Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-06-05

let her go again though longed for the
history of her previous lodge | thought
she eyed me suspiciously, but of course |
was mistaken SO | turned and finished my
breakfast, and then broke open the enve-
lopes of my letters.
ring the bell !; Mrs. Pottle enters |
am sitting on the sofa reading the paper
but just say carelessly; = You have kept
these lodgings some time, suppose, Mrs.
Pottle? ?"
Law yes sir, She answers, stopping
short in the general gathering together OF
plates and dishes; nigh upon twenty
years. Through my poor Samuel being
taken off early, sir, | was obliged to begin
at forty. Now I'm turned sixty, sir, though
some do say" said Mrs. Pottle with smile,
that they can hardly think It's more than
a few years since | began-I'm so much
the same
There they are right" | said, willing
to propitiate Mrs Pottle you might as
well pass for fifty, and young looking wo-
man ut that; but, however, what sort Of
people do you mostly get here-young men,
/ like ] am, in merchants Offices or some
thing of that kind? "
Well. YES sir; first and last, I've had
some scores Of clerks and junior partners
but there was one young man, nearly the
/ first that | ever had"
did not exactly want a twenty years
/ list Of dodgers, 50 | interrupted the worthy
soul by saving, But who have YOU had
lately? Who was the last now, before |
came
i" \ curious old couple, sir, as ever You
cast your eyes on
/ Old :" | gasped /"
Mrs. Pottle did not I suppose, notice my
agitation, but replied
4 Yes, sir; the gentleman about seventy
! five, | should think and the lady might be
Il year older or younger-not much differ
ence between them. But beg your par
don-thats your bus. sir" And Mrs
Pottie disappeared with the tray just as
the horn and the rafting wheels We're dis
tinctly heard nearing the terrace | put
on my hat mechanically and went down
stairs. vexed with the abrupt termination
to her recital. As | rode along, the
. thought struck me that the whole affair was
u trick. and that Mrs Pottle wanted to
bind me to the spot. or make me interested
IN her house, or inveiglc me in some foolish
love affair. This decided me to take no
notice OF her attempts at conversation for
the future, and not even permit her to finish
the story commenced in the morning.
just then the omnibus stopped and an
old maiden lady.who had known through
her acquaintance with d much respected
aunt of mine, similarly circumstanced as
to ne and matrimony. entered it. po-
iitely handed her to seat for my aunt's
sake. and commenced conversation which
| strove to render interesting, though my
mind was very absent that day; so absent
that IN one OF the paUscs of our discourse
| incautously drew out my pocket hand
kerchicf 10 wipe my forehead. and with it
horror OF horrors the little bronze-col-
ored slipper. with lis blue Iosette, shook
it ha>til from my lap to the straw beneath
but the old lady had seen it, and | felt
agha~t n | remembered that the story of
that slipper for the left foot Of my pretty
Cinderella would probably cost me 5000
ot my very discreet aunt'> money
Should | throw myself on the old lady :
mercy at once-in the omnibus-by confes-
-;ng the truth But would She be likely
70 believe me? | thought not | should
only have tal>ehood added to the black list
already prepared, | doubted not, for pre-
sentation to my aunt | knew the old lady
would not 20 aS far as | did, for she had
already told me her destination: 50 | kept
my own foot on one edge Of the little slip
per determined TO pick it up again, spite
Of all. AT the first opportunity.
- think YOU have dropped something.
>r. said my aunt's friend. coldly.
Nothing OF consequence think. thank
YOU" | replied in confusion.
should rather think it was of great
consequence, she remarked. cruelty
doubtless the Young lady wants her slip
per matched or mended.
The Young lady, What Young lady ?
-Ah! if | could only find this Cinderella
. Deeply mortified. | said no more; and the
old lady soon left me. | went into the
office. CARRYING my handkerchief in diff
terent pocket that | might not draw out
the slipper with it, ond sat down to my
writing but my head was confused, and
the little bronze slipper danced over the
page, over every leaf of the ledger in each
line OF the memorandum book :. If things
90 on ike this | exclaimed mentally, :.
shall grow mad about this slipper. al
. most wish | had never seen it
just then one of the partners came into
the office. = Haley" he said did YOU
pick up Am account, written on a slip OF
/ paper, of an order to be executed for Mr.
Grylls2"
.. did, sir, and put it in my pocket-book,
t as | thought YOU had most likely dropped
, it."
r Thank you, Haley. Just like YOU. |
: admire a fellow that has his wits about
. him"
: put my hand in for the pocket-book
and forgot all about the slipper for mo-
| ment in my pleasure at my employers
t praise but it had not forgotten me- and
: tumbled out. The sandals being entangled
r with the pocket-booI, hung from my hand
| as | slipped the elastic off the pocket-book
: and then the slipper dropped to the floor
4 All this happened much more quickly than
: have written it, but a grave frown rested
t on my employers face as | handed him the
: slip of paper.
; Take care Haley. Don't resent it il
I | give you a tatherly word of advice. Il
is better young man should not carry such
: things in his pocket at least should not
1 allow other people to see them
t looked up in astonshment at Mr.. Ar
mold, second partner in the firm, was fifty
!, wears Of age. and bachelor What die
h he know about such things?
;, :. think could explain to your salts
faction, sir, that this is an accident, if you
+, had time, and really involves nothing at al
: wrong"