Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-09-08

stepped back to the shore, raised his cap,
and asked if they would ride on the lake.
They accepted the politeness with thanks,
and were helped to seats in the boat Bes-
sy, be 1t known, receiving aid from him
with an i'll grace.
His strokes were those of an athlete, and
the little boat at first shivered on the wa
ter; then he gave gentler dips of the oar,
and sent the shallop TO search out lovely
hooks or a glittering beach Of sand and
shell. The ride was, for the most part,
silent one, for somehow, when near him,
Bessy was always vexed at the contradic-
ton his life seemed to be. After while
they neared n curious mound, standing up
amidst the wild rice few rods out from
shore. 1t had been formed by the musk at
in short period of time, Mr.. Spenciere OK
planned, and he stopped near IL to adjust a
trap. As he turned from 1t his glanced fell
on Bessy. II contained something mex
plicable to her-not humiliation, certainly.
"Mr. Spenciere, have often wondered
that the capabilitiPs ofyour mind were not
employed in somo higher work g ventured
Alice.
"Undoubtedly you refer to my calling,
Miss Washburne," he coolly replied. eve
exercise freedom of speech in these woods,
and I like II. l like, too, these solitudes
and this water; they give me spirit
ual growth and rest. You ladies are
younger than I /; take from me little wis
dom that l have learned by experience.
Do not judge people by ther employment
if it be honest, but respect in all that high
or self, which is allied to Cod
They had reached the shore, and they
left the boat feeling little rebu6ed. The
next day when they saw the trapper they
found that they had neither made advance
ment in his acquaintance nor lost his re-
spect. The impertubable being was to
them the same.
In. a few days after lBessy left Sylvan
Lake to enter upon her new duties not
with any dread, but little inward rejoic-
ing that she had something TO do in the
world. The unspent energies of youth
will find exercise in some direction. Yet
Bessy, perhaps, was not model guide to
lead the young for l have already told you
that meekness was not her virtue. She
found in the little community about her
many intelligent and excellent people, but
she felt scorn enough in her heart for the
under bred, oflicious folk whose wealth
gave them a position above these others.
Yet the children of them all were tractable
and capable, and on the whole, she liked
school teaching. And so there was pleas
ant season spent, and little discipline
gained by Bessy. She looked forward
little doubtfully to her return to Sylvan
Lake.
At first she would be rejoiced TO meet her
friends and glad at the cordial welcome
she would receive. There would be the log
cabin quilts finished by this time the new
finery, year behind the fashion, few au-
tumn leaves and shells to make up into
beautiful ornaments, and then, the intolera-
BILE dreary days. There was Mr.. Speniere,
who held in his fine personality the power
to make Sylvan Lake paradise to her, but
she knew he never had, and believed he
would not. Bessy, like other girls, had
considered this subject and concluded that
a matchless life was an imperfect one. And
ye she was not too SUSCEPTIBLE. She was
even little wilful, if not strong minded,
and sagely concluded that she could live an
u n ndeveloped life as others had. l doubt if
sh would have acknowledged, even mem
tally, that Charles Spenciere could be any
hing to her, were it not that certain SEEM
ng incongruities in his character had been
elucidated since she had left Sylvan Lake:
for Bessy had formed some opinions from
plain and excellent premises-therefore,
like the laws of the Medes and Persians,
Interchangeable, she thought. She was en-
lightened in this wise, concerning Mr..
Spenciere's calling. She had made a friend,
during her school term, of lady who had
been a school-mate of Mr.. SAenciere. This
Mrs. Jaynes was expecting a visit from
hi m, and in mentioning it to Bessy she also
touc he'd upon the peculiarites of the man.
"He had suffered much through friends"
she had said. "While in the army, an only
and very dear sister married an intimate
friend, whom he had trusted entirely, but
after marriage this friends department was
such that it had first taken the health, and
then the life of Charles Spenciere's sister,
He had sought the woods after her death.
s he did not know what alleviation he had
gained there.
"He has become trapper," said Bessy, a
littly scornfully.
Mrs. Jaynes smiled quiet smile. "Chas
5 penciere could never be misanthropist
en- ough, let what would arrive, to cause
him to withhold helping hand to the
needy. There is an old man located on the
Canon, not many miles from Sylvan Lake
"a most worthy man, but to such Provi-
dence, for some wise reason, no doubt, does
not always dispense its ample stores He
upon his traps and almost unerring rifle.
He is quite character, Miss Enfield. The
West abounds in original, strong men you
will know this better when your prejudices
are little worn, and your knowledge of it
becomes less limited. 1 see you do not like
his employment, or you think it adapted
to those Of certain grade, in whose ranks
l have not placed him. Well, crcum-
stances are often our masters. This old
man is not ignoble, though he traps for
furs and for lifes necessities. Though he
has for Charles genuine friendship, yet
he>will not receive from him pecuniary
ald, Sppnclere resorts To strategy. lie
tells his old friend of the dreariness of the
days, spent without pursuit; that if he had
something to do-something to call him
from his books into the woods and upon
the water-that favor would be conferred
on him, and his gratitude would follow.
And so he looks well to the old mans traps,
saving him much fatigue, and increasing
his stock. He will be here tomorrow"
Mrs. Jaynes had said.
Mr.. spencere did not leave without call
ing on Bessy. Grave he was, as usual but
unusually kind, asking for and taking
messages to Sylvan Lake.
At length the day arrived in which Bessy
was to set out for her uncles. She had to
be taken home; there was no public con-
veyance yet passing in that direction. 1t