Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-10-13

chances and changes which three years nad
wrought in the vicinity OF the old homestead, /,
be perceived the rosy blood mount to his
niece's check every time Mr.. Harry Lstimsr
passed.
Now, little GIRL said be-, ito my turn
to ask questions. Who is that young fellow
there by the windowr
Fanny looked up, and then down, played
with the middle button on Uncle Obed's coat,
and answered, very softly:
Mr.. Latimer.'
HumPh l spOse that isn't all you can tell
me about him 2
| There was a minute Of hesitation, and then
Fanny hid her cheek on the old mans should
er, and told Uncle Obed all.
Then why on earth don't you marry himr
CALCULATED the old gentleman, at the close of
the little life-romance.
He's only poor lawyer sighed Fanny,
{ and papa will never consent. But one thing
| am resolved on she added, with sparkling
eyes, will not marry any one else, least OF
all, that odious Colonel Woodall. not II he
we're worth twenty times twenty thousand
dollars
The stamp of her fairy foot gave emphasis
to the determined words as she spoke. Fan
ny was very much in earnest, aud il Colonel
Woodall had happened to be present, he
would have concluded that the chances were,
to say the least OF it, rather small.
Twenty thousand dollars, eh p slowly re-
peated Uncle Obed. " Well, Fanny, it's a
hard world we live ina hard, gripping, grind
ing world. never thought so afore, but
somehow, tonight has borne it in upon me-
i When Uncle Obed went away next day, he
was comparatively cheerful. The fond words
and loving smiles Of little Fanny had fallen
like drops OF balm upon the sore spot in bis
heart.
There it was, nesting in the hillside, that
gray old farm house, with the giant sycamores
tossing their silyery branches above it, and
the lilac bushes nodding before the narrow
windows. Uncle Obed thought it never look
ed so pleasant as now, in the lovely gold OF
sunset, with the purple woods rising against
the bright fsr-of horizon.
! But he did not stop in the coEy room,
where the eight-day clock ticked away as
| peacefully as if it's master had not been absent
two whole days--a thing which hadn't hap
pened before in half century he went
straight up stairs, to a tiny nook under the
caves, where he kept an old sort Of trunk,
curiously scented with camphor, and bound
together with strong clasps and rivets Of
brass. From this receptacle he took bit Of
paper, and held it SO tight that the light fell
on its contents.
Twenty thousand he muttered. well,
I'm an old man. and that gal is Just the light
Of my eyes. 1t shall buy her happiness, the
blue-eyed bird, instead Of lying useless in
the garret chamber She deserves 1t all r.
Uncle oDed pocketed the document, locked
] N prPriaua trunl and at.,xs
wiping the glasses of his spectacles. 0
The great financial crash had come, and
the house of Amber g. Co. was among the
first in the list. 1t was true that Mrs. Am
Der had been expecting the failure, but ths
blow fell none the less heavy for the antici-
patton. Somehow. her plans had all proved
futile. Young Gould had, in some unaccoun-
table manner, discovered the true state Of the
Amber exchequer, and wisely concluded that
II was not best to waste his personal charms
and elegant stock of small talk on so ineli-
gible fair one as Miss Cecilia. Col. Wood
all had also shown unequivocsl signs Of with
drawing his suit--not at all to Miss Fsnnys
displeasure. In short. everything seemed to
be going wrong. and the only satisfied mem
bers OF the confederation we're Harry Lstimer
and Miss Fanny.
1t was gloomy morning of rain and tenn
pest, and Mrs. Amber sat in a sort of sloven-
ly dishabelle, in narrow room, in one Of our
third rate hotels. Her own stately house
had fallen prey to greedy creditors some
time since. Mr.. Amber, at an opposite table,
was slowly opening and glancing over his
letters.
Halo ! he suddenly exclaimed, dropping
one and catching 1t up again.
What's the matter, papaF asked Fanny.
How you do agitate ones nerves said
Mrs. Amber. t.a
Hang your nerves here's something to
set them in futter--a letter from q New
England lawyer announcing that your Uncle
Obed jenkins has made Miss Fanny Amber
present Of twenty thousand dollars. to be-
come her property on the day that she mar
ries Harry Latimer.'
Twenty thousand dollars = shrieked Mrs.
Amber aud Cecilia in chorus, and nothing
for us p
Twenty thousand dollars, murmered Fan
ny, with crimson spot on her cheek. 20,
how happy we shall be Dear. kind old Un-
Gle Obed /!
You're nice manager. snarled Mr.. AM
Der, turning sharply to his wife. 1t was for
this, was 1t, that you treated Mr.. Jenkins so
rudely on the night OF your last partyf'
didn't know-I didn't suppose'-sobbed
Mrs. Amber. He never told me he had any
properly
OF course not = ejaculated Mr.. Amber.
: RS enough to make q man rave, to have
such an idiot as you for a wife. Twenty
thousand dollars would have been everything
to me just now, whom there is such scarci-
" Of ready money in the market. And
what's worse, the sum is so tied up that no.
body but fanny can touch cent Of it,
Mr.. Amber strode out OF the room, giving
the door very energetic slam. and Mrs. AM
Der went gracefully into Mysteries, while Fan
ny sat looking at the letter which had been
messenger OF so much happiness TO her. with
scarlet lips half apart, and the light of deep
gratitude in her eyes. (.
What will Harry say D she pondered.--
Will be not think it q blessed dreams No
more weary waiang--no moro procrastina-
tion. 0, now eau ever thank uncled Obsd
sufficiently ntellf ...I
But Uncle Obed was already thanked.
When. upon Fanny's wedding day the deed
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