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

hall paused ana listened long enough to as.
sure myself that Carrie had son7e pupil at the
piano. Thinking my wife might consider M,
company not particularly desirable just then, |
quietly lett the house, not however without no.
ticing that Nellie Colton's bonnet and shaw
were on the hall table. Here was am important
discovery was teaching music How
very rapidly my mind ran over the many times
when her manner had halfcxcitcd my slspicions
that she had some pleasant surprise for me-
Should tell her Immediately that Ihad di,cov-
cred her secret. or wait till | could lead her 10
bctray herself in conversation. just then. saw
the same country lad pass. had no idea, now,
of trusting to Carries questioning. SO |
hailed him. He told me that grand gentle
man had handed him the letter, adding:
ale went by me just before came in here"
had seen Mr.. Cotton pass him, so. dismissing
the boy with another wboie sirDcncc to buy Gin
gerbrcad with, went Immediately to the house
of that gentleman. After little general con-
versation with himself and lady, | said
doubtless you rccollcct, sir sending letter
to me, by country lad. sometime near the first
| of September last 2" He sat a moment as if in
thought, and then said:
"les, remember something of the kind -
! told him was sure he had not written the let
ter and wished to know where he obtained it.
My wife handed il to me, said he, 'who gave
it 10 YOU Eliza?"
81 found it upon my dressing table, She re-
piled.
"Ah' will you explain the circumstances ?" I
asked.
Il found the letter on my return from making
calls one afternoon. Upon inquiry learned
that none of the servants knew ANYTHING about
it; therefore handed it to Mr.. Cotton, that he
might give it TO yoV."
~ very satisfactory account most certainly.
madam but think thatundcr like circumstances
should have mentioned such an event to the
person chiefly interested"
81 spoke of it 10 Your wife, and she seemed to
enjoy the idea of puzzling you very much"
"Doubtless She did; as ! more than suspect
that she wrote the letter herself" Mrs. Cotton
looked surprised and her husband said
Then YOU think it is good joke, do YOU
not"
"les, indeed" l answered, "but l can hardly
be surprised at any pleasure She prepares ior
me-" Finding that understood the matter.
Mrs. Cotton was very willing to converse con-
cerning it. She acknowledged that, when Mrs
Clifton first proposed teaching she thought that
she must be so irregular that none but her init
mate friends would long patronizc her. So far
from this, however. she had always been pune
tual, except very few times. Of which this al
ternoon was one, when she had sent for the girl,
to come to her. told her that Nelies present
lesson had given me an opportunity to discover
the secret. and She thought Carrie would be glad
to find that knew it, Requesting my friends
TO say nothing to my wife OF my call. ior week
or two. took leave.
When went home to tea, found Carrie we'll
at least She said She was and in high glec over
a letter from Kate. in which she announced her
intention of repeating her visit at our house very
soon. All, ha thought |. the secret may rest
till Hates arrival.
She came the next week. After family news
had received due attention, | asked Carrie if She
had told Kate oi my money letter, and the lat
ter answered for her:
i should like a lew such letters as 1nat IN,
own self assure YOU should read them
with deal more interest than do your broth
erlv cpistleS."
Il don't believe she told YOU the whole story.
for she does not know that have seen the boy
again, and that prove much better question
er than She
Carrie first glance of ANXIOUS, vexed inquiry
did not escape my notice, though in an instant
she said, in a confident tone:
Il do not believe YOU have any decided al
vantage over me. for am sure quilzcd that
specimen OF Yankee most numerically"
And found outflow much? Just nothing.
worth knowing. But what meant that startled
glance OF YOURS my dear, when | told you, Ihad
questioned the boy"
80, Katie" She exclaimed, "you don't know
how he pcrsecute> my poor eyes. | mean to
have me some green goggles and then we'll see
if he will always be reading fancy stories in my
face
Would YOU like to know what | just read
there ?"
"Ycs, if YOU can put it into English
"Well, Your eyes said, ! wonder if he did find
out that had any ggenc! in sending that let
ter and'-l continued, laughing, "they now
express that wonder in the superlatve degree.
kate, can yon see any such nonsense in my
poor face ?"
mo. no, Carrie, he is only trying to see what
you will say-pray don't think him in earnest"
But am in earnest, girls Carrie undertook
to teach music, and keep it secret for two
years, and all is discovered i'll less than one"
"No, SIR" said Katie, Indeed it is not so-if
you do know all, can tell you more. Carrie
had been teaching three months, when she made
the agreement to keep it secret, so it has been
more than a YEAR
"And BESIDES" chimed in Carrie, who began
to recover from her surprise. you have not
learned the secret from me---Mr. Cotton has be-
trayed it, think
After teazng the girls while. told them
how had solved the mystery, and received
boxed ear from Kate, for listening in my own
hail. We had a gay time, but enjoyed quite
as well our quiet review of the matter, after
Kate retired. Carrie had six pupils, to each of
whom she had given lessons, twice each week
for year 1t seemed to me almost impossible,
that she could have devoted so much time to
anything without exciting my suspicious but
she laughingly called my attention to the en-
broidery, which, in truth had seemed to me very
like Penelope's web, and assured me that she
had scarcely set stitch upon it, save in my pres
enoe. She wondered had not remarked her
apparently growing iondness for visiting, since
| must have supposed that to be her object each
time she told me of going out. She had placed
most of her earnings in my fathers hands, as
soon as received, and she offered to present her
notes for payment whenever | should wish.
assured her that ! would spend none of her
earnings, unless for some object which she should
wish us much us myself.
In the spring of 1888, charming cottage was
built, upon the very finest situation in our vii
lage. Upon learning that it would probably
have to be sold in u couple of years, to close up
the mortgages, | determined to try to be the
purchaser, | was now doing an excellent bust
ness and able TO Law by quite a little sum quar-