Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-03-13

| the evening. had admired very much when
{ attributed them to Il stranger, but they seem
ed more beautiful, now that knew they were
g my Carries. wondered. | had never thought
before, they were like her twilight Conversations
= How often had heard beautiful, poetic senti-
ments from her lips, and yet had never dreamed
? that she could speak those sweet fancies. which
charmed me, in the ear of the world.
. The next morning, we went over to fathers
, quite early AS soon as there was pause in
the conversation, told father that thev were
not indebted to mere whim for this call as We
came on business.
:" Eh - said he, seeming to understand at a
glance how matters stood Have YOU found ont
the truth Of what told you, some four years
ago"
And some scores of times since, father if
you mean your maxim, Better is a fortune in
wife than fortune wM wife"
That is it, it loses nothing by repeating but
how much money do you want see, by the
twinkle OF Carries eye, that is your Grand"
We would like all asked YOU to have ready
last week y replied Carrie
Father paid the money, and we left very soon.
Carrie and Charlie were going home alone, while
went to get the rest Of my money and secure
the house, but father sad he must have hand
IN drawing the little man home The good, old
gentleman always grows young and gallant when
with Carrie.
That day writings were drawn which secured
our possession Of the long wished-for cottage.
when we were seated for the evening. Carrie
proposed sending for Kate to come and help
move She said she would write her mother an
account OF my late surprise, but as Kate knew
nothing Of the affair she would not tell her. till
her arrival. was surprised to find that Kate
knew nothing of Carries secret, but was assured
that no one except myself and our parents knew
aught of il. Carrie said she told my father in
order to have his assistance and advice and her
mother because 1t was such pleasure to con-
fde in her. Not even the publishers know
my proper address, added Carrie, " though their
mistake Is OF their own making. have always
signed my letters to them Carrie l.. Clifton, and
they prefix Miss when they write to me. |
have never corrected them, as coming as the let
tiers have done to you fathers care. they have
been less likely to attract the notice of our post
master.
/ kate's letter was dispatched. and we received
an answer, by return of mail, informing us that
she would come in few days, though she was
half inclined to stay away to punish US for our
negligence in emitting to tell her where we were
going to move.
Very soon Kate come. 1t would be useless
to describe her mcrrment when she found how
nicely Carrie had proved that a woman can keep
secret. The fact was so clearly established,
She said she should never need to bride her
tongue. for the credit of womanhood. 1t was
provoking that Carrie had not confded in her,
but she could easily forgive her. since She had
given her such pleasant surprise
There was no alloy to Hates delight, at our
change OF residence. Carrie could not leave our
first home, even for pleasanter one. without
some sad feelings We had been so very hap
py within those walls-God only know whether !,
The new house might prove as blessed home
We well knew that we might not depend on a
nice house or elegant furniture for happiness
hut we trusted that we might learn to value our
new home more highly, for its bright assoca-
not urd the reader with an accoun, OF the nu-
mcrouS and almost endless consultations CON
cernng new furniture, which varied the ordinary
confusion of removal but will assure him that.
when We unanimously declared ourselves fairly /
settled, there was great rejoicing.
Mid all this hustle, had not failed to mark
Carries progress in story, she was writing
several sketches were written and sent but this .
story interested me particularly because it was
TO be printed in a book by itself Each dav she .
seated herself to write for one hour. whatever
might be needing attention. for she said she
could easily make up that time, while the habit /
OF writing at the same hour every morning was
a valuable one
The first evening we spent in our new home
Carrie brought forward all her account books
for my inspection-she said she hoped there
would never be another important secret between
US. lhe surprise was pleasant, but it did not .
quite make up for the interchange of thought .
we might have had during so long a time.
One day, about the first of June, father brought |
Carrie letter, which she read and handed 70 |
me. 1t was from Henry c. Carroll, and inform
ed her that he intended passing through our
village soon when he would be happy to make |
her acquaintance personally. This was the pub .
Usher who had accepted her first efforts to write .
for the public, and had always paid her more
literally than any one else had done. A few
days later, as we were in the parlor, Carrie sing
ing and playing while Charlie, who stood upon
chalr by her side, was arranging ner halr to /
suit his own taste, the door-bell rang. Kate
went TO the door, where she found young gen.
tleman, who, after asking if she were Miss Cliff |
ton, presented his card and requested her to an |
nounce his (Mr. Carroll's) arrival. When he .
entered and found Miss Clifton to be both wife
and mother, the warm blood rushed to his face .
for an instant, but he Immediately recovered his |
self-possession. A lively conversation ensued /
in which he bore his part so well as to draw from
Carrie, after his departure, the remark that he |
was perfect gentleman in appearance. lie was
going farther north, to be gong ten days or a
fortnight, and promised to call upon us again |
when he returned. Meantime the day on which .
Kate was to go home, came. That morning .
she gaily remarked that it was pity she must
go before that handsome fellow came back. She |
should have set her cap for him, if he had not |
come and gone so suddenly that she had no time
to think of it ii was too bad, now she should |
never see him again. Our young lady readers, |
who have talked nonsense and sometimes been
caught, like Kate, will readily imagine that she |
blushed most beautifully, when the door opened |
just as she ceased speaking, and Mr.. Carroll was
announced. Kate wished that handsome tcl-
low" was in the Red Sea, rather than there to
make her ridiculous. Fortunately for her, Char |
lie happened to be pulling beautiful to
pieces over the carpet
90, fie Charlie you make aunty ashamed of
you = said she as she busted herself picking up
the rose petals. How very sensitive Mr. Car !
roll must have thought Kate, if he noticed how
she blushed at a child's mischief. He had fin
shed his business very much sooner than he had
expected, and intended continuing his journey
that afternoon. Carrie informed him that he
and Kate would be fellow passengers, and in
vited him to dine with us. lie expressed his
! nlpo Sura n the nrosnppt of comnanv fnr nort