Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-02-28


preached her with her husbands desertion.
made her tell me her story, which she
did with little hesitation when she found l
sympathized with her trouble.
She had been married, when not more
than sixteen, to a man several years older
than herself, and | judged in a better class
than her parents belonged TO- Fhey had
tried house keeping for time. but she was
mere child in years and entirely Ignorant OF
everything necessary for comfort and ec1n9'
my, and they had been obliged to 20 back .
her mother. He must have been used -
better things, for he could not endure her
home, and soon let her - seek more re-
munerative employment as mechanic in "a
neighboriug city At first she heard from
him frequently, but all as once the letters
ceased, aud she had not heard from him, at
the time she told me in eighteen months.
She had never been able to read his letters
herself nor to write t. him, and she hoped a
letter written by her own hand might bring
an answer
encouraged her writing, directed the
letter myself, and awaited an answer with
almost equal impatiencc, for after this fir.
confidence she did not sbrina from talking Of
her husband, and she told me many little
incidents of their life together that gave ne
great respect for the man
The great motive for selfimprovement was
very evident Lizzie wished and worked to
become a housekeeper worthy of her Al 5cb,
as she called him She was delighted with
my proposition that she should begin T. ell
ucate herself as carefully Is possible. not
only by instructive rctdlng, but By taking
the studies she should have done when a
child. Her progress was gradual and steady
in this in other respects By associatinS
only with us she became gentle and refined
1 in manner. 50 thata stranger would not have
taken her for a servant, and in fact We had
ceased t. look upon her in thtC light our
selves, though she filed the position most
satisfactorily.
10 the meantime n3 answer came To the
| first letter, and the second shared the same
fate Lizzie was Eot positively unhappy,
since her mind was occupied with other
thoughts, but though sIe ceased - talk 5t
her husband her expression ot sad resiyla-
tion was painful 70 see at times
Without saying anything g her L under
took myself the task If fujinS some trace Jt
him. and after numerous letters writcca 10
different connections q, his. who >ceAaI u
know nothing of h,m. I va, diret.eI T. the
firm which had cmT!,yci him long time
before. and they directed me ID du1-Acr.
which at Inst giv- me- things OF hun. hc
had been scot by them to some foreign clun-
try with m1clinery they hei sen. au-, anI
they We're then expecting has re.uru ln lew
days. They bad been r-g rested O. tr8-sI
money o. ht, wifi. when sIs d-- rel I-, lJt
had never rec ivei lime from hcr, though
ttev hal forwarded bis letters q her al
dress
Immediately wrote him Ic--ec chat be-
would receive On l.s arrival, ~-t-ius simply
that his wife was living with ma. aai Itl
not heIri from 3lm ~ three years. " l'l
ou,lv on il. wIulcsin. lt ] .li been lain5
Lizzie kinduc--- They aai 1u'c-eSs hf-h
changed greatly In the tglr years 't s-plra
tilu-she .or the better, IL wa possible be-
had chance TOR che worse. S4c5o aee att .e-
tion renen tcrci only bis .,.j 4ullire-, ami
her ideal had necessarily grfw2 wttl her
mental growth w hat could 10 tor my
poor -irl u bad prepreI rude awaken
iny2 However, tho lIc was cast. I elaiI
not recall my letter, anu perhaps alter ali D.
was Cor the best
dii not say anything Is L l1le 9t Iay re-
searches. bat concluded % leave he- ia un-
disturbed ignorance uutii had some certa.a-
" either by letter or hy li- arrival.
Christmas Eve was drawing 20 close, and
We were sitting around tie fire reading and
chatting. cuioyin. In anticipation some tr!-
ding surprises we bad prepared 1r certain
little folks of our acquaintance To whom we
were playing the part ui santa Cltus-
d" Lizzie. 70 said | clrel,-~Iy. " what dj vJu
want him T. brIn., v3a? '' regretted the
pur-tion when She looked gr. for her ewes
tlied ,v,th taa-s Inn sl.. MA n ,- answer 4
moment Ia,er tFcrc W. a riu, M the ir1at
t,.r ana I.il1-. .r.acr.d ,,.s yentletuan VINO
had manfred for me. and then withdrew. as
.bc ol,y,v- aid when. any one .lIicf. unless
reoursted I, remain
After a sligb. rsuS. of embarrassment he
said q. Nv name Is Alexander Graham / be-
Iieye YOU arr. the lady who wrote me about
nv ,,-to l. line s+ilT Ier.3'-
/ reouested him I, e., seated. informed him
tl,.t bIs ,cif. was with MS and sat down [,
recover myself f,r had been very much sur
rri-od at the announcement. had no. ex-
pected hIln S., soon
After a httIe dcsultory conversation ne
t,ll me taa, he had been chosen hy ms firm
a. H.. I,-- ..r,art r, o, onr IA Rus.i. with
some ,n,,.i,.r,orv that he had not had time
~ yisir bis y,if. b1t had written her stating
bis dsstir.,,,,, s,J tLat She mi.bt apnlv for
money at any time. and send letters uhrou IA
tho Arm bnt Ne Lad never heard from her
tbougb lac had written hc. several times.
He was quite pren assessing in appearance.
tall and tiaely detelorei. Ills face was
,rave but his month had an expression OF
-yyea. as- thst re-assi,rei me lie WAS Il man
4bat ,r,. .,,,,,ld ipstircrivslv trus.
lie was evidentJv n.rvous. and he rev a
sbaJe roIer 4. rr.e sav,ng | would ealI his
wife. He too must have speculated on the
eaec, of four wears absence and service on
'nnOc - "o' VI O'0 90 80 - '.- -
anu Icdflu1 / sIDut4 otiON ny uCi NbuoL4C9' Ii