The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-04-01

Is Mr.. Gravson in this evening Y
II was voice sweet. penetrating and
refined voice which / knew at once
must belong to o lady. was in the
back parlor of the hotel, when / heard
the strange, soft tones syllable my
name.
Yes ma'am, answered the waiter,
"hcs mp in his room Shall call him,
! was about stepping forward to an
nounce myself, when the next words,
nasty and ahttle agitated arrested me.
"Oh no; there is no necessity. l
have brought tine gentleman clothes
There are Just two dozen; and if you
viii be so good rs to take them to his
room. he can settle with YOU
| was So overwhelmed with amaze
meut That I stood just where l had
rised up from the lounge, with the pa
per fallen at my feet. until the servant
had gone up to my room But as soon
as / recovered myself | entered the
pallor and confronted the person who
inquired for me, which / did with a
good deal of reluctance, as she evident
~ did not desire an interview; but the
waiter would be certain to discover my
retreat as soon as he ascertained ! was
not in my apartment
She turned her head MS I entered,
for she was gazing ont OF the window,
and | looked for the first time on her
face the face of the woman who had
followed me, quite dim and vaguely,
through the years Of my youth up into
my manhood, coming before me in
dreams and IT'D certain strains of sweet
music coming in its yesture Of shining,
snowy clouds and then vanishing away.
1t is a delicate oval face. neither pretty
nor handsome, and only beautiful when
the spirit within rose up and lighted,
and flied and enriched it, My look
must have embarrassed her for afaint
luttering of color into her cheeks first
aroused me to a consciousness of my
rudeness.
Excuse me, ma'am but / heard you
nquiIing for Mr.. Grayson-
Yes, sir; l gave my message to the
waiter
There was a quick flash Of pain on
the forehead, and sudden compression
of the lips Then she looked up in my
face steadily, and said, in her soft quiet
tones
Il have just brought home you
clothes, sir.
The brave little woman the real,
genuine, ine-grained lady 1t was
her turn to exult now, for was more
embarrassed than she
II was not aware that YOU
/ broke down utterly here, and am
not usually bashful man, and / am
certain that my nerves would not have
been in the least disconnected before
an empress and her suite She saw my
embarrassment and comprehended it.
knew that by the look Of grateful re-
cognition which flashed from her eyes
Il applied for the work, and the
agreement was that [ should return
the work
She spoke with quiet dignity,
which said palmer than words: 1T is
honest work, and ] am not ashamed of
it any longer; and if you think the less
ofme for doing it, the disgrace is yours,
not mine
now knew ON what ground I was
standing, and | drew out my purse.
There were two dozen, believe r
yes; the whole amounts to one dol
lar, she said, as quiet and self-sus-
tanned as though / was a dry goods
clerk and she was one of my customers
: Il pay that for a single dozen in the
city.
placed two dollar note in her
hand, and wished it were n thousand,
though | should no more have dared
offer her this than / would princess
but we don't have such prices in the
country" she said hnttering the note
in her fingers, which saw were slen-
der and small-jointed.
"Well, the work is no easier in the
country, and never pay less.
She thanked me with her eyes and
rose up. | went to the door and open
ed it for her just as she got outside
she lifted up her face-that young,
earnest, truthful face-to mine, and
said
"Mr. Grayson, if you have any more
washing, shall like to do it for you.
I Thank you; | shall send you up
some Tomorrow"
had determined to leave the next
, morning, but my plans underwent a
/ sudden revolution. | watched her as
| she went down the road, and noticed
! her dress and figure for the first time.
7 There was singular fitness about both
She wore lawn dress scattered with
. small brown sprigs, and a brown straw
/, bonnet with a green ribbon gathered
= across it. She was small and delicate
9 ~ moulded, and her walk was rapid
i and graceful not elegant
: She had just passed out of my sight