Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-10-18
LEFTY DoRMER.
(Concluded.)


One day Lefty was sitting in the little
morniBg-room, to which lately she had re-
treated as place Of refuge, her mother hav-
ing the fine lady's natural disincination to sit
in anything but the drawing.room. Here
she was hiding, in sad mood enough, thinking
over her position, and wondering how she
could get out Of the net that was being daily
drawn more closely round her, when her
mother came in.
Lefty" she said abruptly things have
come to crisis; and you must decide our
future"
Mamma. l have decided !" answered
Lefty, with her weary air why will you
torture me so cruelty :"
=" The cruelty has not been on my side"
said her mother. Il said so once BEFORE
and say SO now again
1t would be hard to make me believe
that" said Lefty.
1907 then, must tell you the whole
truth. Listen, Lefty if you had been ODE
dent, and had done as you ought, you need
never have known it. owe Mr. Mounsey
several thousands of pounds; and if you do
not marry him he will proceed against me.
That is all. 1t is simply question of our
utter ruin,-yours and mine together, Lefty,
or your conseuting to be his wife. Now,
i leave my fate in your hands"
"You mean, in fact, mamma, that you
have sold me to this man." said Lefty, with
a strange, unnatural calmuess land that |
must pay the price,-by myself?'
"You may call it what you like, Lefty
but why choose such unpleasant terms? The
fact is the only thing to be dealt with un.
fortunately for us both -
Unfortunately,-ycs, indeed" sighed
Lefty, still with that fixed, strained look. "But
must speak to George | can do nothing
say nothing, without hun"
." don't see much good in going to hin
for advice" said her mother irrtably. a. II
is your affair, not his
Mamma :" demonstrated Lefty.
"Well my dear, so it is. The question
is one which you alone can answer. Viii
you marry Mr.. MOunsty, or must | be ruined
and rendered pennies for the remainder Of
my life? That you have no love for me,
know -
Here Lefty raised her large gray eyes with
plaintive look, saying, in a deprecatory
manner, " Mamma, | do love you You
know that | do! !"
But" continued Mrs. Dormer, in mar
tyr-spirit, sweetly self.forgetful, " if you have
no love for me, you surely have some kind 0
family-pride; you would scarcely like YOU
fathers name you loved HIM to be dragged
through the mire, as it must be-"
90 mamma mamma" cried poor Lefty
breaking down in sobs and tears. " DO no
mention poor papa's name in the business
there is sacrilege enough in it without that !!
"You are hard on me, Lefty" said Mrs
Dormer, tears in her eyes too ; " but perhap
/ have deserved it; and if it will make mat
tiers better for you,-l am sorry Tor you, my
poor child :" she added, with It genuine burs
of feeling rare in her.
Then the two women, the ice broken
elapsed in each others arms, sobbcd out theil
grief in concert which, at least, destroyed
the GOODNESS that had sprung up between
them, and made them partners in suffering
not, as formerly, antagonists aud enemies
While they were sitting there, both feeling
the sacrcdness of the anguish IF the moment
the servant came to tell them that Mr.. Noun
sey was in the drawing-room, the time of hi
daily visit having arrived.
LEFTY, what am to say to himY asked
Mrs. DOrmer, drying her eyes, yet still weep
ing. Am to tell him yes, or no? lie
has come for his final answer to-day; and
dare net put him of any longer"
al cannot mamma, till | have seen
George" sobbed Lefty. "If it is ques,
ton only of this money, George may help
u.s. So long as thought you wanted me to
marry for a settlement only l did not mind
refusing you and | could not put George
forward. l could only remain true to him,
and hope for the future; but IL it is money,
. that can be paid off, mamma,-if he can raise