Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-08-14

BACK one OF these days, and shall be sure TO come
here the first thing.n
lie brushed q tear from his eve, and after prom
ising Alice TO write often, bade them good-by and
| left
Time passed. and everything went on as usual.
The rent was punctualy paid. Alice went one
morning to carry the quarterly payment TO Close
fist and found him looking very pale and hag-
gard.
You are not well ~ said she.
"No," replied he, 81 have been aing some
time %
Can do anything for you, sir2 Shall Gala
doctorr
"a doctorp no, child, that would cost me a
dollar said the mser.
Just then he was seized with a violent pain
Alice quickened the FIRE and ran home to get
something for his relief She soon came back with
hot tea aud bread she toasted the bread aud
made him comfortable as possible.
80 I'LL come in tonight and see how you are
said she.
THANK youl"
The word came hard as II he was not in the
habit of using it,
Alice went that night and every night after iii
the old mau considerably better; she felt that
she had but done her duty aud thought Of no re-
ward.
Three years passed, and Alice was young lady,
with a face fair TO look upon and manners of equal
grace. During the three years her mothers health
had been gradually failing, and required much OF
her time and attention. She supported her moth
er and herself by doing the sewing that her moth
er formerly had done. She had heard regularly
from Robert, and he had visited her once.
One morning Mrs. Evans felt quite feeble and
in spite Of Alices efforts she grew rapidly worse.
In a few days Alice was obliged TO summons a
physician. lie told them that with strict attention
and careful nursing she might recover; and after
an illness of some weeks she able 70 SIT up.
Alices means had grown very slender IN conse-
I off fhp AFT INF he h
er's sickness, and she found that she had not the
money to meet the quarterly payment to Closehst.
She thought as they had always been so punctual,
that he would excuse them for once and hoped in
r few days to have the required sum- Before she
could obtain it the miser called and demanded his
due. Alice explained TO him the cause of her de
lay, and begged for few DAYS. With much grum-
bling he consented to give them a week longer
Before the time had expired, Mrs. Evans disease
took an alarming form and Alice was motherless.
/ On the day appointed Closefst made his appear
ance and asked for the rent He had not heard
/ Of Alices bereavement.
Sir said Alice, 8" | wish it was in my power
| TO pay you; but you must know how am now
situated %
"Do you mean to say that you can't pay me to-
day. said he gruiily.
=" / cannot, sr.n
"Why noty
| "Oh do you not know why? Oh my mother! I!
my motber What will your child do without
yuu,n burst from the poor girls lips.
"What is that about your mother!m asked
Closeiist in a softer tone.
Alice told him of her great sorrow, and asked
him to 90 into the room where lay all that remain
ed Of her tender mother
Closehst gazed at the rigid face, and after some
time he started suddenly aud said -
Miss Evans what was your mothers name be-
fore she was marriedPn
Eliza Clarke answered Alice
"Where was she born p
In l. was the answer.
A close observer might have detected signs Of
strong emotion in the questioner's face, but Alice
was too deeply absorbed in grief to notice it,
Cosefist turned away and said husky:
- No matter about the rent | can wait
Thank you, thank YOU cried the orphan
81 will do my best to repay You for your kind
ness
Among those who attended the funeral OF Mrs.
Evans was the miser. People wondered to see
hun there. and maryelled that he was so much af-
fected, but did not inquire the cause. The feel
ing displayed would have been explained to them
had they heard these words, spoken to himself in
his lonely hut that night
Eliza Clarke! my own dear sister, God for
give men
Alice Evans sat alone after her mothers burial
wondering what course lay marked out for her,
None presented ITSELF and she tried to mark one
out. While she sat thinking the door opened soft
ly, aud a manly form stood beside her.
." Oh Robert, YOU are kind!n and the young
girl buried her face in her hands and gave way to
her emotions.
Robert raised her head and said -
Alice, you must not weepi do not, pray
YOU
But miss her So she answered.
Alice, if you will but accept it, you shall have
all the comfort can give. viii you accept my
deep sympathy and deeper lovePn
Robert an hour ago did not think it possi-
ble that | could ever be happy again. If you will
take me grief stricken rs | am, will be yours"
=" will. my darling, and God grant that may
be tender and true to my precious treasure"
You must be patient with me, Robert. ! can
not be a bonnie blithe bride.'n pleaded Alice
4" | care not, that you mine--yes, mine !
1t is happiness too great to realize"
Hearing of Alices approaching marriage, hdy
for whom Mrs. Evans had sewed and TO whom she
had given satisfaction, sent Alice a note contain
ing her good wishes and twenty dollars, which she
urged her to accept. Soon after Alice called up
pom CloseGst, to pay him the rent due, and inform
him that she would give up the tenement. To her
surprise the miser refused TO take the money aud
asked her, in kinder tone than was his wont,
what were her plans for the future. Blushngy,
Alice told him, aud bcs.ad that he would take his
Just dues. lie could not be prevailed upon, giving
a reason that she had met with great trouble, and
that he had not forgotten her kindness to him
when he was i'll. Alice thanked him and took
Very quietly she took upon herself the marriage
vows, and Robert Grey carried her TO his distant
home with proud heart. He had succeeded well,
and had risen to a place of Importance in the
house which he entered but few years before.
About two years after their marriage, talking
of things past aud gone, Robert asked his wife
what became OF the old miser whose shoes she
picked up in the alley afternoon. Alice re-
lated to him all she knew, not emitting his last act,
and expressed her wonder at his sudden kind
ness.
" Marvellous conduct for mser, surely,
said Robert But did you not hear the bell
ring?n
lie went to the door and returned with letter
which WAS directed to Mrs, Robert Grey" in a
cramped hand On opening it, Alice read the
following words;--
"You will doubtless, be surprised at the con-
tents of this letter. Before il meets your gaze the
hand which writes il will be cold in death You
remember Mser COselist.' As the people called
him. DO not shrink when lac tells you he is YOU
unce--your mothers brother Il may be that
you will shrink less and pity more when tell you
he c ause Of his blighted life.
/, Benjamin Clarke. was once as light hearted Q
child as you when you picked ~ the old slip
pers in the alley five years ago. | grew To man
hood they said gave promise of happy future
, | loved as faithfully and deyotedy as your hus
hand loves VIM The object OF nv love deceived