strange thoughts fit throug
9 +; her brain, and unusual sensations played rour
y (; her heart. He perceived at glance, the il
in preston he had made and by the time tea wi
he announced, he could safely call the day h
er own. Thus, in the short space ola few hour
N a regular siege had been laid by perfect stra
ng ger, to ladys heart, aud ''ihe battle foug
he and victory won."
p- The stranger, thus initiated, became an i
k, mate in the family, and soon an open al
Ie, avowed lover Of the daughter. She, by b
d I; industry and economy, had laid up of her ear
re- ings about four hundred dollars and to mai
= her lover appear respectable, among her frien
de and acquaintanees, she Appropriated porti
he Of 1t to make The necessary additions to h
at wardrobe. She procured him full suit fro
top to toe, not forgetting an abundant supply