Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-12-06
i CannOt Afford IL"

goods store of " Lowering & Brothers" to see
one Of the proprie,ors.
lie has stepped out for moment" one
Of the clerks informed him
Aud, Withdrawing TO an obscure corner
he stood watching, with a half-amused, half
comical look upon his handsome face, the
streams Of gayIy.atiired women, that hoated
past him, gazing with enyious aud admirug
eyes upon the rich fabrics Of every hue
and texture, that were suspended from the
ceiling and spread out on the broad count.
ers.
Many Of them were known to him, but he
was in no mood to meet the sparkling gances
and gay sallies that he knew would be show
cred upon him if he made them aware of his
presence for Mr.. st. John was rich and a
bachelor, and had been so ilattered and be-
sieged by ambitious mammas with marriage
able daughters, as to make him almost resolve
to remain one always.
So he stood back in the shadow, marking |
with curious eye, unconscious betrayals Of
the natural dispositions, like glimpses of le-
minnie human nature, which the dear Great
ures would not have had him observe for the |
world
As he stood there, the two Misses Parker
came in, charming and brilliant girls in |
whose society he had passed many pleas
ant hour
They were lavish in their purchases And
Mr. St. John constrasted their smiling faces
with the careworn face Of their father, whom he
met in the street scarcely an hour before, hur.
rying from one friend to another to borrow
mi 10 On ,I La.,
protested. Their lively chatter Jared harsh
y on his ears.
Isn't it lovely ?" exclaimed one of the
sisters, holding up some costly lace trimming
" | suppose pa will scold when he sees the
bill but so it would be if it were only half
as large
TO be sure he would, responded the other.
" But I'm not going to let the Dayton girls
outshiue me, you may be certain. Ii, my
belief that they give the party simply on ac-
count Of st. Johns return from Earope, |
suppose they are trying to catch him for
Georgana Did you ever hear Of anything
so ridiculous ?"
Never Such horrid taste as the girl
has in dress, too. She showed me new silk
she is going to wear. Would you believe it
1t is blue And she is dark as an Indian"
" THAT is for the benefit of Mr.. ST. john
it is his favorite color met him on the
street, yesterday. How tall and handsome
he has grown"
Yes and he is so rich Pa says he is
worth half a million if not more"
Here the two girls passed along out of
sight and hearing, quite unconscious of their
proximity to the subject oftheir remarks.
"Good Heavens :" was MIR. st. Johns in
ward reflection care all women so heartles,
so wrapped in vanity and display"
He was about to quit the store in disgust,
when his attention was arrested by low and
gentle voice, which aroused host of vague
but pleasant recollections. He turned eager
ly in the direction whence it proceeded and
as his eye rested upon slender, neatly at.
tired young lady, they lighted up with pleas.
ure.
A woman would have noticed that the bon.
net, though neat and fresh, was not of the
latest style, and the mantle of last seasons
fashion but men rarely notice such things
All that St. John saw was the graceful form
and the fair and gentle face of the wearer
" Sweet Rose Lennox ln he thought "Sh,
looks as fragrant and lovely as her name
Can her fresh and guileless nature be so per
yerted as to care for nothing but outward
show ?"
In the mean time, Rose had made few
simple purchases, quite unconscious Of tn,
eyes that were following her every look ant
motion,
r ' Is that all Miss Lenuox ?" said the clerk
All to-day
s "lf you were thinking of getting dress
| think | can show you something that viii
suit you"
As | can't purchase | will not trouble
2 you" was the reply.
No trouble at all, miss" said the clerk
D unrolling the goods and spreading it on tn
y counter.
I 1t was a heavy, lustrous silk, brown will
Q a tint Of gold in it, not unlike the color 0
5 the soft hair that shaded her forehead.
T. 1t caught the eyes of the Parker girls, VIII
were passing, and they gathered eagerl
= around it,
e It's just the sweetest thing | ever saw :
= exclaimed the oldest, enthusas caly. " Wh,
a don't you you get it, Rose You have moth
I ing for the party next Thursday and it's jus
b what you want"
) Only four dollars yard" suggested th
clerk, gathering up the silk in heavy folds, s
as to display its lustro and beauty.
I There was not the slightest touch of env,
or regret in the soft blue eyes that rested ad
miriDgly upon it.
1T is very pretty, and quite reasonable
I too but can't afford it,
These words were spoken quietly, and witt